Nearing the Edge

by Eagle


Maiden Voyage (An Iowa Class Battleship)

April 14th, 2006
25 Nautical Miles South of the Marshall islands, Pacific Ocean
Royal Australian Navy Aegis Battleship H.M.A.S Sydney (ABB-01)
Australian Battleship Squadron

It’s been over seventy years since the biggest war in our history. The largest ocean on earth was once a massive battleground between the Allied and Imperial Japanese naval and aviation forces. Now the flames of war are brewing again in the Pacific. In the past few days, tensions have worsened on Arcacia between the Sino-Arcaian Defense Pact, with China and the Bloc nations, and the Five Stars Alliance, the local name for the human coalition in the pacific of America, the U.K., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

In the wake of the recent war exercises, the Australian Defence Force saw this as a critical opportunity to send a naval taskforce on practice operation runs itself. Leading this taskforce is the pride of the Australian Navy, the new Aegis Battleship HMAS Sydney (ABB-01). The Sydney was a multi-billion dollar collaboration between the U.S and Australian navies to prove that battleships can still play a vital role in the 21st Century. Thankfully this expensive gamble has paid off when the proposed design was approved by both parties. This success would lay out the foundations for the Washington class BBG program the following year after construction began.

Although the Australian Navy is still re-adjusting back to big-gun warfare since retiring its last big-gun era warship, H.M.A.S Vampire back in 1986. During the final phase of Sydney’s construction, the Australian Defence Force launched a special Naval-Gunnery program to help train new and active Royal Australian Navy servicemen and women everything they need to know about operating the large calibre guns of a battleship. With the aid of U.S.N advisors, gunnery experts, and Iowa-class veterans, the program was a complete success with up to five hundred navy servicemen and women qualified to maintain and operate the 16” guns onboard the Sydney. Alongside the gunnery program, another program took place in the selection of the ship’s officers. There were candidates who had potential, but none came close to the “Boxing Kangaroo” himself. That man is Captain Elfyn Ian Jones.

Elfyn is a renowned veteran who has been in the R.A.N for over twenty years. He’s mainly recognised for his actions in the Persian Gulf War. He was a junior officer onboard the guided missile frigate; Adelaide when it was struck by an Iraqi “Silkworm” missile, killing most of the senior officers.

Through quick thinking and determination, Elfyn took control of the damaged frigate and held off an assault by a large Iraqi patrol force until being relieved by the U.S.S Theodore Roosevelt’s taskforce.

In the following days since his return from the Persian Gulf, Elfyn would receive the Victoria Cross for Australia and be promoted to Captain. In 2003 upon Elfyn’s return from his second Arcacian deployment he meets Holly, the daughter of a wealthy couple whose private jet disappeared the night Arcacia dropped into the Pacific. The two would spend the next two years dating eventually tying the knot in late 2005.

Things began to shape up for the newly-wedded couple when Holly announced she was expecting twins by April 2006, Elfyn immediately filed for service leave for when Holly would be expecting to give birth. As things couldn’t get any better, Elfyn would receive a notification that he has been selected by the Chief of the Navy, Vice Admiral Ray Griggs to become the first commanding officer of Australia’s new aegis battleship Sydney.

Then, tensions on the Bloc/Equestrian border exploded into all out war following a Bloc airstrike on the American Carrier Task Forces. At the time of this incident the Australian Navy had organised the H.M.A.S Sydney into its own Surface Action Group designated as the Australian Battleship Squadron.

Joining the Squadron is one of Australia’s only operating destroyers, H.M.A.S Perth (D 38). The Perth was the lead ship of a subclass of the U.S Charles F. Adams class guided missile destroyers constructed in the 1960s and is Australia’s oldest serving warship in commission having surpassed her 30+ year lifespan, well passed her 40th year of service with the R.A.N while her two sister ships were already decommissioned and sunk as dive wrecks. The ageing destroyer is to remain in commission under the request of the Howard and Spink Governments until a new class of guided missile destroyers could be acquired.

Alongside the Perth is the Guided Missile Frigate, Darwin (FFG 04). The Darwin is the fourth ship of the Adelaide subclass of the Oliver Hazard Perry class guided missile frigates built in the mid-80s and has, along with her five sister ships, been the workhorse of the Royal Australian Navy for the past twenty years. To enhance the squadron’s Anti Submarine Warfare capability two Anzac class helicopter frigates have been assigned.

H.M.A.S Anzac (FFH 150) and Parramatta (FFH 154) were the two of the eight ships of the class assigned to the Battleship Squadron to serve as ASW escorts for the Sydney. The last ship to be assigned to the squadron is H.M.A.S Success (OR 304), a Durance class multi-product replenishment oiler of the RAN. However at the time of Bloc’s surprise attack the Success was deployed to Hawaii for joint naval maneuvers and has already been assigned to a joint Australian/Canadian Commonwealth Surface Action Group led by Canada’s newly commisioned aircraft carrier, H.M.C.S Presence.

With the squadron assigned and organised it was only a matter of getting to Hawaii via the Central Pacific, by taking the direct route we would sail on through unchallenged or face little resistance should Bloc respond, or so we hoped…


“Captain’s log, April 14th, 2006. Day 8, could’ve sworn we’ve left Sydney yesterday. Five days ago when we were passing the Fijian Islands we had been shadowed by a Chinese submarine operating in the area and had transmitted our position to what we triangulated to was the Gryphon capital. On the following day we received unconfirmed reports that a Bloc submarine squadron and a possible Bloc SAG had broken out into the Central Pacific from Changeling territory in an attempt to intercept us. At the time however, we already knew our primary route was compromised and we had shifted to our secondary route by sailing north towards the Marshall Islands before swinging right towards Hawaii via the Johnston Atoll.

Which brings back to now, we’re due to conduct our first refueling-op once we reach the heart of the Marshall’s as our escorts have already burned through most of their fuel supply with the current speeds we’ve been running since we left Sydney. Not that it can be helped but for every day that passes with us nowhere near Hawaii is a closing day for Bloc to snatch up an opportunity for them to strike out at us while we are outside of any allied support till we reach Johnston Atoll where we’ll eventually rendezvous with the Presence and our fleet replenisher, Success.

If all goes well we should reach Johnston atoll in the next five days if we don’t encounter any trouble along the way, end log.”


With the click of a button the personal hand held voice recorder wound down to a halt and the tape was ejected out of the device. The tape was then marked and tucked into a small envelope before being placed into a secured safe tucked underneath the captain’s study desk. Once the safe was locked and secured I lean back against my office chair for a quick stretch before I stood to proceed to my next task. I take a quick glance around the open space of my cabin which more or less resembles a luxury unit in Sydney.

Refurbished to modern Australian Navy standards the main cabin space still retains its similar layout to that of the Iowa but outfitted with a private kitchen area for the ship’s C.O which includes a mini-bar fridge for stowage of alcoholic beverages. Though alcoholic consumption by senior officers is strictly prohibited when not in port, junior sailors are entitled to at least one standard drink a day and have to bring their own supply which have their own restrictions on exactly how much can be brought aboard per sailor. Crimson red carpet pave the entirety of the cabin minus the tiny kitchen space and the bathroom with a large rug modeled after Sydney’s insignia. A small lounging area is set up just in front of me and a large, highly decorated eucalyptus table set alongside the kitchen to seat eight people when the main space is being used for high value diplomatic meetings should such events need to be conducted on board as Sydney has the facilities and the contingencies to conduct such meetings involving key international delegates, leaders or collaborating naval officials.

Just to the right of my office desk is the doorway that leads to my bedroom and the cabin door. The layout is the same to that of the Iowa’s along with the bathroom, I was generally surprised that the designers left the bathtub in place as the schematics of the USS Iowa was used as the main template for the AEGIS conversion. At least they’ve added in an adjustable showerhead that’ll be making more frequent use of throughout the next couple of months. Just by sheer coincidence as I was gazing into my own cabin three knocks rang out on the cabin door.

“Enter!” I called out.

The cabin door swings open in response revealing the guest as he entered my cabin. The gentleman closed the door behind him then turned to attention as he greets me with a salute.

“Mornin’ Skippy.” The man greeted with a friendly tone.

“Husky.” I returned the salute.

The man standing before me is Sydney’s X.O and long term friend of mine, Lieutenant Commander Jonathan ‘Husky’ Hughes. John and I first met in our early school days and our bond of mateship would develop through the years following into high school and the local community cricket team. Once we reached year 10, I made a personal choice to drop out of high school and to join the navy while John would continue through the senior years to pursue a career in the national cricket team. Long story short, things didn’t turn out well in his goal so upon returning from the Persian Gulf I convinced him to join the navy as well. Since then he never looked back as he trained to become one of the finest officers I had the privilege to serve alongside.

“Everything ship-shape?” I asked.

“Green across the board and on all decks.” John chimed.

“Good to hear.”

Following a brief pause of the conversation me and John proceeded into the main cabin space as john took a seat at the lounging area while I headed over to the kitchen to grab a drink.

“Wanna drink, mate?” I called out.

“Nah, I just picked up a cup of coffee on the way up, I would’ve enjoyed it had ‘Chef’ not served it in a bloody foam cup. I brought me’ mug down and he serves my coffee in a foam cup and puts the foam cup in my mug!” John replied with irritation.

I paused as I opened the mini fridge. “Why do I have a feeling that was Chef getting back at you for losing his lucky ball during that game of cricket we had while we were conducting trials off Darwin.”

“Aw, bugger off! Who’s idea was it to host a game of aft ends while we were underway?” John glanced my way.

“Yeah… not the wisest decision I made in my career.” I chuckled as I sorted through the choices of beverages I had before me before picking out a small glass bottle of apple cider.

“So how’s Holly by the way, have you been in touch with her since we left Sydney?”

“Yeah, she Emailed me when we passed Fiji about her recent scan.”

“Aw yeah, so are you expecting a boy or a girl?” John asked curiously.

“Girls.” I simply replied as I turn to see Husky shoot off his seat in shock.

“Girls! You’re expecting twins!?” John almost shouted in joy.

“Yep, seven months with twin girls,” I repeated myself.

“Mate, no wonder she ballooned out so quickly in the first five months, thought she was gonna pop out a big boy. Oi, pass me one of those ciders, this calls for a brief celebration.” He called out.

And so for the next half an hour me and John went over what me and Holly were gonna name the girls, some of the stupid shit John and his ADFA buddies did at the Academy and then wrap it up with a briefly planned course of action should we encounter either the Bloc SAG or the submarine group that got out into the Central Pacific.


Central Pacific
0234 Hours
HMAS Sydney Combat Information Centre
Status: Defence Stations

Since our refueling stop in the Marshall Islands we received additional reports through the comms traffic regarding the Bloc submarine group and the SAG that got out into the Central Pacific from before. The SAG was forced back into their territorial waters after encountering a stronger U.S Carrier Task Force. The submarine group however, has now been causing some disruptions on vital shipping lanes in the area.

From what we’ve gathered there are at least two submarines operating together in this group. Their last known position was reported when a civilian tanker was torpedoed approximately four hundred and fifty nautical miles south-east of our position before disappearing sailing on a north-west bearing. That was ten hours ago and it had become apparent that we were now being hunted. I had reorganised the squadron into the ASW formation with Sydney as centrepiece of the formation, Darwin is positioned at the front of the formation, Anzac and Parramatta are on Sydney’s flanks with countermeasures deployed and S-70B-2 Seahawks running ASW missions ahead of the formation, and Perth taking up the rear of the formation.

I monitor the squadron’s movement via a plethora of monitors and displays set up at the front of the CIC with the occasional glance at the surface radar and sonar plotters. Unlike the small, confined compartments you see on modern warships, Sydney’s CIC offers a wider versatility in our ability to project the battleship’s capabilities. From air defence to heavy naval gunfire support, and conducting joint spec-ops missions with the ship’s detached commando unit which is comprised of joint Special Air Service Regiment commandos and R.A.N Naval Clearance Divers.

Under the circumstances of submarine warfare Sydney’s large hull offers plenty of room to apply the latest of active and passive sonar technology and subterranean tracking systems in one complete package such as a large sonar dome was outfitted onto the Battleship’s bulbous bow. For the past six hours we had four of our Seahawks running ASW ops ahead of the squadron in three hour rotations. They have just performed their third rotation between the two pairs as the relieving helicopters return to their assigned ships and the dispatched pair makes their way to the designated patrol area.

Parramatta, this is Kilo-five-seven-three with Kilo-five-seven-six from the Anzac, we are approaching the A.O from south-south-west. Seven three and seven six will be splitting to cover more of the area and we will be dropping our Sonobuoys, over.”

“Kilo-five-seven-three this is Parramatta actual, proceed to the A.O and commence ASW operations, over.”

“Rodger that, Parramatta. Kilo-five-seven-three going on station, out.”

“Ops, thisthe Tower.” The Gunnery Officer hailed.

Tower, this is Skippy, go ahead.” I replied.

“Copy, actual. We’ve run into an automated re-calibration issue with the laser designators on the forward rangefinder. We’ll have to either reset the system or complete the re-calibration manually, over.”

“Reset the system, Gunny. I don’t want a repeat of what happened during the initial trials.” I sighed.

“Aye, sir. We’ll reboot the system. Be advised, forward automated gun fire control systems will be down during the system reboot, recommend switching to the analogue backup systems till primary systems are restored up here, over and out.”

This wasn’t the first time that we had minor problems with the automated gun fire control systems. The software and the major automated components of the system is experimental and they’re still a few kinks that need to be ironed out. Though nothing major that would compromise the ship and the crew’s safety has occurred, and should a major system failure occur, we have fail safes in place and the designers and engineers have kept the analogue gun fire control systems from the Iowa’s as a backup system that we can switch over to.

“Kilo five-seven-three to fleet, sonobuoy is in the water.”


Two hours have passed since the fourth rotation of the Seahawks and still haven’t encountered the two hostile submarines. I take a quick glance at my Citizen Skyhawk Blue Angels Edition watch to see how long this Op has running for.

“Four thirty in the morning…”

I should’ve gotten some sleep and let John take over. I don’t know whether it was Chef’s good coffee or the elegant voice of Belinda Carlisle that’s kept me up around this time. Everyone in the Ops Centre seems to be enjoying the music broadcasting through the ship-wide P.A system from the ship’s dedicated radio station we have set up alongside the main communications centre. Normally music is only played in non-essential compartments and corridors to avoid communication disruptions, but I decided it would help keep the active operators in good spirit and should the need to sound General Quarters arise the broadcast can be interrupted. It makes me happy to see the crew in high spirit. As my dad once said; A warship and her crew in high morale is a tidal wave that cannot be stopped.

*Ping*

As quick as that sound reached my ears I flick my attention to the overhead sonar display.

“Sonar, what have we got on scope?”

“Sir, we’re picking up multiple large contacts about thirty nautical miles bearing zero-one-nine on passive, current heading is two-one-zero.” the Senior combat systems operator called out. “Return readings indicate a large pod of blue whales with two larger unknowns in the mix designated Sierra one and two.”

“Do you have a clear reading on the unknowns?” I asked the sonar operator.

“It’s hard to say looking from the waterfall sir, they’re moving in a tight pack. I can just barely identify a calf in the pod, but the larger unknowns stick out like a pair of sore thumbs.”

“What do you think, Elfyn. Could be our two subs?” John whispered to me.

“Only one way to find out.” I replied. “Kowalski! Divert one of our birds to the pod, have them drop their buoy nearby.”

“Aye, sir!”


Eight minutes pass as Kilo-five-seven-three makes its way over to the pod. The two larger unknowns had broke away from the pod and are moving towards the battleship squadron at an increased speed. As Kilo-five-seven-three closed in the two unknowns disappear off the Seahawk’s onboard sonar suite.

“Kilo-five-seven-three to fleet, the two unknowns have just dropped off our sonar and are no longer tracking them. Do you still have eyes on them Sydney, over?”

“Negative, Kilo-five-seven-three, they’re off our scopes too. Maintain intercept course for another four nautical miles and proceed to drop your buoy, over.”

“Roger Sydney, maintaining intercept trajectory. Over and out.”


By the time Kilo-five-seven-three arrived at its intercept point the helo crew were unable to retrace the now illusive submarines.

“They couldn’t have gone too far from their last known position. We’ll drop the buoy here and we should hopefully pick them up again.” The Tactical Coordinator spoke confidently.

“We’re down to our last buoy, ‘Milkshake’. After this it’s on you with the MK. 46’s,” the Sensor Operator warned.

“Aw shit, really ‘Floppy-Disk’? That was quick.” Milkshake looks behind her co-pilot seat at the Sensor Operator nicknamed Floppy-disk.

“Yeah, how we doing for fuel, Jonno?” Floppy-Disk asks the pilot.

“About thirty minutes till we hit reserves. Another ten minutes of no action and we’re gonna have to R.T.B back to Parra’, unless you plan on swimming?.” Jonno replied.

“Copy that, dropping the buoy.”

“Hey Samantha.” Jonno grabs Milkshake’s attention. “How did you earn the nickname Mil-”

Jonno’s question was interrupted when what was to be an inaudible splash of the buoy hitting the water was instead met with what sounded like a loud clanging noise of the buoy hitting something metallic underneath the helicopter.

“What the fuck was that?” Floppy-Disk called out.

“No idea, Jonno, bring us about.” Milkshake replied as she takes control of mounted spotlight.

The Seahawk makes a sudden bank to the right as it pulls away to maneuver to a better position, the helicopter’s spotlight lights up the ocean surface. The illumination of the light sways towards the buoy, revealing the floating device and a long, pitch black periscope poking out of the water.

Milkshake was surprised at what she was seeing. “Oh shit, is that a periscope!?”

*Ping*

The Sonar Operator looked back at his console, the two submarines had reappeared when the newly deployed buoy activated and Floppy-Disk now has a clear picture of what the fleet was dealing with. Two Sierra-III class Fast Nuclear Attack Submarines pictured as clear as daylight on the sonar suite. But these Sierra’s are in reality the Changeling Vampire class sub-variant of the Russian submarine.

“Vampire’s! We got hunter-killers.” Floppy-Disk called out.

“Fuck me dead, hold on!” Jonno pulls the joystick as had to his left as the Seahawk sharply banks in the same direction away from the now spotted attack subs and moves into an attack position to launch the mounted anti-submarine torpedoes.

“Break, Kilo-five-seven-three to all stations, we’ve located two enemy attack submarines, both Sierra-III class. We’re repositioning to engage.”


“G.Q. All hands to Action Stations, Action Stations, Action Stations! This is not a drill! Set condition one throughout the ship, condition: Zulu. Portside up, Starboard-side down!”

From the first blare of the klaxon all hands were on their feet running through the corridors like the blood vessels that breathes life throughout the ship. Damage control teams assemble at their stations, the engineers kick into overdrive to push the ship’s eight liquid petroleum gas boilers into their “Superheat” state to bring maximum power output for the four Vickers Iron-Horse geared turbines should a hard maneuver need to be pulled. The gunnery crews led by their designated Gun Captains pour into the large 16” guns that serve as Sydney’s main armament, and shipboard medics are on standby in the ship’s hospital.

“Elfyn, all hands are at action stations and we’re ready to maneuver at short notice.” Husky announced.

“Thank you, John.” I replied before hailing the damage control centre. “Ops, damage control, seal all watertight compartments.”

“D.C, Ops, closing doors. All damage control teams are on standby, ready to go.” The senior damage control officer responded.

“Copy that.” I flip a switch on the 1MC to make a ship-wide announcement.

“Attention all hands, this the Captain. We’ve encountered two enemy submarines to our north, One of our Seahawks have engaged the pair and we’ll be maneuvering our screen into attack range. I update you all as the situation develops, out.”

“Sir, Aegis is active and we’re tracking the enemy Sierras’ periscopes on the X-band.”

“Kilo-five-seven-three to Parramatta, we’ve gotta lock on one of the subs requesting permission to engage?”

“Kilo-five-seven-three, this is Parramatta actual. Permission to engage is authorised, weapons free.”

“Aye sir, going in fast and low.” The seahawk pilot rang out as the ASW helicopter made its attack run.

What followed was a brief pause in the chatter as everyone anxiously waited for the outcome.

“Seven-three, one torpedo away… Both torpedoes in the water!”

*Ping*

“Both torps have locked on.”

*Ping, ping*

“Enemy subs are hard maneuvering, they’re deploying countermeasures.”

*Ping, ping, ping, ping*

“Its too late for them, the torpedoes already slipped through.”

*Ping, Ping*

“Large detonations on scope, one of the Sierras’ is hit.” The sonar operator called out.

“Please confirm the target is destroyed, Able Seaman?” I called out in response.

“Standby… Confirmed secondary explosion on the struck Sierra, possible magazine detonation. I can hear her breaking up sir, she’s going down.”

“Seven-three to fleet, kill confirmed.” The seahawk reported.

“It’s not over yet, we got another Sierra-III out there.” Perth’s C.O chimed on the frequency.

“Kilo-five-seven-three to Kilo-five-seven-six, what’s your eta, over?”

“Kilo-five-seven-six, we’re ten minutes away. Hold on.”

Anzac actual to seven-six, double time it!”

“Moving as fast as we can, sir.”

“Sir, contact is making noise, she’s accelerating. Thirty thousand metres, closing fast and maintaining periscope depth.”

‘She must be attempting to close the gap to get off her torpedoes of or whatever close range missiles she has loaded in the tubes.’

“Enemy sub’s flushed her tubes, four torpedoes in the water bearing two-one-five, moving at a speed of sixty three knots.”

“Deploy countermeasures, standby for evasive manoeuvres.”

“Aye sir, bringing out the bait.”

“Two more torpedoes have been launched- Correction, they just went airborne! We got ASMs fast and low, fifty seconds to impact.”

“Aegis is tracking the missiles on the S-Band, interceptors ready to go.”

“Give firing solutions to the Perth and launch missiles!”

“Targeting solutions locked, missiles away.”


Just forward of the battleship’s A turret is the MK.41 Vertical Launch system comprising 48 missile tubes.


Two of the vertical tubes open up allowing two Evolved Sea Sparrow Missiles to be hot launched out of their tubes. Two more ESSMs are launched from the Perth using the cold launch method as they fly off towards their targets with the Aegis Combat System on the Sydney guiding them.

Me, John, and whoever had a clear view on the surface radar displays watched with uncertainty as our missiles closed in on theirs. We didn’t have to wait too long as the missiles closed the gap quickly and locked onto the sub-launched missiles and make the intercept. One of the ESSM’s makes the kill on one of the ASMs with the following missile reacquiring the other ASM but misses.

“One missile intercepted,” one of the Combat Systems Operator called out.

Around the same time our missiles intercepted, Perth’s missiles made their intercept. Unfortunately, being in a tighter group causes both of the ESSMs to miss the ASM as it breaks through our long range AA sphere and locks onto the Parramatta.

“The Missile’s gotta lock, its going for the Parra’!”

Parramatta, popping the CIWS!”

As the ASM entered the Squadron’s close range AA sphere Phalanx 20mm gatling guns on the Sydney, Parramatta and the Darwin acquire the missile and unleashed a hail of bullets, evaporating the missile before it got within two hundred meters of striking Parramatta’s portside.


“Crickey! That was a little close for comfort.” John exclaimed.

“Too close for my liking, now let’s start worrying about those torpedoes. Scope, where are those fishes at?” I turned to the Sonar Operator.

“Twenty five thousand meters and closing. We still have time to get clear of their active sonar cones before they activate.” The operator replied.

“What’s their current bearing?”

“Same as before, still no signs of active tracking yet.”

“Alright, chances are those torpedoes haven’t acquired us yet which gives us time to sink that boat. Passlow, aren’t we carrying a few anti-submarine missiles on board?” I asked the senior weapons officer.

“Yes sir, we have eight RUM-139 VL-ASROCs in the tubes armed with the new MK.54 torpedoes that was recently introduced into our arsenal. Perth is also armed with ASROCs” The weapons officer Christine Passlow chimed in.

“Alright, is Kilo-five-seven-three still tracking that sub?” I asked.

“Yes sir, they’re glued to that sub like a snag’ to a slice of bread.”

“What’s the effective range on the ASROCs?”

“11.2 Nautical Miles, the enemy sub is sitting just under 12 nautical miles.”

“Righto, that’s close enough. Wada’ you reckon John, Shove a couple of 54s down their throats?” I turn to my X.O.

“Sounds good to me. Spook em’ with a pair of ASROCs and straddle them with a 16-inch salvo of high explosive shell rigged with timed fuses. Give them something to write home about.” John suggested.

“If they live through it. Passlow, give me a firing solution for the remaining Sierra. Two ASROCs with their payloads set to active sonar tracking once deployed.” I ordered.

“Missiles prepped and set for max range deployment.” Passlow responded as she inputs the Coordinates for the missiles.

Upon looking at the missile trajectories I felt the torpedoes could be deployed at a better angle. “Have the ASROCs launch their payloads a good distance apart, I want the torpedoes to home in on that sub with a pincer attack.”

“Adjusting… Done, ready to fire.” Passlow says as she readjusts the missile's trajectory.

I pick up the 1MC to hail the fire control tower. “Ops, Fire-Control, load main batteries with high explosive shells. Time delayed fuses installed and set to two decimal zero seconds.”

“Fire-Control, Ops, main batteries are being loaded and will be ready in thirty seconds.” The tower responded.

“Torpedoes have passed the twenty thousand meter threshold and closing.” The sonar operator informs me.

“All stations, standby to take evasive manoeuvres. All able ships have your noisemakers ready to go.”

“ASROC anti-submarine missile system ready to engage.” Passlow Announced.

“Permission to engage granted, fire when ready.” I granted the fire mission request.

“ASROCs, away!”

There was a sudden shudder that could be felt in the room as the two anti-submarine missiles are cold-launched out their tubes and sent flying towards their target. The next couple of minutes will be the longest I’ll ever endure.

The enemy torpedoes were almost passed the ten thousand meter mark and it was time to get the fleet moving. “All ships, reel in your towed arrays and push ahead at flank speed. We gotta get clear of those incoming torpedoes.”

“Rodger!” Came the mixed responses from the other ships as John relays the same order to the bridge.

“Ops, Fire-control. Train all three turrets to bearing zero-one-nine, elevation three two decimal four."

“Main batteries to bearing zero-one-nine, elevation three two decimal four, aye sir.” The fire control officer replied as the muffled mechanical whirs of the three 16-inch gun turrets are brought to bear on the tracking sub.

“Rangefinders are linked to Aegis, main guns are loaded and tracking the sub.” The combat systems officer informs me.

“Okay, bring them down by three degrees for a leading salvo, hold fire till I give the word.” I asked the CSO for the required adjustments.

“Aye sir, making adjustments… Done, 16-inch gunnery systems ready to fire on your mark.”

“Parra’ to Sydney, we’ve cleared the wake zone and is now safe to discharge the big boys, give em’ hell.” Parramatta’s C.O informs me.

“Sir, the enemy sub has passed the predicted drop point for the ASROCs, switching to manual drop. ETA, fifteen seconds.” Passlow announced.

“Alright, it’s now or never ladies and gents. Let’s put this bastard down.”

“Ten seconds.”

“C’mon, let’s give them the thunder from down under.” Husky muttered to himself.

“Five, four, three two, one. Weapons away!”

At the push of a button the MK.54 torpedoes are separated from the missiles and splash into the pacific. Their active sensors go live and immediately lock onto the Sierra.

“Enemy sub’s dropped her periscope, she’s crash diving and dropped a noisemaker.” The Sonar Operator informs me.

“Our torps are closing in, pincer maneuverer achieved.” Passlow calls out the movement of our torpedoes.

I watched the sonar displays as two blips closed in on the larger blip. What felt like an eternity the torps make the intercept as the Sierra executes a hard nose dive.

*PING*

“Scope, report?” I called out to Passlow.

“Those were our torps sir, they just missed the target and collided into each other.” Passlow claps her hands in frustration.

“Do we still have the sub?” I turned to the sonar operator.

“Negative, lost her to interference from the explosion.” The operator replied.

“The second we reacquire that sub, I want shells on the way!” I called out to the CSO.

“Kilo five-seven-three to fleet, we got the sub back on scope. She’s bleeding a lot of speed and rising to the surface rapidly.” The Seahawk pilot alerts me.

Husky was surprised. “What are they doing? Did we actually hit them?”

“We’re about to find out.” I shrugged back.

“Kilo five-seven-three to fleet, the enemy sub has surfaced. It looks like they blew their ballast.” Jonno reports.

“Do you see any signs of damage?” I asked the helo pilot.

“Nothing along the fore and mid-ship casemates- Hold on, the aft end looks badly damaged. The torpedoes must’ve been close enough to inflict serious damage to the nuke-boat’s propulsion system and the aft ballast casemates.”

“Contact, the enemy submarine just launched two more ASM’s. Torpedoes have passed the ten thousand meter mark. We’ll be in their active sensor range in two minutes.”

“Ops, fire control. Reacquire the enemy sub and send the wankers to Davy Jones’ locker!”

“Target locked, final firing solutions plotted in. Salvo away, salvo away, salvo away!” The fire control officer warns the crew as the main battery discharge alarm sounds three times prior the firing of the battleship’s main guns.

As some of the crew in the Ops room braced for the discharge, I, John and many others couldn’t contain our excitement as we waited. What brief silence there had been was completely pulverized as all nine 16-inch guns fired their salvos simultaneously leaving a bracketing muzzle flash in their wake and the deafening explosive force thundered through the hallways and compartments, leaving unprepared sailors almost shitting themselves and those waiting were rewarded with a sense of nostalgic satisfaction.

“Parra’ to kilo five-seven-three, you got friendly artillery homing in on your position. Get clear of that sub!” Parramatta’s C.O warned the Seahawk orbiting the crippled submarine.


“Copy that, mission parameters complete. Come on home Kilo five-seven-three. Kilo five-seven-six, disregard previous orders, return to Anzac.” The Anzac hails the other Seahawk.

“Rodger, heading home now.” Kilo five-seven-six responded.

“Alright, that’s a wrap, let’s go home.” Jonno announced.

“Hold up Johnno, surely we can stick around for the fireworks?” Milkshake pleaded.

“I don’t want to stick around for too long, just in case those changelings start thinking of some payback on us for fucking up their boat.” Jonno replied with unease.

“We don’t have to worry about them for too long once they get our going away gift.” Floppy disk reassured Jonathan.

The helo crew makes the decision to hang around the crippled submarine and wait for the incoming salvo to which they didn’t have to wait too long. The shells straddles the crippled Sierra with only one striking the nuke-boat as it burrows itself into the forward crew compartment just aft of the weapons space. The time delayed fuse kicks in and the shell detonates, killing all in the forward sections as it sets off a chain reaction with the weapons stores. The helicopter crew watches in awe and joy as the submarine is ripped apart and her crew caught on deck evacuating the submarine are sent flying into the seas.

“Whoa! Please tell me we got footage recorded on that?” Milkshake asked Floppy-Disk.

“Oh you know we do.” Floppy disk grinned.

“Oh-oh, yes the lot back on board are gonna love the footage.” Milkshake giggled.

“Well, that’s a sight I won’t be forgetting soon. Had enough, Milkshake?” Jonno turned to his co-pilot.

“Yes sir, let’s get outta here.” Milkshake replied with a yawn.

What followed up till the early morning was the fleet’s close call with the enemy’s torpedoes when one of them locked onto Perth after her noisemaker malfunctioned, but the old destroyer still had some reflexes to pull a last minute hard turn to throw the torpedo off her before it ran out of fuel and self-destructed.


Kilo five-seven-three was pursued by the survivors of the last Sierra back to the fleet with sufficient numbers that made some good target practice for Sydney’s 5” guns to put the autoloaders through their paces for future air attacks. A handful of Changelings that lived through the turkey shoot surrendered to us and are under our custody until we reach Pearl Harbour. With the threats neutralised we can look forward to some much needed sleep, now that we are better prepared for future attacks.


200 Nautical miles west of Johnston’s Atoll

Pacific Ocean

April 18th, 2006

Status: Nearing rendezvous point with HMCS Presence ETA: 12 Hours

In the hours since the Bloc submarine attack our enemies have been keeping their distance. Occasionally they would send a reconnaissance plane out to shadow us every couple of hours but haven’t made the commitment to a launch major air attack. We had some one off incidents where a Bloc fighter would attempt to buzz us to test our anti-air defences, we kindly responded with a salvo of five-inch proximity shells once they enter the 10km threshold of the secondary’s anti-air range.

Normally a sea sparrow would suffice, but as I like to say; you can counter a missile in this day and age, but what use are countermeasures for when they can’t counter unguided shells? Some of those ‘Buzzers’ learned that the hard way when their fighters end up being reduced to a burning wreck from flying through several shrapnel packed mushroom clouds of death. Since then the last two days have been unusually quiet.

We managed to get close enough to Midway to gain air support from the allied aircraft stationed there. As of today, HMCS Presence’ own fighters with additional support from the Hawaiian National Guard have relieved the units from Midway. With Canadian CF-18 Hornets and F-22 Raptors stationed in Pearl ready to provide air support, it would be a near suicide mission for Bloc commit a bulk of their air power to put us down. Well, Bloc aren’t the type of bad guys that never shy away from testing those odds.

“Mark two cee. Early warning, multiple air contacts bearing one-two-seven.” The radar operator announced loudly.

John and I moved to the radar console to investigate. “What’s their return signatures?” I asked.

“Six fast movers up front and four heavies in the rear with two escorts, identified as Flankers and Bears. Formation is maintaining speed, five-three-seven knots.” The operator replied from his initial observations.

Husky leaned forward for a closer look. “What’s the range from ESSM threshold?”

“One hundred and ninety three nautical miles and closing.” The operator turned to her X.O.

“Current altitude is at?”

“Three-five-zero-zero feet.”

“Conn, does our Canadian friends know they are coming?” I called out to our communications officer.

“AWACS is on top of it sir, friendly birds are moving to intercept.” The communications officer called back across the room.

Husky straightened back up from the console from analysing the information. “Looks like Bloc wants to give us a going away party before we reach Pearl, Skippy.”

“Well then, let’s not keep them waiting.” I answered back with a smug. “G.Q, Air-Defence stations! Stand to-targets of interest.”

“Mark two cee, Aegis, targets of interest!” John repeated my order through the 1MC.

“X-band has the enemy birds locked on, bears marked as priority targets.” Aegis announced.

“Alright, we’ll leave the Flankers to the Canadians for now. Once we dealt with those bombers we’ll lend assistance to our air cover unless we absolutely have to save someone’s ass.” John added.

Aegis nods in response and turns to me. “Aye sir, all bears have been acquired. Permission to engage.”

“Permission to engage when in range.” I granted the authorisation.

“Friendly hornets have made contact. The enemy have broken formation, but the bears and their escorts are still on track.” The communications officer calls out as he monitors the chatter.

“Alright people, this is what we’ve been preparing for. Let’s make every sea sparrow count.” I called out loudly to the crew.

“Enemy birds have entered the ESSM threshold. We got lock on, lock on, missiles away.”

Ten of the bow MK.41 VLS tubes open up as their payloads fly out away from the battleship and soar towards their targets. Our escorts also launch their share of ESSM missiles at the enemy aircraft. The oncoming flankers detect the oncoming missiles and bank inwards ahead of the bomber formation, dumping flares in front of the bears to distract the oncoming missiles. But with so many sea sparrows to counter it is impossible to counter all of them as some of the sea sparrows find their targeted bombers. Only one of the bears managed to launch his ordinance, an AS-4 ‘Kitchen’ anti-ship missile detached from its bomber and takes off towards the SAG. As soon as we detected the missile it had already reached its maximum speed as it locked onto the Sydney.

“Kitchen-knife! Kitchen-knife! It’s gotta lock onto us!” The maritime warfare officer shouts.

I instinctively turn to Aegis. “Drop the knife Aegis!”

Aegis was one step ahead of me as she programs two more ESSMs to launch. “Already on it, interceptors away!”

Another pair of ESSMs launch out their vertical missile tubes and take off towards the oncoming anti-ship missile. The two flankers that were escorting the downed bombers followed the kitchen-knife towards the SAG in an attempt to launch their anti-ship missiles.

“Both of the flankers are closing into the 5-inch threshold, bringing the ‘turbo-lasers’ to bear.” The gunnery officer for the 5-inch guns announced as he programs Sydney’s secondaries to attack the incoming fighters.


The nickname “Turbo-lasers” came from the initial trials when the 5-inches were being tested with practice-tracer rounds at night. Some still shots captured by the media made the guns look like they were firing laser beams, and the nickname officially stuck on.

“Bonza! Kitchen-knife is back in the draw.” Aegis claps her hands with relief.

I gave Aegis a thumbs up. “Excellent work, let’s put the pressure on these bogeys.”

“Flankers have entered the five-inch threshold, proximity rounds loaded, engaging hostile birds.” The gunnery officer alerts me as he gives the kill command to the five-inch guns.

As the firing solutions were locked in the twin 5” 38.Cal MK.29 guns on the Sydney’s portside were quickly brought to bear onto the approaching fighters. Due to being rendered fully autonomous the 5-inch guns on the Sydney and the Washington’s have a slightly improved, consistent rate of fire of 34 rounds per minute over the original MK.28s 30 RPM on the Iowa’s. What makes the MK.29s unique is the independent auto-loading and firing system, the guns can be loaded separately with different shell types and the rifles, like the 16-inch’s can be elevated and fired independently. These traits are what makes Sydney’s secondaries very versatile.

No sooner as the two flankers entered the 10km threshold the three 5-inch guns on the portside start to blaze away at the oncoming fighters. The initial burst of flak caught the fighters by complete surprise as one of them flew through the wall of shrapnel and came out the other side a raging fireball. The other immediately aborted its attack run and attempted to turn away, full afterburner while furiously dumping flares. But the Mk.2C targeting computers are able tell the countermeasures apart from the aircraft and remained unfazed as they maintained their target solution on the last flanker. Salvo after salvo, every burst of shrapnel slowly tore the evading aircraft apart till a 5-inch shell got on top of the fighter and exploded, tearing the aircraft in half as its pilot bailed out.

“Aegis, Mark two cee, enemy aircraft destroyed.” Aegis calls out to the radar operator.

“Good work lads and lassies, now let’s see if our Canadian friends need some help.” Husky commended the crew’s efforts.

“Looks like they got this in the bag- Hold on, AWACS has got something… Vampires! Three of them, fast and low, bearing two-one-seven.” A maritime warfare officer calls out.

“Launch interceptors, prep countermeasures.” I ordered with haste.

“Interceptors away, SRBOCs CWIS and Nulka’s ready to go.” Aegis replied in unison.

The three ESSMs fly out the tubes and accelerate towards the oncoming ASMs. Two of the ESSMs would successfully intercept their targeted ASMs while the last vampire slipped past but would be shot down by Darwin’s phalanx.

“Missiles intercepted.” Aegis sighed with relief.

“Good work, our air cover should have the skies cleared.” Husky gave Aegis a pat on the back.

Just to the corner of my eye I just catch what looked like one of our hornets taking a missile up the tailpipe from the live drone footage. The cry of panic over the coms confirms my fears. “Mayday, mayday, mayday! Lynx one-three, I’m hit ejecting!”

“Conn, was that one of ours!?” Husky turns to the comms officer.

“Affirmative sir, a fellow wingman has visual on a parachute.” Conn looks up from his console. “AWACS is requesting we send a chopper to fish him out.”

“Righto, get the Darwin on the horn. Have their bird bring him here for medical treatment and I want a medical team and the operations theatre on standby just in case.” I asked the comms officer to which he gave me a thumbs up in return. “Aye, aye sir.”

Husky came up on my left side. “Looks like we’re gonna make it to Pearl unscathed.” He gave me a friendly pat on the back.

I sighed in relief. “Yeah, we made it this far. Hopefully the Canadians brought the ‘Battle-Tanker’ with them, our frigates are running on fumes keeping pace with us. Fleet Base East didn’t give us time to top up our reserve tanks to keep our escorts topped up.”

“Don’t worry, Success is with them. We’ll just have to clear it with Rear-Admiral Dolmann first.” Husky added.

“Will do.” I assured my friend before picking up the 1MC. “Attention all stations, this the Boxing Kangaroo. The last couple of days have been the start of what will be the toughest fight the Australian Navy has participated in. I couldn’t have asked to stand with some of the Navy’s best and brightest sailors. I am proud of everyone’s efforts over the last four days, so enjoy what shore leave you’re given once we reach Hawaii, because when we get back into the fight the enemy won’t be showing any restraint. But we’ll be ready for what they throw at us and be more than happy to hit back with the thunder of Australia. That is all for now, Dismissed.”

The second I put the 1MC down I was inundated in applause from the crew. The level of appreciation and respect from the crew goes to show that no matter how well disciplined we Aussies are, the true bond of mateship is what helps us overcome these challenges and makes us one hell of a fighting force.


April 19th, 2006

The rendezvous with Canadian carrier group went off without a hitch. Lucas Bradley, the downed hornet pilot we picked up after the battle had been cleared to return to the Presence following a brief medical check and having a beer for him. With the COMMSAG formed we make our way back to Pearl Harbor with Bloc attempting a last strike against us, but the combined arms of the Australian and Canadian ships and embarked fighters from the Presence was more than enough to repel the attack thanks to the Aegis system that allowed us to network our ships defensive capabilities into a near-impenetrable anti-air/missile defence grid.

The day we sailed into Pearl Harbor we were given one hell of a welcome reception from the residents who crowded the shore lines to greet the Commonwealth taskforce. When Sydney rounded the heads the overwhelming joy you could hear from the public reminded me of the time the North Carolina first sailed into Pearl shortly after the USA’s entry into WWII. Where the old dreadnoughts laid battered and bruised from the Japanese attack on December 7th, the North Carolina’s arrival symbolised hope and salvation to the people. The Bloc’s surprise attack on the American carrier exercise last month came as a great shock to everyone and we know that there is no going back now. All we can do now is to cherish the calm that we have left before we are consumed by the coming storm.

While we are waiting to move into the base the harbour-master had us temporarily tied up alongside the Missouri, Sydney’s American sister-ship till we get the clearance to dock for replenishment. Until then, the crew have been cleared for shore leave to explore the Mighty-Mo. Husky, myself and some Midshipmen have taken some of our leave time to organise my day cabin for a special meet and greet dinner with some of Missouri’s former crew members, who are now volunteers in the preservation of their great ship.

Being out at sea to explore the world and the limitless opportunities to hear great stories from the old veterans and to fight alongside our allies. This is why I love being in the Navy.