Attacking in Ice country:
The USS
Atlanta is my command, a 688 type. "Random" has been kind to this character.
We're still on our first patrol, but this isn't our first action. It's our first crack at surface targets. For two days we've been searching for an at-sea supply task force that will be helping keep Soviet SSNs in action. Conditions are excellent for a shallow attack, so we may have something to say about that!
Atlanta runs ultra-quiet and takes a listen just above the thermal layer. Sonar rapidly reports 3 Sierra contacts.
Sierra 2's position suggests it is being screened. A quick look at the waterfall display rapidly confirms that Sierra 2 is my intended target: a Don-class tender.
Fire tube 3, target 'Don'
The firing solution at time of launch.
Contact; Sierra 1 identified as a Krivak I Class. A dedicated ASW Frigate. This contact is between me and my target.
Contact; Sierra 3 identified as a Grisha class. This contact is well away from us, and the target is between it and myself.
The tactical situation.
Fire tube 4, target "Krivak I"
Torpedo in the water! This torpedo is actually part of my escape plan and I'm not very invested in it. I break it's wire immediately. It's set to a passive, straight run.
I turn to begin establshing my evasion procedure, and Sonar loses the Don as a result. However, I'm confident in my original firing solution.
Sure enough, the torpedo enables and rapidly picks up the Don. I maintain manual guidance as it appears I remain undetected.
Good thing too, because the Krivak almost cuts in and unwittingly fouls up my attack!
We get underneath the Krivan and torpedo is running straight and hot.
Torpedo impact!
Now to escape. Tube 4 is already running-to-enable and will likely put the enemy defensive if they detect it, but, I'm an aggressive skipper and decide to give the two escorts a parting kiss. Fire procedure; tubes 1 and 2 - narrow search, target: Krivak I.
Missiles away!
The enemy immediately responds with a rocket-assisted torpedo.
Impact 1! The Krivak is hit moving fast towards my last-known and begins to sink by the nose immediately; it lacks CIWS and its chaff did not defeat the harpoon.
The 2nd Harpoon (barely visible, center) also acquires it, and gives us a bit of...
overkill.
By this point the anti-submarine missile has dropped its payload on my last-known. It goes deep and starts searching for me.
But I am long gone. Pre-planned escape prevents the need for active evasion. As soon as tubes 1 and 2 fired, I hit hard to port and went deep fast.
Post-attack tactical situation. Note the enemy torpedo.
Sierra 3 never re-establishes contact; and I have no intention of pressing my luck further.
Atlanta fades away as silently as she glided in.
Mission accomplished. Without the rendevous with their tenders, Soviet SSNs can't stay on station and have to run the dangerous GIUK gap that much more often.
