Contact!: a novel of the Pacific War
Page 16
Charlie sat back in his chair. “Thank you, sir.”
“You can thank me by sinking Jap shipping, Mr. Harrison.”
“I won’t let you down.”
Cooper eyed him. “No. I have a feeling you won’t.”
Charlie left the man’s office in a daze, barely remembering his exit. He’d finally reached his goal of becoming captain of his own fleet submarine. His mind swirled as it digested this fact.
He knew where he wanted to go. He started walking toward the nearest beach. Along the way, he thought about his good fortune and wondered if he deserved it. Would he be as controlled as Kane? Persistent as Hunter? Bold as Moreau?
Stubborn, like Captain Saunders?
He was now a submarine captain with all the power, responsibility, and pressure that entailed.
Careful what you wish for!
In war, men paid a personal cost to benefit those for whom they fought. Often, as in Smokey’s case, victory demanded the ultimate price. For some, however, victory delivered a special reward. War had a way of grinding a man down until he broke, but Charlie wasn’t broken. He’d go on fighting. Like Rusty, he wanted to see it through to the end. All the way to Tokyo.
Charlie reached the beach and walked to the water’s edge. He remembered coming to this very spot after his meeting with Admiral Lockwood, back in ’42. After his first submarine patrol, he’d returned to a promotion and had contemplated his destiny. His willingness to find it.
Instead, it seemed, it had found him.
NOTE ON FICTIONALIZATION
This story is based on historical events that are fictionalized for storytelling. (Including the Sandtiger’s near fatal run-in with a hot torpedo, loosely based on a real event that occurred aboard the USS Seadragon.) There are several cases where the novel significantly diverges from history, however.
The naval bombardment lasted two to three days, not one as in this book, a decision that allowed the story to keep moving. The timing of this and other major events in the book are roughly compressed for effect.
Mount Fina Susu is placed on different locations depending on the map — either just northeast of Lake Susupe or part of a strategically important ridgeline south of the lake. This novel places it northeast of the lake.
In this novel, the Americans believe there are 15,000 Japanese soldiers defending the island. This is in accordance with intelligence estimates at the time. In reality, the garrison was 30,000 defenders against some 70,000 Marines.
During the Second World War, about a dozen Alamo Scouts were wounded during more than 100 missions, but none died in combat. Operating deep behind enemy lines, they killed more than 500 Japanese soldiers and took sixty prisoners. They blew up supply dumps, gathered valuable intelligence, and staged rescue operations of civilians and prisoners of war.
The disease Charlie caught was dengue fever, a mosquito-borne infection active in the Marianas and other regions but not characterized until the 1950s.
NOTES ON THE BATTLE OF THE PHILIPPINE SEA
The Battle of the Philippine Sea didn’t end the war, but it may have made its outcome a foregone conclusion. While the Japanese Empire preserved the bulk of its naval strength, the U.S. Navy discovered its power, which destroyed ninety percent of the Japanese carrier air arm with minimal losses.
All told, in this novel’s aerial engagement and others occurring during the first day of the battle, American forces engaged more than 370 Japanese planes, of which only 130 returned to their carriers in what later became known as the Marianas Turkey Shoot. Many of the survivors in turn went into the sea with the carriers Taiho and Shōkaku, which American submarines sank. After the battle’s second day, Japanese losses added up to three carriers, more than 430 carrier planes, and about 200 land-based planes.
In contrast, the U.S. Navy lost only twenty-three planes the first day, the result of American technology and pool of experienced pilots far surpassing Japan’s during the course of the war. On the second day, when planes attacked the Japanese fleet, the Navy lost another some 110 planes, most of which were lost at sea because they crashed while trying to land at night or were ditched.
The Battle of the Philippine Sea did not turn out to be the kantai kessen the Japanese anticipated. That battle would come later at Leyte Gulf.
WANT MORE?
If you enjoyed Contact!, get ready for the next book in the series, Hara-Kiri, scheduled for publication in late 2017. In this episode, Charlie assumes command of the Sandtiger and doggedly takes the fight to the enemy — culminating in the decisive Battle of Leyte Gulf.
Sign up for Craig’s mailing list here to stay up to date on new releases. When you sign up, you’ll receive a link to Craig’s interactive submarine adventure, Fire One. This story puts you in command of your own submarine, matching wits with a Japanese skipper…
Learn more about Craig’s writing at www.CraigDiLouie.com.
Turn the page to read the first chapter of Hara-Kiri…
CHAPTER ONE
CHANGING OF THE GUARD
Captain Howard Saunders called all hands to quarters.
On the Sandtiger’s salt-stained deck, the crew mustered under the hot sun. Lt. Grady, Lt. Percy, and Lt. Nixon in dress whites. Sailors in white hats and dungarees standing tall in neat rows behind them.
And Lt. Commander Charlie Harrison, USN, sweltered in his high-necked white tunic while his heart hammered against his medals. Never in combat had he felt as nervous as he did now.
He filled his lungs with air and bawled, “Attennnnnnshun!”
Vice Admiral Charles Lockwood, Captain Squadron Commander Rich Cooper, and their entourage crossed the gangplank while the Navy band played “Semper Paratus” on the pier.
All hands saluted as one. The senior officers returned it. As the band finished, Vice Admiral Lockwood paraded, inspecting the men.
He paused before Charlie. “You believe in destiny, Harrison?”
“I believe in its pursuit, sir.”
The man smiled. “Let’s just say I thought we’d be doing this one day.”
“Thank you for your faith, sir.”
The admiral pinned the Navy Cross to Charlie’s tunic. “Congratulations on an outstanding patrol. You seem to enjoy taking the fight to the enemy on land, but we’re hoping that, with your new posting, we can keep you in the Navy a while.”
Charlie beamed. “Thank you, sir.”
Lockwood inspected the crew next, pausing to pin the Silver Star to Machinist’s Mate John Braddock’s barrel chest. The big sailor’s sour expression broke into an incredulous grin. They shook hands.
Satisfied with his inspection, Lockwood returned to Cooper’s side. One of the admiral’s aides read aloud a letter of commendation for the patrol to Saipan, noting Chief McDonough’s posthumous award of the Navy Cross. Every man would have a copy placed in his service record. Many had received their dolphins, and all were authorized to wear the Submarine Combat Pin.
This done, Charlie commanded the men to parade rest. Under his feet, one of the deadliest war machines ever built lay moored to the pier. A Gato-class submarine displacing 1,500 tons of water, the Sandtiger was over 300 feet long and twenty-seven feet wide at the beam. Six forward tubes, four aft, fitted with a complement of twenty-four fish. Her four big diesel engines drove her at a top speed of twenty knots on the surface, while her four electric motors allowed a top submerged speed of nine knots. She could dive to 300 feet and range 11,000 miles.
The Navy Yard had given her repairs and all the latest upgrades, including a fresh coat of black and gray paint, the latest Mark 18 torpedoes, a five-inch deck gun, SJ radar, and a streamlined superstructure that allowed her to sail with a minimized silhouette.
Sandtiger still had her scars, visible even with the new paint job. The Imperial Japanese Navy had mauled her more than once. Still, she’d delivered far worse than she’d gotten and survived every encounter. Her proud battle flag waved on the clothesline stretching from the bow to the periscope support
s, displaying a grinning shark in a sailor’s hat along with numerous patches bragging of ships sunk. Seventeen sinkings in five patrols, nearly 50,000 tons.
She still had more fights to go before this war ended.
“We are winning this war,” Admiral Lockwood told the men. “But we haven’t won it yet. With so much at stake, the Navy must have the right men commanding the submarines. It’s a job for tough, decisive leaders. You men were lucky to have such a man in your commanding officer, Captain Howard Saunders.”
Lockwood pinned the Silver Star to Saunders’ tunic and shook his hand. “Read your orders of detachment, Captain.”
Captain Saunders read his orders aloud and finished: “Haul down my flag.”
Crewmen lowered the captain’s pennant as the band flourished, ending with the crash of a gun salute. While the awards ceremony was highly formalized, the ritual of changing command was even more formal and steeped in Navy tradition. The ceremony officially transferred responsibility and authority over a U.S. warship from one commanding officer to another. All hands mustered with a clear view of the proceedings, as it required the entire crew to bear witness.
Saunders said, “I am ready to be relieved.”
Captain Squadron Commander Cooper handed Charlie an envelope. “Read your orders, if you please, Mr. Harrison.”
Charlie opened the envelope and found two carefully folded sheets of paper.
He unfolded the first. It showed a Varga Girl lying naked on pillows, giving him a mischievous look over her bare shoulder.
Charlie shot a glance at Rusty and Percy, who smirked while keeping their eyes fixed straight ahead.
He cleared his throat and unfolded the second sheet. “To Lt. Commander Charles Frederick Harrison, USN. Report no later than September 16, 1944 to USS Sandtiger at Pearl Harbor Submarine Base. Upon arrival on board, report to Howard Saunders, commanding officer, USS Sandtiger for duty as his relief. Then report to the immediate superior in command. Signed, Vice Admiral Charles Lockwood, Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet.”
His mouth gone dry, Charlie swallowed hard and saluted Saunders. “I relieve you, sir.”
Saunders returned the salute. “I stand relieved.”
“Break my flag,” Charlie commanded.
Crewmen raised his pennant to full honors.
“Scared?” Saunders murmured to him as the band played.
“Yes,” Charlie said.
“The boat’s in good hands. Do your duty and never look back. You’ll do fine.”
“Thank you, Captain.”
“You’re the captain now.”
After the ritual ended with firing guns, Charlie marched forward to salute Cooper. “Sir, I have properly relieved Howard Saunders as commanding officer of the Sandtiger and report to duty.”
Cooper returned the salute. “Very well, Captain.”
Charlie turned to address the crew, the young faces of the men who’d survived the Sea of Japan with him, who’d sailed with him to Saipan. “The sand tiger is a very cunning shark, a night feeder that hunts by stealth. The Electric Boat Company built our Sandtiger well. She has fought hard and taken good care of us. But you are her fighting spirit. Submarining is a team sport, and I couldn’t ask for a better crew. I’m proud to take command and continue Sandtiger’s winning streak begun by Captain Moreau and continued by Captain Saunders, whom we all wish well. As far as what comes next, I’ll simply quote Captain Mush Morton: ‘Stay with the bastard till he’s on the bottom.’ We keep doing that, we can all go home.”
The crew broke protocol by erupting into a full-throated cheer.
Charlie said into the din, “All standing orders and regulations remain in effect. Mr. Grady, you may take charge and dismiss the ship’s company.”
The band struck up a plucky rendering of “Bravura” as the crew cheered again and swarmed below deck to the reception held in the wardroom and crew’s mess.
Rusty grinned. “You ready for this?”
Charlie smiled but said nothing.
His friend changed his question to a statement of fact. “You’re ready for this.”
“Yes,” Charlie said, surprised by a surge of confidence. “I’m ready.”
“Remember what I told you. Half the job is doing, the other half is acting like you know what you’re doing.”
“I’ll remember. Nice touch with the Varga Girl, by the way.”
Rusty laughed. “Another reminder for you. You got to hang loose to make it in the submarines.”
“Duly noted.”
“That and to show you what we’re all fighting for.”
The fighting was almost over.
During the invasion of Saipan, American bombers had flown their first raid since the Doolittle raid of 1942. Nearly fifty B-29s based in India bombed the steel works at Yawata. The following month, American Marines completed the conquest of Saipan and liberated Guam. By August, they captured all the Marianas.
Now the Pearl Harbor Naval Base buzzed with news American forces had invaded Morotai and Palau islands. Soon, bombers would be able to stage from the Marianas and hit Tokyo on a daily basis. American grunts would continue battling straight to Honshu. The scuttlebutt was Taiwan or the Philippines were the next target for invasion. Taking either one would cut off the Japanese home islands from their supply of oil, rubber, bauxite, coal, foodstuffs, cloth, and other materials that fed their hungry war economy.
Meanwhile, the submarines would go on doing their part to starve the beast and shorten the war. Charlie chafed at the idea of attending the reception. He was captain now, the object of his hopes and destiny. What he wanted was patrol orders. He couldn’t wait to get back into the fight and see it through to the end. He couldn’t wait to see what else destiny had in store for him.
* * * * * * *
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Craig DiLouie is an author of popular thriller, apocalyptic/horror, and sci-fi/fantasy fiction.
In hundreds of reviews, Craig’s novels have been praised for their strong characters, action, and gritty realism. Each book promises an exciting experience with people you’ll care about in a world that feels real.
These works have been nominated for major literary awards such as the Bram Stoker Award and Audie Award, translated into multiple languages, and optioned for film. He is a member of the Horror Writers Association, International Thriller Writers, and Imaginative Fiction Writers Association.
Learn more about Craig’s writing at www.CraigDiLouie.com. Sign up for Craig’s mailing list to be the first to learn about his new releases here.
Other books by Craig:
Suffer the Children
The Retreat #1: Pandemic
The Retreat #2: Slaughterhouse
The Retreat #3: Die Laughing
The Retreat #4: Alamo
The Alchemists
The Infection
The Killing Floor
Children of God
Tooth and Nail
The Great Planet Robbery
Paranoia