If only this were possible, or is it?

jason taylor · 07-18-06, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jason taylor

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deadeye313

There's no point in depth charges anymore. Torpedoes are smart enough and cheap enough (compared to any sub) that there's no point in trying to get directly over a sub and drop depth charges.

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Actually several times during the Cold War an intruding recon sub had depth charges dropped on it to tell it that it had been caught-submarine "shot across the bow".

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Rear Admiral J R Hill,RN, author of "antisubmarine warfare" thinks that the depth charge may actually have been underestimated.

His argument is twofold:

1. torpedos have a notorious history of bugs, depth charges are simpler

2. depth charges can keep a submarine hiding. The nature of a submarine is offensive-if it never attacks it might as well be sunk. the nature of a convoy is defensive-if it is not attacked it has succeeded

Obviously it is no longer a primary weapon. But it can still bust light bulbs and spill the captains coffee on his lap. After awhile the enemy will run out of light bulbs and coffee and all his captains will have scalded knees and ruined trousers. More seriously it scrambles his sonar and the sonarmans ears which are perhaps more important and less easy to repair.
Whether Admiral Hill is right or not I don't know-it was speculation on his part in any case. It is not able that that is the opinion of at least one respected officer. However it may turn out that the demands of a long war are to much for the production of modern weapons and more primative methods will have to be used.