Hunter Killer - Alex King Series 12 (2021), A BATEMAN [urban books to read TXT] 📗

with nuclear strike weapons. As yet, Iran is not a nuclear power. The submarine we cannot account for is a Kilo-class, or what they call Tareq-class, one of seven attack submarines they purchased from Russia for the equivalent of a reputed six-hundred million US dollars each. It comes under the jurisdiction of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps Navy.”

“The Caspian Sea makes it easier to ascertain the strength and deployment of Iran’s naval forces,” Becker said. “Being a land-locked body of water, we know where they are pretty much all of the time from satellite footage and both thermal imaging and sonic pulse readings. Even the submarines are easy to track in the Caspian Sea and the Iranians have one Tareq-class hunter-killer operating there permanently, as well as four of their smaller SSM’s, or mini-subs for special forces operations, oil field protection and surveillance on other nations.”

Admiral Casey nodded. “The rest of the Iranian fleet are based in the Strait of Hormuz, but due to the savage currents, levels of salinity and depth, most patrol in the deeper water of the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. The Persian Gulf is extremely shallow, so Kilo-class boats, or in the Iranians’ case the Tareq-class boats, can only access a third of the area. The waters are also crystal clear, which along with the limited submarine operation parameters, makes it great for tracking them with eyes in the sky.”

Lefkowitz nodded. “And this submarine has been unaccounted for since…”

“Since the British Astute class sub was discovered in the Arctic by those climate change scientists and lobbyists, yes…” Becker realised he had interrupted and held up his hands. “Sorry, Director. But we really need to move on this.” He glanced at Admiral Casey. “The US Navy needs to get a submarine up in those waters now.”

Lefkowitz nodded. “Understood. But after being spotted refuelling off the coast of West Africa by an Iranian oil tanker, it could have headed in any number of directions…”

“Agreed,” said Becker. “But essentially, it was heading northwards. If it changed course and headed west, then it may well be a threat to the United States. But it would need refuelling on this side of the Atlantic, and the Eastern Seaboard is well protected by our own hunter-killer subs and detector buoys, as well as a large naval surface presence. My gut is telling me that the Iranians are heading for that submarine on the seabed and Iran wants to get its hands on some serious military technology, either the Rolls Royce nuclear reactor or the Tomahawk cruise missiles on board. If they can board it by way of a docking port, then it’s like leaving the shop door open.”

“Bloody Brits. What the hell were they doing up there, anyway?” Lefkowitz mused.

“I imagine they…”

“It was a rhetorical question, Becker,” the CIA director replied curtly. “He looked at Admiral Casey and said, “And this is your gut instinct, too?”

The Admiral nodded. “There are numerous Iranian tankers between Hormuz and Japan and at this time of year they use the Northern Sea Route over the top of Russia to head down into the Pacific and Asia. Hell, a ship did the route a few years back without the use of icebreakers. Global warming is making the route easier to navigate and there is now a constant stream of shipping vessels sailing the route in both directions. And with Iranian tankers to call upon along the way, the sub can refuel and keep its diesel-electric motors running and not only make it to the area off Spitsbergen but have a whole range of options getting back to Iran as well, either doubling back, or taking the Northern Sea Route across the roof of the world. These tankers could also resupply them with food and water for their journey through the Northern Sea Route, where they could refuel again off Korea or Japan. You see, unlike nuclear powered submarines, the diesel-electric models have to surface regularly and refuel, as well as clean their air circulators, scrubbers and pumps.”

Lefkowitz nodded, his face pale and gaunt, his eyes deep in black sockets. The man’s health was deteriorating and there was no hiding it now. But he was damned if he was going to leave the CIA in a worse condition than he had found it and that meant tying up a dozen loose ends before he went home and let nature take its course. “That Iranian sub must not get near the British submarine.”

“Agreed,” replied Admiral Casey. “We have a Nimitz class aircraft carrier steaming across the Atlantic as we speak. The premise is an Arctic warfare training exercise. It is equipped with MH-60 Seahawk ASW helicopters.” He added. “That’s the type used for anti-submarine warfare.” He paused. “But that doesn’t help us with the UNESCO green zone, which is after all, the size of France.”

Lefkowitz nodded, but despite his pained expression, the other two men could tell he was unimpressed. “I already have an asset in the area,” he said, holding up a hand to stop either of the men from commenting, pulling the drip enough for the nurse to readjust it behind his back. “I put them in place the moment news of the sunken submarine came to light. On the very next flight.” He looked at the most senior ranking naval officer in the United States Navy and said, “Admiral, we need this to be a covert affair. We need a hunter-killer submarine to operate illegally in the UNESCO area, and it needs orders to sink that Iranian submarine the moment it detects it. A surface engagement just won’t cut it. The President doesn’t want an all-out offensive for the world to see and for Russia to fuel the flames. And we can’t be heavy-handed and break the UNESCO embargo. We hit that Iranian submarine and then we deny the shit out of it.”

Admiral Casey nodded. The submarine service was