But the Soviet submarines were under strict orders to concentrate on the troop convoys. They had no time to lose. There were in any case other forces waiting to engage the US Strike Fleet. By 11 August, therefore, no less than eleven Soviet submarines were within 150 kilometres of the CAVALRY convoys and disposed on their line of advance. Then came the first attack, with salvoes of horizon-range supersonic cruise missiles. Sixteen missiles arrived over the convoys, fired within twenty minutes by two Charlie-class nuclear-powered submarines. Eight of the missiles were decoyed away from targets. Of the other eight, two hit one of the transports and one hit another; two more hit one of the escort carriers, which blew up and sank at once; and three more each hit one of the frigates in the same escort group. The Soviet submarines which would be first to engage the convoy formation had orders to attack the escorts and support groups. Half an hour after the submarine attacks one of the leading support group’s helicopters was quickly joined by a second and, taking it in turns, the pair between them dropped four anti-submarine torpedoes, to be rewarded very quickly by an explosion in the sea beneath them. Just as this occurred a frigate at the far side of the formation was struck by a Soviet missile and lay dead in the water. The next attack took place four hours later. Once again sixteen missiles arrived in salvoes of four, within a few minutes of each other. Once again half of them found a target. Another transport and two frigates were hit, and badly damaged. It seemed that, owing to the very high speed of advance of the convoy, the screening helicopters with their dipping sonar could not give adequate coverage far enough from the main body of the convoys. The next two attacks, again each consisting of salvoes of four missiles, came within two hours. They were again directed at the support group and succeeded in putting the light carrier temporarily out of action and sinking one frigate. This ship had the misfortune to be struck by a missile which had been successfully decoyed from another target. It was satisfactory, however, from SACLANT’s point of view, that a number of missiles had been destroyed by the Aegis anti-missile system with which the entire support group was equipped. Furthermore, both the attacking submarines were being hunted, and one of them was soon sunk.
The progress of the CAVALRY convoys across the Atlantic was of course being followed by C-in-C Soviet Northern Fleet, and by Soviet Naval Headquarters in Moscow. Although reports were incomplete, it was evident that heavy attrition of the NATO escort and support groups had been achieved. It was now time to launch the air strike, planned to coincide with the attacks of a third group of submarines, this time under orders to concentrate fire on the convoys themselves. Unfortunately for the Russians, the US Strike Fleet Atlantic was now approaching the Norwegian Sea. A Soviet surface striking force, together with its anti-submarine support group, which had sailed from the Kola Inlet on 10 August, would not be able to engage the US Strike Fleet for another twenty-four hours. By that time heavy air attacks could have been launched against the Soviet northern bases. C-in-C Northern Fleet therefore proposed to despatch an annihilating Backfire strike against the Strike Fleet. He was overruled by Moscow: ‘We do not expect Strike Fleet Atlantic to use nuclear weapons at this stage. Our primary aim is to destroy the CAVALRY convoys. Two-thirds of available Backfires are therefore to be launched against the NATO troop convoys. Our submarines in the Norwegian Sea must be concentrated against the Strike Fleet Atlantic, with diversionary air attacks only, until our surface striking force can come into action.’
