Science Ninja Team Gatchaman
Written by Toriumi Jinzō
Illustrated by Ōtori Workshop
Part 3: The Iron Beast Appears
Chapter 1
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America’s pride, the state-of-the-art nuclear attack submarine Vandenberg, was cruising at a depth of 800 meters at a slow pace of 10 knots. The submarine kept close to the coast of the Aleutian Islands. The Vandenberg was here to participate in Operation: Star Freedom.
Operation: Star Freedom was an annual integrated large-scale military exercise held in the North Pacific. Participating forces included the U.S. Seventh Fleet as well as units from New Zealand, Canada, Australia, and Japan. The scale of Operation: Star Freedom was comparable to RIMPAC, the Rim of the Pacific. [RIMPAC stands for Rim of the Pacific. It is the world’s largest international maritime warfare exercise. It is held biennially in June and July around the Hawaiian Islands. The exercise is hosted and administered by the Commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, and involves numerous partner nations.]
The Vandenberg was the flagship of this year’s Challenger-class attack submarines. [The Challenger class was one of the submarine classes of the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN). They were extensively modernized versions of the former Sjöormen-class Swedish submarines. The Challenger and Centurion classifications were retired in 2015.] It was commissioned in 2009 and was the latest model of submarine developed with the full resources of the U.S. Navy. The Vandenberg had a total length of 130 meters (about 430 feet) and a submerged displacement of 9,600 tons (8.71 million kilograms). Its hull was constructed from a special titanium alloy and covered with anechoic tiles that absorbed sound waves. It boasted underwater speeds exceeding 50 knots and a maximum diving depth of 1,700 meters (about 5,600 feet), far surpassing conventional standards of performance for similar-sized submarines.
Captain Kirk returned to the command center. Several crew members were monitoring the displays in silence.
“How much longer until we reach the exercise area?” Kirk asked Straker, an officer who was standing by the periscope.
“At 10 knots, it will take eighteen hours. At maximum speed, less than three hours.”
“Getting there quickly is good, but we’d risk being detected. Remember, the Japanese anti-submarine units are our opponents this time.”
“No way the Japs can take us. What could a bunch of export junkies possibly do?” Straker spat. He was notorious for his dislike of Japan.
The intercom chimed. “SONAR to command center,” a communications officer announced. “Unidentified object rapidly approaching from astern. Bearing 172 degrees, range 6,000 meters (about 20,000 feet), speed 20 knots.”
Kirk lunged for the intercom microphone. “Unidentified isn’t a good enough description! Identify the vessel type through acoustic signature analysis!”
“This is strange, Captain,” Straker muttered with a puzzled look. “Our detection range is greater than 6,000 meters. Where did this thing come from?”
The intercom chimed again. “SONAR to command center. Acoustic signature analysis is complete. Unidentified vessel is not friendly or an ally. It’s an enemy.”
“Understood, SONAR. Identify the type of ship,” Kirk said calmly.
Straker appeared increasingly uneasy. He had a bad feeling about this strange vessel.
“SONAR to command center. The vessel type is unknown, but it appears to be a new model. The enemy submarine is currently at a bearing of 177 degrees, a range of 5,500 meters, and a speed of 20 knots. They’re on the same course as us.”
Kirk grinned. His prediction had been correct. “Then the enemy hasn’t noticed us yet. Cut engine power and record the enemy vessel’s acoustic signature.”
“Wait, Captain,” Straker cut in. “They might have noticed us already.”
“What do you mean?”
“They might have detected our approach from a distance and deliberately let us pass. If their passive SONAR detection range is 6,000 meters, that would make sense.”
“Are you saying the enemy is an Angler?”
Kirk frowned. The term ‘Angler’ referred to a specialized ambush submarine designed to attack and sink enemy subs—in other words, it was a killer submarine. Also known as the Devil of the Deep Sea, Angler was a nickname for the angler-fish, which was well known in the marine world for its predatory ambush tactics.
“Even if that’s true, we’re not at war right now. They wouldn’t just fire at us out of nowhere.” Kirk patted Straker on the shoulder. As he turned to give the order to halt to the helmsman, the intercom blared loudly.
“SONAR to command center! The enemy sub is accelerating to 40 knots and is on a collision course!”
Kirk swore loudly.
“They’re closing to 1,000 meters—we have to take evasive action!” The communication officer’s words warped into a scream.
“All engines full steam ahead! Hurry!” Kirk’s orders filled the command center. The Vandenberg dove rapidly at full speed. The hum of the nuclear engine echoed through the command center.
“It might be a Soviet Gorshkov,” Kirk muttered. He was thoroughly familiar with the capabilities of Soviet nuclear submarines. The Gorshkov-class, considered the latest Soviet nuclear sub, was estimated to have a maximum diving depth of 1,400 meters (about 4,600 feet). But the Vandenberg could dive to 1,700 meters.
Three minutes later, the Vandenberg reached its maximum depth. Kirk ordered the engines stopped and picked up the intercom.
“SONAR, what is the enemy vessel’s position?” he asked.
“We are unable to detect it, Captain. It appears they have given up on chasing us and have shut down their engines.”
Kirk smiled. “It seems the performance of the Gorshkov-class of submarines is better than we expected. If we can bring back its acoustic signature, Fleet Headquarters will be pleased.”
These words were Captain Kirk’s last.
All crew members of the Vandenberg were crushed to death by water pressure at a depth of 1,700 meters as the mysterious pursuing vessel collided with the side of the submarine. The only thing that escaped damage was a small emergency signal transmitter. The transmitter surfaced, broadcasting a distress signal.
The sunset over the Pacific Ocean stained the sea the color of blood.
Thirty minutes later, news of the Vandenberg’s sinking was reported to the United States Pacific Fleet Headquarters at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Fleet Headquarters immediately decided to cancel Operation: Star Freedom and ordered the Seventh Fleet and Third Fleet to head north at speed. These orders were given so that the US Navy could prepare for the threat posed by the Soviet Pacific Fleet based in Vladivostok.
An hour later, President Charles McCoy of the United States announced that the Vandenberg had been sunk by an attack from a new Soviet nuclear submarine. He strongly condemned the Soviet Union’s actions.
In response, the Soviet Union issued a statement claiming that the accusation regarding the sinking of the Vandenberg was groundless. Fierce criticism was leveled against the imperialist provocations of the United States.
Six hours after that statement, the American large-scale reconnaissance satellite Big Eye #4 detected the Soviet Pacific Fleet preparing to depart from its anchorage at Vladivostok. Big Eye #5 confirmed that the Warsaw Pact forces stationed in Eastern Europe had entered a state of mobilization. President Klaus Adenauer of the European Union issued a full military alert to all armed forces.
In this way, the world plunged into a situation that was less than one step away from the outbreak of World War III.
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