Chapter 209
February 5, 2021, 09:20
The deep sea, N34°33 E 139°31′ at northern Yokosuka, Kanagawa prefecture, Honshu, Japan (the Yang Se-bong’s location)
The two rounds of type 07 B torpedoes fired by the Kongo were successfully intercepted by hard killing. However, the Yang Se-bong (SSP-85) was unable to escape the sonar scans of the SH-60K choppers flying above them. The enemy choppers launched 12 additional Mark 64 torpedoes.
“Twelve rounds of the Mark 64 antisubmarine torpedo launches have been detected! Distance of 1,700, and 73 seconds away from impact.”
“Twelve rounds? Are they nuts? They are using twelve rounds on a single submarine! Arms man! Arm launch tubes 7 and 8 with the Great White A torpedo, and open the muzzle doors for launch tubes 1 and 4.”
“Reloading launch tubes 7 and 9! Opening muzzle doors 1 through 4.”
“Allot the targets! Input the sonar patterns of the Izumo.”
“Inputting the sonar patterns of the target the Izumo.”
“Hurry.”
A sense of urgency was clearly present in Captain Kim Jin-jun’s voice that had been calm this whole time.
“Sonar pattern input complete.”
“Launch.”
“Launching torpedoes 1 through 4.”
“Reload launch tubes 1 through 4 immediately with the Great White A torpedos.”
“All 4 Black Shark torpedoes have been successfully launched! Torpedoes 1 and 2 are 102 seconds away from impact. Torpedoes 3 and 4 are 104 seconds away.”
“Is the Lee Un-hyung safe?”
Captain Kim Jin-jun was concerned about the Lee Un-hyung’s (SSP-86) safety despite them being in a dire situation and asked his first mate.
“Yes, sir. They are located at an azimuth of 0-8-2 from our position and sailing at 2,500 away from us while dealing with the enemy destroyer’s torpedoes.”
“Very well! That’s a relief! Set the targets for the Great White A torpedoes 5 and 6.”
“Torpedoes 5 and 6 have been set for targets 1 and 2.”
“Launch.”
“Launching torpedoes 5 and 6.”
“Reload the torpedoes for launch tubes 5 and 6.”
“Reloading the torpedoes for launch tubes 5 and 6 with the Great White A torpedoes.”
The operators of the torpedo launch tubes were busy working to carry out the orders and reloading the torpedoes.
“51 seconds before the enemy torpedo’s impact.”
“Black Shark torpedo 91 seconds away from reaching the enemy.”
“Hard kill targets 5, 6, 1, and 2 are 5 seconds away.”
Boom! Boom!
Although the sonar operator did not report the torpedoes hitting the target, everyone aboard was able to tell that they hit their targets by the shockwave that shook the entire Yang Se-bong (SSP-85). The enemy torpedoes that had been intercepted were that close to them.
“Targets 1 and 2 have been hit! The 10 enemy torpedoes are 48 seconds away from impact.”
“Launch tubes 7 and 8 have been reloaded with Great White A torpedoes.”
“Setting the targets for torpedoes 7 and 8.”
“Targets set.”
“Fire.”
“Fire.”
“Reload launch tubes 7 and 8.”
“Reloading launch tubes 7 and 8.”
The captain and the arms man gave orders and reported with few words to save time.
“Targets 7 and 8 are seven seconds away from interception! 42 seconds before impact.”
“The Black Shark torpedoes are 82 seconds away from impact.”
The battle station was full of sonar operators reporting in.
Boom! Boom!
Another shockwave shook the entire Yang Se-bong’s (SSP-85) interior.
“Targets 3 and 4 were hit. The remaining eight enemy torpedoes are 35 seconds away from impact.”
“The Black Shark torpedoes are 75 seconds away from intercepting the enemy torpedoes.”
“Launch tubes 1 through 4 have been reloaded.”
“Set the targets for torpedoes 1 through 4.”
“Targets have been set.”
“Launch.”
“Launch.”
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
The four launch tubes shot the Great White A torpedoes into the sea, and they began to shoot toward the enemy while making bubbles.
“Targets 5 through 8 are six seconds away from the interception.”
“Enemy torpedoes 28 seconds away from impact.”
“The Black Shark torpedoes are 68 seconds away from impact.”
Captain Kim Jin-jun heard the sonar operator’s report and checked his watch.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
“Targets 5, 6, 7, and 8 have all been intercepted.”
As the sonar operator reported in, a stronger shockwave shook the body of the submarine.
“Launch tubes 5 and 6 have been reloaded.”
“Set the targets! Launch as soon as we are ready.”
“Setting targets 9 and 10!”
“Hurry up, you bastard!”
The arms man was in such a rush that he accidentally swore at the torpedo operator.
“Targets set.”
“Fire!”
The arms man gave the order on his own.
“Targets 9 and 10 are five seconds away from interception.”
“The enemy torpedoes are 17 seconds away from impact.”
“The Black Shark torpedoes are 57 seconds from impact.”
“What’s the distance of the enemy torpedo?”
“Sir, it’s 391 away from our vessel!”
“Damn it! We are short on time to load launch tubes 7 and 8 and make an interception attempt,” the captain thought.
Captain Kim Jin-jun used the short time he had to consider two options—hard kill the torpedoes or make a maneuver to avoid them. He shouted to the helmsman.
“Helmsman! Set the azimuth to 2-6-5 and a full turn starboard! Set the diving angle to 45 degrees and dive at maximum speed.”
Boom! Boom!
“Targets 9 and 10 have been hit! Two remaining enemy torpedoes are 11 seconds away from impact! Distance is at 253.”
“The Black Shark torpedoes are 41 seconds away from reaching their targets.”
The plasma engines of the Yang Se-bong (SSP-85) began to fire up, and the submarine dove sharply at a 45-degree angle toward the deep sea.
“Arms man, release four decoys from our rear.”
“Yes, Captain! Releasing the decoys.”
“Sixteen seconds before the enemy torpedoes reach us.”
The rear dispenser of the submarine deployed four decoys. They created a curtain of bubbles and began to emit the sonar patterns of the Yang Se-bong (SSP-85). They were highly effective for torpedoes that were automatically guided by the sonar patterns of the target.
Boom!
“One of the enemy torpedoes have been fooled by the decoy! The other one is still moving toward us, Captain.”
“Five seconds before the enemy torpedo reaches us.”
Boom!
The pressure of an explosion shook the Yang Se-bong (SSP-85) before the sonar operator could finish his report. The shockwave from the explosion had caused the 6,000-ton Yang Se-bong (SSP-85) to shake and toss around the crew aboard. Captain Kim Jin-jun also lost his balance and rolled across the floor.
Whirrrrrl.
The mechanical sounds ringing across the vessel was eerie and felt ominous. However, after a few moments, the shock, vibrations, and sounds were gone.
Captain Kim Jin-jun pulled himself up by grasping the periscope handle and looked around the battle station. The crew that had fallen to the floor were getting up one by one.
“Everyone all right?”
“Yes, Captain. We are fine, sir.”
The first mate also stood up awkwardly from the floor and asked the sonar operator.
“Sonar operator, what happened?”
“It seems that the enemy torpedo malfunctioned and exploded within our vicinity, sir.”
“Whew! We were lucky, Captain.”
“What about our Black Shark torpedoes?”
“One moment, sir.”
The sonar operator sat down on his seat and concentrated on listening to his headset.
“The Izumo seems to have been hit by our smaller torpedoes!”
“Are you certain?”
“Yes! It’s a direct hit, Captain.”
When the report of the enemy vessel under the first escorting fleet was hit came in, the entire crew cheered and punched the air.
“Enough! The battle is not over yet. We lose the enemy choppers and aid the Lee Un-hyung.”
“Yes, Captain!”
“Helmsman! Set our azimuth to 0-0-5 full turn portside! Sail silently at 5 knots.”
“Azimuth 0-0-5 full turn starboard! Maintaining depth while sailing at 5 knots.”
******
February 5, 2021, 09:25
The deep sea, N34°48 E 139°16′ at northern Yokosuka, Kanagawa prefecture, Honshu, Japan (the Lee Un-hyung’s location)
Two rounds of the type 25 antisubmarine bombs developed by Japan were dropped at the Lee Un-hyung (SSP-86) and created a large explosion in the sea.
The severe shockwave had caused the Lee Un-hyung (SSP-86) to shake and loud noise to ring across the vessel. The crew were in fear and withstood the shock.
One of the bombs exploded 50m above the Lee Un-hyung’s (SSP-86) location. A large amount of pressure fell on the submarine. If it were any normal vessel, then it would have split in two and sunk into the depths. However, the Lee Un-hyung (SSP-86) was made of reinforced Hydronium plating, so it did not break from the pressure or explosion. However, the pressure caused by the explosion shook the submarine. The crew were also tossed around and crashed into the floor or wall. Captain Oh Hyun-woo regained his balance by holding onto the chair and shouted to the helmsman.
“Set the azimuth to 0-8-5, and a half turn starboard! Set our diving depth and speed to maximum.”
“Setting the azimuth to 0-8-5, and a half turn starboard! Diving at the maximum angle at full speed.”
The helmsman took the wheel and turned right forcefully while the entire vessel shook.
Boom! Boom!
The submarine dove down vertically and moved fast as if were being sucked into the depths, but the explosive pressure from the bombs continued and struck the body of the Lee Un-hyung each time.
“Captain! I don’t think our vessel can take this much pressure.”
The engineer’s despairing voice came through the radio. However, they had no choice but to flee. A submarine could not face a plane flying in the sky.
“First mate, send an encrypted message to the navy strategic command. If there are any available air force jets, have them deal with that damned plane.”
“Yes, Captain.”
******
February 5, 2021, 09:30
The skies above Tokyo, Japan.
The Blue Dragon bombers had finished their mission, and the Black Moon flight wing escorting them was on their way to return to base. However, an urgent order came through. They were tasked with attacking the Japanese antisubmarine planes flying near the Iwozu island located in southern Yokosuka. They had expended all of their missiles, so they had no choice but to attack with their 12mm laser Vulcans by reaching their vicinity.
– Black Moon 1, contact Black Moon 3’s south point bandit. Two P-3C antisubmarine planes at 98. Check.
– Black Moon 3, copy that.
The two Phoenix jets entered into supercruise and tailed the Japanese navy’s P-3C antisubmarine planes.
– Black Moon 1, Black Moon 3, supercruise off! Engage offense for each plane. Go.
– Black Moon 3, copy that.
The two jets used their velocity to tail the antisubmarine planes and began to shoot their 12mm laser beams at the enemy. Major Choi Young-ho’s laser beams tore multiple holes in the rear of the P-3C plane. Then, the plane began to emit red and black flames before spinning and crashing into the ocean. Then, his wingman, Captain Oh Gil-sung, struck the P-3C’s rear and caused it to explode.
– Black Moon 3, contact Black Moon 1, mission accomplished.
– Black Moon 1, copy that.
On Major Choi Young-ho’s radar, a group of dots showed up at the six o’clock direction. The friend or foe database confirmed these were SH-60K antisubmarine choppers from the Japanese navy.
– Black Moon 1, contact Black Moon 3, check our 6! Multiple bandits detected.
– Black Moon 3, check! Check!
– Black Moon 1, contact Black Moon 3. We take them all out and then return to base. Got it?”
– Black Moon 3, copy that.
The two Black Moon flight wings’ jets lowered their altitude to take out the SH-60K antisubmarine choppers tailing the Yang Se-bong (SSP-85) and the Lee Un-hyung (SSP-86).