Technology and Operations
This forum is for discussing technological & operational matters pertaining to U-boats.
ASW weapons (again)
Posted by:
Tom Iwanski
()
Date: January 15, 2001 10:41PM
Greetings,
I just finished a couple of books that answered some questions and brought up some new ones. In a previous post I mentioned the existence of a large depth charge, over 1000 lbs. As it turns out, the depth charge I was referring to weighed 2000 lbs. It was housed in a 10- foot cylinder and was launched with a shipboard torpedo launcher. (Black May, Gannon). I read a first hand account of its use in \"U-boat Killer\" by MacIntyre, of the HMS Hesperus, in his account of the attack on U-223. Supposedly destroyers could only carry a few of these, but MacIntyre preferred them greatly over the 250lb variety because they could be set for greater depths and had a much larger kill radius.
Now for my question: In his attempt to sink U-223, MacIntyre stated that he knew his target was deep (around 700 feet) and at that depth his hedgehogs were useless. Can anyone explain why hedgehogs could not be used on deep targets?
May thanks,
Tom
I just finished a couple of books that answered some questions and brought up some new ones. In a previous post I mentioned the existence of a large depth charge, over 1000 lbs. As it turns out, the depth charge I was referring to weighed 2000 lbs. It was housed in a 10- foot cylinder and was launched with a shipboard torpedo launcher. (Black May, Gannon). I read a first hand account of its use in \"U-boat Killer\" by MacIntyre, of the HMS Hesperus, in his account of the attack on U-223. Supposedly destroyers could only carry a few of these, but MacIntyre preferred them greatly over the 250lb variety because they could be set for greater depths and had a much larger kill radius.
Now for my question: In his attempt to sink U-223, MacIntyre stated that he knew his target was deep (around 700 feet) and at that depth his hedgehogs were useless. Can anyone explain why hedgehogs could not be used on deep targets?
May thanks,
Tom
| Subject | Written By | Posted |
|---|---|---|
ASW weapons (again)
|
Tom Iwanski | 01/15/2001 10:41PM |
|
Hedgehog depth
|
SuperKraut | 01/16/2001 12:36PM |
|
RE: Hedgehog depth
|
Ron C | 01/16/2001 10:32PM |
|
RE: Hedgehog depth
|
james stewart | 02/01/2001 12:01AM |