Free Submarine Warriors: The Enemy Beneath by Rob Tiffany Page B

months in the Indian Ocean in support of operations in Afghanistan. This massive aircraft carrier was designed to project power anywhere in the world with its 60 fighter jets and anti-submarine warfare planes and helicopters. The carrier’s twin nuclear reactors reduced power to the turbines and the ship began to slow in response to an important flash traffic radio transmission.
    Moments later, a Yeoman knocked nervously on the ship Captain’s door.
    “ Come,” replied the Rear Admiral.
    “ Admiral, I have an important message from COMPACFLEET,” the Yeoman announced.
    “ What does Pearl want now?” the Rear Admiral uttered under his breath. “Don’t they know we’re almost home?”
    The Yeoman handed the Admiral the message:

    “ TOP SECRET |COORDINATE BATTLE
    GROUP AND LEAD EFFORTS TO SINK
    ROGUE OHIO CLASS SUBMARINE | PROCEED
    TO LATITUDE: 47.81 LONGITUDE: -126.71 |
    SEAWOLF CLASS SUBS HEADING TO
    COORDINATES TO ASSIST |
    TARGET IS USS ALASKA AND IS ARMED
    WITH TORPEDOES AND NUKES”

    “ Yeoman, I think your generation would say OMG when reading something like this,” the Rear Admiral remarked. “I wonder what the significance of these coordinates is?” He then reached over and un-holstered a microphone from his stateroom wall. “Crew of USS Abraham Lincoln, man battle stations.”
    Battle stations alarms began to sound on every deck of the carrier, as sailors and aviators ran to their posts. Soon, the alarms spread to the Destroyers, Frigates, and Guided Missile Cruisers in the strike group. The curving wake behind all the ships meant that they were all changing course and heading for the mysterious GPS coordinates.

    USS Alaska
    “ Annie, please maintain your depth of 800 feet,” Caroline said as she watched the numbers on the depth gauge increase slightly.
    “ I don’t know what’s going on,” Annie cried. “I’ve been pulling up on the planes but we’re still losing depth.”
    “ Granddad, there’s something strange going on here.” Caroline looked back at the Admiral. “We’re beginning to sink.”
    “ Helm, full rise on the fairwater planes,” the Admiral barked.
    “ Full rise on the planes, helm, aye,” Annie replied as she pulled all the way back on the yoke.
    “ Admiral, we’re less than a mile away from the lat/long coordinates,” Nick commented.
    “ We’re driving ahead at flank speed, Annie’s got her planes on full rise but we’re still sinking.” Caroline’s voice took on a sense of panic.
    “ Mike, initiate an emergency blow and put us on the roof,” the Admiral commanded sternly.
    “ Huh?” responded Mike with a blank look on his face.
    “ Reach up to the panel directly above your head and pull those two switches downward,” the Admiral clarified. “Those are the chicken switches that will use high pressure air to blow the water out of the tanks and take us to the surface.”
    Mike reached up and pulled the switches. The sound of hissing echoed throughout the sub as the high pressure air pushed the water from the tanks and the Alaska began to rise.
    “ Chrissie, full rise on the stern planes,” Caroline ordered.
    With that, Chrissie pulled the outboard yoke all the way back and everyone could feel the bow of the sub angle upward. “I think this is doing the trick,” said the Chief of the Boat, a grin beginning to appear on his face. “Hang on everyone; it’s time for some serious angles.” The Alaska quickly rose 100 feet. After rising another 50 feet, the sub’s ascent began to slow and the kids started looking at each other with perplexed expressions.
    “ Is this normal?” inquired Mike.
    “ Not in the least.” Admiral Connery looked worried. “We should be on the surface by now.”
    The Alaska eked out another 25 feet before it began to sink again.
    “ Admiral, not only are we sinking, but the ship’s compass is going crazy and the inertial navigation system is behaving strangely.” Nick exclaimed. “You know how you can make your hiking