Damn the World, Ride a Submarine - Chapter 38



Only Krnovel

Episode 38 – Operation Depth

After receiving Colonel Choi Eun-seok’s salute, I also saluted sincerely. And he nodded and allowed the general to board.

The unspoken order went through Colonel Choi Eun-seok and continued with a signal from Lieutenant Colonel Kim Min-soo. The caller’s voice command rang out.

– Chongwon, front gate location, forward!

– Total~Woeon, boarding!

The crew lined up in front of the front door of the ceremony deck to board the Lee Hoe-young.

The crew members who reached the correct position were individually saluting the national flag and boarding the Lee Hoe-young just before passing through the front gate one by one.

Colonel Choi Eun-seok also saluted in front of the front gate. I also followed the naval tradition. That’s how I climbed onto the mast and bridge tower of the Lee Hoi-young.

Several tugboats were carefully towing the Lee Hoe-young and pushing it out of the Okpo Shipyard.

When they reached the sea off Geoje Island, the pilot had difficulty transferring them to a tugboat. The ships towing the submarine were then seen returning to the Okpo Shipyard.

Only the Lee Hoe-young ship remained floating in the sea. Colonel Choi Eun-seok’s report continued.

“Captain!”

“yes.”

“Preparations for test operations of the Lee Hoi-young have been completed.”

“I delegate all control of the ship to the senior vice-captain until the test operation is completed. Please do it.”

Building the submarine was difficult and difficult. After she was launched, she climbed onto the bridge. She was so overwhelmed with emotion that she didn’t know what to do next.

Colonel Choi Eun-seok delivered the command to the ship’s communication device. The sound of the name being repeated was heard through the communicator.

– Engine, engine start

– Start the engine!

Grumble! The low starting sound of a diesel engine was heard.

– Navigation officer, setting planned test route

– Route setting complete! East Sea, coordinates…

– Warfighter, report the situation on the front line.

– No anterior abnormalities. Contact, bearing 045, range 20 nautical miles.

– Helmsman, forward quarter speed

– Forward angle, output 25%

The large, solid, smooth black pillar began to slide gently into the waves.

Submarine of steel.

The ship Hoeyoung Lee was slowly moving forward, cutting through the blue sea.

-Sneaky! Sonar activated, search every 30 seconds.

– 30 second interval, full search. Nothing more than the current location.

The sea seen from the bridge tower of a submarine was quite different from that seen from a yacht.

As the waves overflowed onto the deck and scattered to the left and right, I realized once again that I was on a submarine.

I found a cigarette and lit it. For some reason, I was keeping an eye on Colonel Choi Eun-seok.

– Phew~

“A day like this is coming.”

“It really is. Captain, at first I also…”

“Is this your first time?”

“When I first heard about submarine construction. “I was wondering, ‘They’re going to do some kind of scam like exploring a treasure ship again.’”

“ha ha ha”

“Director Jeong Si-wook persuaded me so persistently that it was annoying, so I only came to believe it after directly asking Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering officials in the past.”

“haha. It’s worth it. When I first decided to build a submarine. “There was not a single person who supported me.”

Colonel Choi Eun-seok raised his head and continued speaking while looking at the distant sea.

“I don’t know the captain’s life. “Just imagining the will and conviction that made this happen gives me respect.”

“If stubbornness produces results, it becomes a belief, and if a failed belief creates a story, it is bound to be remembered beautifully.”

“Oh oh! Captain, you can be a writer. ha ha ha”

“ha ha ha”

Colonel Choi Eun-seok picked up the ship’s communication device again.

– Helmsman, increase speed by 1/2.

– Maintain angle of attack, forward speed 50%

“Colonel!”

“Say yes.”

“Once the test flight and crew training are completed, we will immediately move to our home port in the Philippines. Please get ready.”

“yes. “There is no need for separate training.”

“…?”

“All crew members have acquired our Navy’s SQS (Submarine Qualification System) qualification. This person has completed at least six months of submarine service.”

“ah ···.”

“It’s a ship adaptation, it will come naturally as you sail. Thanks to the high habitability of our Lee Hoi-young, there will be no problems during test operations. “You can carry out your mission right away.”

“All right. I will know that and prepare. In addition to the crew, there will be about 20 people on board and some cargo.”

“yes. No problem.”

Senior Vice Captain Choi Eun-seok ordered the submarine’s power output to be increased to 75%.

The huge steel structure, nearly 100 meters long, was constantly increasing its speed, splitting the sea in half.

Colonel Choi Eun-seok approached me while I was intoxicated with emotion.

“Captain, we will conduct a diving test soon. “Please come down.”

I closed the hatch on the bridge tower and headed to the ship’s command and control room. Someone who spotted us shouted.

– Be on the way!

All of the crew members encountered in the hallway of the Lee Hoi-young placed their backs against the hallway wall and cleared the way forward.

Colonel Choi Eun-seok entered the command and control room and reported the dive.

“Captain, we will begin submerging.”

“yes. Present it until the test is complete, then skip it and implement it.”

Senior vice-captain Colonel Choi Eun-seok continued the command.

– Steer! Speed ​​30%

-Sneaky! Front navigation, check depth below keel

– Speed ​​adjustment completed

– No abnormalities ahead, bottom depth 1700m

He informed the ship of preparations for diving.

“Commander, prepare for diving!”

The caller picked up the ship’s broadcasting microphone and announced in a unique tone that the dive would begin.

– Choo~Ongwon, prepare for diving!

Inside the submarine, the sound of the crew’s names being recalled rang out.

– General, prepare for diving!

Colonel Choi Eun-seok’s orders followed.

– Submersible! Diving conducted, depth of safety, diving angle of 5 degrees

– Submerge! Depth 50m, diving angle 5 degrees

Lieutenant Colonel Kim Min-soo, who also served as a diving officer, continued the command.

– Opening of ballast tanks 1 and 2

– Steer! downward 5 degrees

Soon I could feel the submarine leaning forward.

It was the first dive of the Lee Hoe-young and the first dive of my life. The helmsman’s bow was heard softly.

– Periscope depth of field…

– Depth 10m…20m…30m…40m…

– 50m, safe depth!

– Safety depth has been reached.

Perhaps because it was a test dive, there was a subtle tension inside the ship. Not a single member of the crew even made a coughing sound.

Senior Vice Captain Choi Eun-seok looked back at me.

“We will dive rapidly to operational depth. “The hull will tilt sharply.”

I nodded. He issued an order.

“Wait for rapid submersion”

The broadcast of the number of phone calls within the ship continued.

– Chongwoeon~ Wait for rapid submersion!

Colonel Choi Eun-seok spoke in a low, yet solemn voice.

“Diving officer! Rapid diving, operational depth, diving angle of 15 degrees.”

– Rapid dive! Depth 300m, diving angle 15 degrees.

-Sneaky! Forward and bottom depth reports.

– No abnormalities at the front, bottom depth 2100m

– Helmsman! Operational depth of 300m, attack angle of 15 degrees. Speed ​​70% output.

– Depth 300, striking angle 15, speed 70%

The ship Hoeyoung Lee began to tilt forward sharply. Because of the tilt, a sense of speed could be felt even within the huge steel structure.

A strange situation was created where all objects in the ship were leaning forward, but people were standing instinctively leaning back.

Not a single ballpoint pen fell to the floor as the submarine tilted so sharply.

– Diving depth report, 70m… 80m… 100m…

– 130m

– 150m

– 200m

-Puddeu pududeuk…ppugagak!

The sound seemed to confirm that huge water pressure was pressing down on the steel hull. There was a subtle tension inside the ship.

Thanks to the atmosphere where one had to be careful even about swallowing, the sound of the steel structures coming together was enough to instill a small sense of fear.

Breaking the silence, the helmsman was reminding us of the depth of the dive in a dry voice.

– 210m … 220m … 230m … 240m …

The helmsman’s voice rose as if to wake up.

– 250, 250 meters!

Lieutenant Colonel Kim Min-su, the diving officer, followed with an order.

– Steer! Steering angle adjustment 5 degrees, speed 30%.

– 5 degrees of striking angle! Output 30%.

– 260m…

– 270m…

Submarine of steel. The Lee Hoi-young was withstanding a huge water column of 270 meters. In human terms, it was as if she were carrying tens of thousands of 2L on her head.

– Ppu-de-de-deuk, pug-gak… Ppu-gak!

Like a Hellser screaming to overcome 1 RM (Repetition Maximum).

The steel hull was enduring the pain of water pressure with sound.

Without realizing it, I was thinking about the K-19 nuclear submarine accident and the accident a few years ago when the Titan submarine exploded due to hydraulic pressure in the deep sea (I went down to the deep sea to see the Titanic).

I swallowed my dry saliva carefully. I didn’t want fear to be contagious from me.

– Pegagak… Kagakang!

I glanced at Colonel Choi Eun-seok. Without even a slight movement. It was hard to tell if he was even breathing, just standing there so firmly.

Standing behind me like a shadow. Director Kim Jun-myeong was also breathing heavily while carefully controlling his breathing.

The helmsman’s singing became louder.

– This drainage is 80 meters!

A new order from the submarine officer was issued.

– Attack angle 0 degrees, speed 0%, ship balance

– Attack angle 0, output 0%, ship balance maintained~

The submarine, which had been leaning heavily forward, was slowly regaining its balance. Strangely, my mind also seemed to be finding peace.

– … 290 m …

– … 300m … 305m … 305m

– Operational depth has been reached.

Colonel Choi Eun-seok, who received the report, seemed to be thinking about something without saying anything. He then issued new orders.

“Dive to a depth of 400m at 1/4 speed.”

– Speed ​​25%, dive depth 400m!

After receiving the order, Lieutenant Colonel Kim Min-su glanced at Colonel Choi Eun-seok. He then repeated his orders.

Seeing that, my composure was turning into tension again.

Honestly, I wanted to stop him.

Words were rising in my throat that I should finish the test at this point and return to the shipyard to complete inspections such as non-destructive testing and then do it again.

However, it was impossible to overthrow the authority within the ship of Colonel Choi Eun-seok and the captain who was entrusted with control.

I could also feel the tension in the helmsman’s voice, which announced the current depth along with the double-barrel call.

– Speed ​​25%, target depth 400m.

– …310m

– …330m

– …350m

The sound of steel bursting intermittently echoed in the quiet deep sea. Every time I heard that sound, I felt like the hairs on my whole body stood up.

– Three times six o’clock meter!

The helmsman’s voice got louder, and I could tell he was trembling with tension. Director Kim Jun-myeong, who was standing next to me, also looked nervous.

– Triple water… 7 o’clock mouth meter, current depth 370 meters!

The helmsman seemed to be waiting for some new command. I was reciting the current depth over and over again.

The submarine made of steel that could withstand water pressure responded with a scream.

– Peu-ga-gak, peu-a-ang~ Teotong! Empty! Empty!

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limit depth