The Hunt for Red October the caterpillar drive. Instead, he plots on a new course for the North American coast, falsely informing the crew that they will be proceeding all the way to Cuba undetected. Before sailing, Ramius had sent a letter to Admiral Yuri Padorin, the uncle of his deceased wife, Natalia, brazenly stating his intention to defect; the Soviet Northern Fleet therefore sails out to sink "Red October" under the pretext of a search and rescue mission. "Red October" passes near , a under the command of Bart Mancuso, which is patrolling the entrance of a route used by Soviet submarines in the
The Hunt for Red October deduces Ramius's plans. The U.S. military reluctantly agrees, while planning for contingencies in case the Soviet fleet has intentions other than those inferred. After it is revealed that Ramius has informed Moscow of his plan for him and his officers to defect, Ryan becomes responsible for shepherding Ramius and his vessel away from the pursuing Soviet fleet, and meets with an old Royal Navy acquaintance, Admiral John White, commanding a task force from the aircraft carrier . In order to convince the Soviets that "Red October" has been destroyed, the U.S. Navy rescues her crew after Ramius fakes a reactor