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- This article is about the naval weapon. For the fictional Transformers character, see Depth Charge.
The depth charge is the oldest anti-submarine weapon. It is usually a cylindrical shaped object packed with explosives and a fuse set to go off at a pre-determined depth. It was primarily used to destroy submerged submarines. Depth charges could be deployed by both ships and aircraft.
History
The concept of a "dropping mine" was first discussed in 1910, and the idea was developed into practicality when the Royal Navy's Commander in Chief, Sir George Callaghan, requested its production in 1914. The design work was carried out by Herbert Taylor at HMS Vernon Torpedo and Mine School in Portsmouth. The first effective depth charge, the "Type D", developed in 1916, was a 300-pound (140 kg) barrel-like casing containing a high explosive, usually TNT. A "pistol" actuated by water pressure at a pre-selected depth detonated the charge. The "Type D" could be detonated as deep as 300 feet (100 meters).
In 1943, Torpex, an explosive 50% more powerful than TNT, was introduced along with a more streamlined depth charge casing that sank faster. Although the explosions of the standard 600-pound depth charge used in World War II were nerve-wracking to the target, an undamaged U-boat's pressure hull would not rupture unless the charge detonated closer than about five meters. Placing the weapon within this range was entirely a matter of chance and quite unlikely as the target maneuvered evasively during the attack. Most U-boats sunk by depth charges were destroyed by damage accumulated from a long barrage rather than by a single carefully-aimed attack. Many survived hundreds of depth charge detonations over a period of many hours; U-427 survived 678 depth charge blasts in April, 1945.
Delivery Mechanisms
The first delivery mechanism was to simply roll the "barrels" off racks at the stern of the attacking vessel. Originally depth charges were simply placed at the top of a ramp and allowed to let roll. Improved racks, which could hold several depth charges and release them remotely with a trigger, were developed towards the end of World War I. These racks remained in use throughout World War II, because they were simple and easy to reload.
Later, special depth-charge projectors were developed, which used an explosive propellant charge to hurl charges about 150 feet (50 meters) to the sides of the attacker. Some Royal Navy trawlers used for anti-submarine work during 1917-1918 had a thrower on the forecastle for a single depth charge, but there do not seem to be any records of it being used in action. The first depth charge "projectors" were called Y-guns; these were first produced in 1918. Y-guns allowed for a wider "spread" of depth charges to be deployed by ships. Y-guns were replaced by K-guns, which became the standard in 1942. The K-guns were often used together with stern racks to create patterns of six to ten charges. The attacking ship needed to be moving above a certain speed or it would be damaged by its own weapons.
Later Developments
More effective anti-submarine weapons have included the Hedgehog forward-throwing charges and the "Fido" Mk.24 acoustic torpedo or the ASROC (which could be armed with a nuclear depth charge). The USSR, United States and United Kingdom developed anti-submarine systems using nuclear weapons (nuclear depth charges) sometimes referred-to as Nuclear Depth Bombs (NDB).
Trivia
"Depth Charge" has been used as a character name in both G.I. Joe and Beast Wars.
See also
External links
Anti-submarine weapons | Explosive weapons | Naval weapons
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"Depth charge"