John Wingate

Submarine

When a nation, whose very existence depends on overseas trade spends so much on its social services that it allows its navy to shrink to a coastal defence force and hands over control of its vital sea routes. its potential enemy, that nation is undoubtedly in a state of grievous decline.

Blackwood's Magazine, January 1978

Freedom is the sure possession of those alone who have the will to defend it.

Pericles

Maps

Glossary

AIO — Action Information Officer

ASW — Anti-Submarine Warfare

CEP — Contact Evaluation Plot

Chief Ops — Chief Petty Officer (Operations)

Chief RS

— Chief Radio Supervisor

CINCEASTLANT — Commander-in-Chief Eastern Atlantic

CINCPAC — Commander-in- Chief Pacific Fleet

CINCSUBEASTLANT — Commander Submarine Forces Eastern Atlantic

CINCSUBPAC — Command Submarine Forces Pacific (US)

CVN — Aircraft Carrier, Nuclear

D/F — Direction Finding

DR — Dead Reckoning

DGI — Director-General of Intelligence

DSRV — Deep Submergence Rescue Vessel

EP

— Estimated Position

ECM — Electronic Countermeasures

EW — Electriconic Warfare

FCO — Fire Control Officer

FOSM — Flag Officer Submarines

HE — High Explosive, also Hydrophone Effect

HP — High Pressure

ICBM — Intercontinental Ballistic Missile

JCS — Joint Chiefs of Staff (US)

Jimmy — The First Lieutenant

JR — Junior Rating

LOP — Local Operations Plot

LP — Low Pressure

LRMP — Long Range Maritime Patrol

MBU — Multi-Barrelled Underwater Weapon

MEAOW — Marine Engineering Artificer of the Watch

MEM — Marine Engineering Mechanic

MEO — Marine Engineering Officer see Ship Control Console

SCOW — Ship Control Officer of the Watch

SINS

— Skips Inertial Navigation System

SLBM — Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile

SR — Senior Rating

SSBN — Submarine, Strategic Ballistic Missile Nuclear

TASO — Torpedo and Anti-Submarine Officer

TCC — Torpedo Course Calculator

VDS — Variable Depth Sonar

WEO — Weapons Engineering Officer

Wrecker — The CPO in charge of the panel in the control-room

Chapter 1

England, 24 April.

The coastguard officer replaced his cup to add another tannin circle on the battered tray. His keen eyes had detected through the early mist what he had been expecting, but he picked up the binoculars to confirm his sighting. He glanced at the brass clock on the wall: yes, that must be her, HM Submarine Orcus. She was dead on time, an indistinct blur where her fin floated in the haze sealing the sky to the glassy sea. The stream was easing as the time of high water approached and tide lines snaked mazily upon the mirror-like surface of the muddy bay of Hilpsford Point: the morning was turning out to be one of the few decent days of spring since the equinoctial gales which had struck so late this year.