Chapter 387 Submarine in Action
September 17th, 1821
In the Ionian Sea, an Ottoman submarine, recently bought from Russia, moved quietly beneath the waves. The vessel, under the command of Captain Ivan Petrovich, a Russian hire, was on a secret mission to intercept French ships supplying the Greek revolutionaries.
The submarine's interior was tight and functional, filled with the sounds of machinery and crew at work. Captain Petrovich, known for his no-nonsense approach, monitored the controls closely. His crew, a mix of Ottoman and Russian sailors, were focused and efficient.
Their objective was clear: to locate and disrupt the supply routes of the Greek revolutionaries by targeting French supply ships. This mission was critical to the Ottoman Empire's strategy against the Greek uprising.
As the submarine approached its target, the periscope operator reported a ship in range. "Ship sighted, bearing 2-1-0, 1500 meters away," he announced.
"Do you see a French flag?" Ivan asked.
The periscope operator, squinting through the lens, confirmed, "Yes, Captain, it's a French merchant vessel, a Victory Class."
Captain Petrovich gave a curt nod. "Prepare to engage. Dive to periscope depth," he ordered promptly after the confirmation of the French flag. The submarine began a controlled descent, keeping the periscope just above the water for navigation and targeting.
"We're in position," announced the navigator, his eyes fixed on the instruments.
Captain Petrovich peered through the periscope, observing the French merchant vessel. "Load torpedoes," he instructed calmly. The weapons team efficiently moved to comply, loading the torpedoes into their tubes.
The captain took a final look through the periscope, ensuring the alignment for the attack. "Target is in range. Fire torpedoes," he commanded.
The crew tensed as the torpedoes were launched, the faint sound of their departure echoing through the submarine. Moments later, a distant explosion sounded.
Captain Ivan peered through the periscope and saw a receding column of water where the torpedo had struck the French vessel. The merchant ship was listing heavily, flames visible on its deck.
"Direct hit," he announced, turning to his crew. "Maintain periscope depth and observe."
The crew watched through the periscope as chaos unfolded on the French ship. Sailors scrambled to fight the fire and launch lifeboats. It was evident that the vessel wouldn't last long in its current state.
They must be sending a distress signal now," Captain Ivan muttered under his breath. He was aware that a French battleship was reported in the vicinity. If it responded to the distress signal and found them still in the area, the consequences could be severe.
"Prepare to submerge," he ordered quickly. "We need to clear the area before any reinforcements arrive."
The crew acted swiftly, sealing hatches and making the necessary checks for a deeper dive. The submarine began to descend, disappearing beneath the waves once more, leaving the burning French ship behind.
As they submerged, Captain Petrovich monitored their depth and headed closely. "Set course away from the attack site," he instructed the navigator. "Stay submerged and maintain silent running. We can't risk detection."
The submarine moved away, its engines at a minimal setting to reduce noise. The mission is not yet over. Sure they were able to sink one merchant ship, but Captain Petrovich knew there were more French vessels operating in the area, supplying the Greek revolutionaries. It was imperative to disrupt as many supply lines as possible.
"Keep a sharp lookout on sonar for any other ships in the vicinity," he instructed the sonar operator.
The submarine continued its silent journey beneath the waves, making its way through the Ionian Sea. Captain Petrovich remained at the helm, carefully planning their next move.
Finally, the sonar operator signaled another contact. "New ship sighted, bearing 1-8-0, approximately 2000 meters away," he reported.
"Can you make out what type of ship it is from the propeller noise it's making?" Captain Ivan asked the sonar operator, focusing on gathering as much information as possible before making a move.
The operator listened intently, his trained ears deciphering the nuances in the sound. "It appears to be another merchant vessel, Captain, similar in size to the previous one."
"Victory Class ship eh…" Ivan mused.
Captain Petrovich contemplated their next course of action. Engaging another ship would further their mission, but each attack also increased the risk of drawing attention and possible retaliation from French naval forces.
He decided quickly. "We'll engage," he stated firmly. "Load torpedoes and prepare for an attack run."
"Torpedoes ready, Captain," announced the weapons officer.
"Rise to periscope depth," Ivan instructed, ready to assess the new target. The submarine began its ascent, ensuring they had a clear view of the attack.
Once at periscope depth, Captain Petrovich carefully observed the new merchant vessel through the periscope. It was indeed another Victory Class ship, likely carrying supplies crucial to the Greek revolutionaries.
"Align for attack," he ordered. The crew expertly maneuvered the submarine into position.
"Match!"
"Fire torpedoes," Captain Petrovich commanded after ensuring they had a clear shot.
The submarine vibrated subtly as the torpedoes were launched. Captain Petrovich and the crew watched the trails of the torpedoes through the periscope, tracking their course toward the target.
Moments later, another explosion echoed through the water, signaling another successful hit. Through the periscope, they could see the merchant vessel beginning to list, smoke billowing from its deck.
"Another direct hit," Captain Petrovich confirmed, turning to address his crew. "Prepare to dive and exit the area."
Captain Ivan and his Russian and Ottoman crew repeated the steps again and again, successfully targeting and sinking eight Victory Class merchant ships of the French Empire in less than two hours.
"If only the Ottoman Empire had bought more submarines, they would be able to sever the supply lines completely," Captain Petrovich thought to himself. "Submarines are truly effective in cutting off a nation's supply chain," he mused, acknowledging the strategic advantage these vessels provided.
***
Twenty minutes later, in Paris, France.
Most of the military headquarters of the French Empire Armed Forces are located in the capital city of France. One of them being the Imperial Navy. Within the opulent office of the Grand Admiral, Marshall Murat was overseeing bureaucratic tasks, a routine part of his high-ranking position.
The atmosphere in the room changed abruptly when an aide hurriedly entered, carrying urgent dispatches.
"Marshall Murat! Please take a look at this."
The aide handed Murat the letters and Murat perused it.
"Ten of our merchant ships sunk in the Ionian Sea? What the…something is sinking them…could be the Ottomans," Murat observed and added. "Very well, get me the nearest ship operating in the area…I will task it to hunt that's sinking them."
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