Quote:
Originally Posted by propbeanie
A hedgehog hit should be near catastrophic to a submarine. Two would usually "kill" it. I know this site is not the most reliable, but there are other sources:
Wikipedia: Hedgehog (weapon)
toward the bottom 1/3 of the page: 4. A direct hit by one or two Hedgehog bombs was usually sufficient to sink a submarine.[citation needed]
Many depth charges were required to inflict enough cumulative damage to sink a submarine; even then, many U-boats survived hundreds of detonations over a period of many hours—678 depth charges were dropped against U-427 in April 1945. The depth charge, usually exploding at a distance from the submarine, had a cushion of water between it and the target which rapidly dissipated the explosive shock. The Hedgehog's charge, on the other hand, exploded in direct contact with the hull. However, near misses with the Hedgehog were silent and did not cause any damage, unlike the cumulative damage caused by several depth charge near-misses; nor did it have the same psychological effect as a depth charge attack. Who do you inquire of about that 'citation' detail?? I also wonder who they asked about that "...nor did it have the same psychological effect as a depth charge attack"... quote?... lol - In the game, you don't hear a drop as they're passing over, so you ~know~ they are up to something - but what?? Then BOOM BOOM "we're taking damage sir!" "we have heavy flooding sir!" "Medic!" spinning screen rapidly fading to black. Imagine real life... war is not good, and should not happen. Alas, man is greedy and wants what his neighbor possesses, so it shall be until we die. 
"whoah!!! where did this conversation go???"... lol - sorry |
That is the impression I received from my research, one hit by a hedgehog was usually enough to mortally wound it, two would sink it.
DW did something I implemented into TMO which is how cumulative damage from depth charge attacks sink your boat in most cases vs "instadeath" when get too many hitpoints which is default SH 4 model. I've learned some things since at and some point will update TMO damage model again.
Well, until I took two hits with no damage lol I feared hedgehog more, which is why i am modifying it in the mod. One big advantage player has with hedgehog is if you are submerged deep, they have a harder time getting hits. I took two hits out of 8 salvos of hedgehog fired and on the two salvos I was hit I was at 100-150 meters, vs when I was at 180-200 meters on others. The time it takes for them to fall to deep depth, sub even moving slowly will be clear, typically. Of course run risk of taking a hit at deep depth and hull collapse as well.
I believe I read that it was recommended to escorts to not use hedgehog on targets at depth below 400 feet as depth charges worked better, given the excess pressure to "crack" the hull.