How fast do Depth Charges sink

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by razark

Do you know if they actually knew it was a maximum setting or did they think the Japanese were just setting them too shallow?

Sorry I missed this the first time. No, I don't know for certain, but I suspect the latter.

[Red Devil]

I do know that the Japanese, for quite some time, thought no sub could go below 200 feet.

[razark]

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

Sorry I missed this the first time.

No problem. It wasn't really directed to you, but to the room in general, anyway.

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

No, I don't know for certain, but I suspect the latter.

That does make sense. With the codebreaking efforts, perhaps someone knew and passed information down the line, suggesting strongly that below 200 feet was a good place to hide?

[Red Devil]

Gato Balao and Porpoise could do 300, and a bit. Tench 400 as I recall.

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by Red Devil

Gato Balao and Porpoise could do 300, and a bit. Tench 400 as I recall.

The listed test depth and what they actually "could do" are not the same. American boats were expected to do 1-1/2 times the test depth, and sometimes did more. The Balao class was listed as having a test depth of 400 feet. USS Pampanito went below 600 feet on her first patrol.