The Hunt for Red October proceeds to pursue and engage it. The two U.S. submarines escorting "Red October" are prevented from firing by rules of engagement, and "Red October" is damaged by a torpedo from the Alfa. After a tense standoff, "Red October" rams "V. K. Konovalov" broadside and sinks it. The Americans escort "Red October" safely into dry dock in Norfolk, Virginia, where Ramius and his crew are taken to a CIA safehouse to begin their settlement into American life. Ryan is commended and debriefed by his superiors; he later flies back to his posting in London. "The Hunt for Red October" introduced Tom
The Hunt for Red October of numerous technical details. After fixing his work, Clancy then sold "The Hunt for Red October" to the Naval Institute Press for a modest sum of $5,000. Having recently decided to publish fiction, the publication company made Clancy's work as their first published novel. Editor Deborah Grosvenor later recalled convincing the publishers: “I think we have a potential best seller here, and if we don’t grab this thing, somebody else would." She believed Clancy had an "innate storytelling ability, and his characters had this very witty dialogue". The book received critical acclaim, especially from the American government. U.S. President Ronald