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k only a minute to identify it as an SPS…49 air…search model of the type used by Perry…class missile frigates。 The technicians on board measured the signal's intensity and； plotting its position； judged that they were far outside the radar's detection range。
The raid mander riding in the third Bear received the information and pared it with his intelligence data for the convoy。 The position was exactly in the middle of the circle he had drawn on his map。 He was suspicious of things that were so exact。 The convoy was taking a direct route to Europe？ Why？ Most convoys to date had taken a more evasive course； detouring far south to the Azores in order to force his aircraft to reach farther than they wanted…and thereby forcing the Backfires trailing the scouts to carry only one missile instead of two。 Something was strange here。 On his order； the patrol line reoriented itself to a north…south disposition and began reducing altitude to keep below the horizon of the American radar。
USS REUBEN JAMES
〃How far can you see？〃 Calloway asked。
〃Depends on the altitude and size of the target； and atmospheric conditions；〃 Morris answered； staring down from his chair to the electronic displays。 Two Navy Tomcats were ready for bat。 〃For the Bear； at thirty thousand feet or so； we can probably spot it about two hundred fifty miles away。 But the lower he flies； the closer he can get。 Radar can't see through the horizon。〃
〃But flying low will cost him fuel。〃
Morris looked down at the reporter。 〃Those damned things carry enough fuel to stay up all week；〃 he exaggerated。
〃Message from LANTFLT； Captain。〃 The munications officer handed the form over： REPORT POSSIBLE BACKFIRE RAID SOUTHBOUND OVER ICELAND 1017z。 Morris handed the message to his tactical action officer； who immediately looked at the chart。
〃Good news？〃 Calloway asked。 He had better sense than to ask to see the dispatch。
〃We may be seeing Backfire bombers in a little over two hours。〃
〃Shooting for the convoy？〃
〃No； probably they'll want to shoot at us first。 They have a good four days to blast the convoy； and getting the escorts out of the way makes that job a lot easier。〃
〃Are you concerned？〃
Morris smiled thinly。 〃Mr。 Calloway； I'm always concerned。〃
The captain reflexively checked the various status boards。 All his weapons and sensor systems were fully operational…so nice to have a brand…new ship！ The threat board showed no known submarine activity in the immediate area； a datum to be taken with a considerable bit of skepticism。 He could call General Quarters now； but much of his crew was at lunch。 Better to have everyone fed and alert。
The damned waiting； Morris thought。 He watched the displays in silence。 The blips indicating friendly aircraft orbited slowly as their pilots waited too。
〃More CAP ing up。〃 an officer reported。 Another pair of Tomcats； part of the bat air patrol； appeared on the scope。 America had gotten the same raid warning。 The carrier was two hundred miles away； westbound for Norfolk。 The same was true of Independence； returning from the Azores。 The carriers had been at sea since the war began； cruising back and forth to avoid the orbiting Soviet ocean…reconnaissance satellites。 They had been able to provide antisubmarine protection for a number of convoys； though only at great hazard to the carriers themselves。 Up to now； the American flattops had not been able to act as they were supposed to act。 They were not yet offensive weapons。 The fate of the Nimitz group had e as a bitter lesson。 Morris lit another cigarette。 Now he remembered why he'd quit in the first place。 Too many of them burned his throat； destroyed his sense of taste； and made his eyes water。 On the other hand； they did give him something to do while he waited。
NORTH ATLANTIC
The Bears were on a precise north…south line now centered on the position of the frigate's radar signals。 The raid mander ordered them to turn west and reduce altitude。 Two aircraft failed to acknowledge the order； and he had to repeat it。
Two hundred miles west of them； aboard the circling E…2C Hawkeye surveillance aircraft； a technician's head went up。 Held just heard someone speaking Russian； in code； but definitely Russian。
Within minutes； every ship in the escort force had the information； and they all came up with the same answer： the Backfires couldn't be here yet。 These were Bears。 Everyone wanted to kill the Bears。 The carrier America started launching her fighters and additional radar aircraft。 After all； the Russians could be looking for her。
USS REUBEN JAMES
〃He's gotta be heading right for us；〃 the tactical action officer said。
〃That's the general idea；〃 Morris agreed。
〃How far？〃 Calloway asked。
〃No way to know that。 The Hawkeye copied a voice radio transmission。 Probably it's； fairly close； but freak atmospheric conditions can let you hear that sort of thing from half a world away。 Mr。 Lenner； let's go to battle stations for air action。〃
Five minutes later the frigate was ready。
NORTH ATLANTIC
〃Good morning； Mr。 Bear。〃 The Tomcat pilot stared at his TV display tube。 The Russian aircraft was about forty miles away； the sun glinting off its massive propellers。 Deciding to close without using his radar for the moment； the fighter pilot advanced his throttles to 80…percent power and activated his missile controls。 The head…on closure rate was over a thousand miles per hour； seventeen miles per minute。
Then： 〃Energize！〃 the pilot ordered； and instantly the radar intercept officer in the rear seat powered up the fighter's AWG…9 radar。
〃We've got him；〃 the RIO reported a moment later。
〃Shoot！〃 Two missiles dropped free and accelerated to over three thousand miles per hour。
The Soviet electronics…warfare technician was trying to isolate the signature characteristics of the frigate's search radar when a beep sounded on a separate warning receiver。 He turned to see what the noise was and went pale。
〃Air…attack warning！〃 he shouted over the inter。
Reacting at once； the pilot rolled the Bear left and dove for the surface of the ocean； while aft the EW technician activated his protective jamming systems。 However； the turn had masked the jammer pods from the ining missiles。
〃What's happening？〃 the raid mander demanded over the inter。
〃We have an interceptor radar on us；〃 the technician replied； scared but cool。 〃Jamming pods are activated。〃
The raid mander turned to his munications man。 〃Get a warning out： enemy fighter activity this position。〃
But there wasn't time。 The Phoenixes covered the distance in less than twenty seconds。 The first went wild and missed； but the second locked on the diving bomber and blew its tail off。 The Bear fell to the sea with as little grace as a dropped sheet of paper。
USS REUBEN JAMES
The radar showed the Tomcat； and they watched as it launched two missiles that immediately disappeared from sight； and then； silently； as the Tomcat continued east for thirty seconds。 Then it turned around and headed back west。
〃That； gentlemen； is a kill；〃 Morris said。 〃Splash one Bear。〃
〃How do you know？〃 Calloway asked。
〃You think he would have turned back if he missed？ And if it was anything but a Bear； he'd have broken radio silence。 ESM； we copy any radio traffic from zero…eight…zero？〃
The petty officer in the forward starboard corner of the partment didn't look up。 〃No； Captain； not a peep。〃
〃Damn；〃 Morris said。 〃It works。〃
〃And if the bugger didn't get a message out…〃 Calloway understood。
〃We're the only ones who know。 Maybe we can bushwhack the whole attack force。〃 Morris stepped over to the display screen。 The America's fighters were now all in the air； seventy miles south of the convoy。 He looked at the bulkhead clock： the Backfires were about forty minutes away。 He lifted a phone。 〃Bridge； bat。 Signal Battleaxe to close in。〃
Within seconds； Battleaxe turned hard a'port and headed west toward Reuben James。 One new thing had already worked today； Morris thought。 Why not another？
〃Stand by to launch helo；〃 he ordered。
O'Malley was sitting in his cockpit reading a magazine； or at least letting his eyes scan the pictures while his mind struggled to detach itself from what was going on around him。 The announcement over the loudspeaker tore him away from Miss July。 Immediately； Ensign Ralston began the engine start sequence while O'Malley scanned the trouble board for any mechanical problems； then looked out the door to be sure that the deck crewmen were clear。
〃What are we supposed to be doing； mander？〃 the systems operator inquired。
〃We're supposed to be missile bait； Willy；〃 O'Malley replied amiably； and lifted off。
NORTH ATLANTIC
The southernmost Bear was within sixty miles of the convoy； but didn't yet know it； nor did the Americans； since he was below the horizon from Reuben James's radar。 The Bear's pilot did know that it was about time for the aircraft to climb and switch on their own search radars。 But word hadn't e yet from the raid mander。 Though there was no indication of trouble； the pilot was worried。 His instinct told him something strange was happening。 One of the Bears that had disappeared last week； reported tracking a single American frigate radar…nothing more。 Just like now 。 。 。 The raid mander then had aborted the Backfire mission fo