Hedgehog Mortars

[Aktungbby]

Originally Posted by Fahnenbohn

Thank goodness it's not a SQUID. Hedgehog was bad enough: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squid_(weapon) The first production unit was installed on HMS Hadleigh Castle, it went on to be installed on 70 frigates and corvettes during the Second World War. The first successful use was by HMS Loch Killin on 31 July 1944, when she sank U333; the system was credited with sinking 17 submarines in 50 attacks. By 1959, 195 Squid installations had been produced. That's a success rate of 34% according to my humble math skills. Statistics show that in WWII out of 5,174 British depth charge attacks there were 85.5 kills: a ratio of 60.5 to 1. In comparison, the Hedgehog made 268 attacks for 47 kills: a ratio of 5.7 to 1. The SQUID weapons were automatically fired from the sonar range recorder at the proper moment. The pattern formed a triangle about 40 yards (37 m) on a side at a distance of 275 yards (250 m) ahead of the ship. Most Squid installations utilised two sets of mortars. All six bombs were fired in salvo so they formed opposing triangular spreads. The salvos were set to explode 25 feet (10 m) above and below the target, the resulting pressure wave crushing the hull of the submarine. [wiki]