Depth charges are explosive devices used in anti-submarine warfare to cause damage with shock waves and force submarines to surface. They were first developed by the British in 1910 and have evolved into modern versions that can be launched from ships or aircraft. Torpedoes are another weapon used in anti-submarine warfare to penetrate and sink submarines.
A depth charge is an explosive device designed for use in anti-submarine warfare. Rather than being designed to strike the submarine itself, a depth charge is intended to cause damage with its shock wave, ideally forcing the submarine to surface, so it can be attacked by ships and aircraft overhead. These devices often play a prominent role in submarine films, as fans of this particular genre may have noticed.
The depth charge concept was initially developed in 1910 by the British, with the first versions launched in 1914 for the purpose of attacking German submarines. Early depth charges were very crude, but their designers learned quickly, developing increasingly effective weapons that became especially useful during World War II when German U-boats patrolled the Atlantic for casualties.
Depth charges include a large amount of explosives, to ensure a large shock wave is developed, and a detonator, which is usually set to detonate at a particular depth or after a certain amount of time has elapsed. The first depth charges were just barrels filled with explosives on a timer that were rolled off the back of a ship. Modern versions are often finned, so they penetrate water quickly and evenly, rather than drift off target, and in addition to conventional explosives, they can also be equipped to carry nuclear warheads.
In some cases, a depth charge can hit a submarine directly, causing damage with explosives. Most commonly, however, depth charges are to be placed in a field, exploding at different heights in the hopes that one can eventually catch the submarine in its shock wave. When a submarine is attacked with depth charges, it may attempt to dive to avoid them, and may even try to outrun them, but the sound of the submarine’s engines will alert listeners on the surface, allowing them to target the submarine more accurately. If the submarine is damaged by the blast wave, it will have to surface, making it an easy target for the attacker.
Originally, depth charges were to be deployed from ships. Modern versions can also be launched from aircraft, which can work in concert with a ship or alone. Ships and aircraft deploying depth charges must also be wary of return shots from the submarine, because the sounds of deployment betray the location of the ship or aircraft dropping the charges.
Another weapon used in anti-submarine warfare is the torpedo. Torpedoes are designed to penetrate a submarine and explode, blowing a hole in the submarine which will cause it to sink. A well-placed torpedo can also cause secondary explosions of weapons stored in the submarine, causing the vessel to explode. Submarines can also fire torpedoes at targets.
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