How close did a depth charge have to be to sink a sub?

A depth charge of approximately 100 kg of TNT (400 MJ) would normally have a killing radius (hull breach) of only 3–4 meters (10–13 ft) against a conventional 1000-ton submarine, while the disablement radius (where the submarine is not sunk but put out of commission) would be approximately 8–10 meters (26–33 ft).

How deep does the water need to be for a submarine?

Now, the operating depth of most modern submarines is 300 to 450 meters. For a submarine to surface from that depth, it first uses its hydroplanes to reduce its depth upto 3 to 4 meters below waterline.

How does a submarine know depth?

At depths below periscope depth submarines determine their position using: Dead reckoning course information obtained from the ship’s gyrocompass, measured speed and estimates of local ocean currents, this could also be considered an estimated position as long as the ocean current is computed in.

Who invented the depth charge?

Herbert Taylor
In the summer of 1916, nearly two years into the war, British naval engineer Herbert Taylor perfected the hydrostatic pistol, a weapon that could be detonated at predetermined depths underwater—hence the name “depth charge.”

Are there nuclear depth charges?

A nuclear depth bomb is the nuclear equivalent of the conventional depth charge, and can be used in anti-submarine warfare for attacking submerged submarines. The Royal Navy, Soviet Navy, and United States Navy had nuclear depth bombs in their arsenals at one point.

How big is a depth charge?

The depth charge was the basic antisubmarine weapon of the Second World War. It was a large (200 lb/90 kg or more) explosive charge with a fuse that could be set to explode the charge at the estimated depth of the submarine.

What is the killing radius of a submarine depth charge?

The killing radius of a depth charge depends on the depth of detonation, the proximity of detonation to the submarine, the payload of the depth charge and the size and strength of the submarine hull.

How many depth charges does it take to destroy a U-boat?

Most U-boats sunk by depth charges were destroyed by damage accumulated from a long barrage rather than by a single charge. Many survived hundreds of depth charges over a period of many hours; U-427 survived 678 depth charges fired against it in April 1945.

How much Torpex does it take to destroy a submarine?

This depth charge contained 200 pounds (91 kg) of Torpex. A depth charge is an anti-submarine warfare (ASW) weapon. It is intended to destroy a submarine by being dropped into the water nearby and detonating, subjecting the target to a powerful and destructive hydraulic shock.

What was the first submarine to be sunk by depth charge?

The first success was the sinking of U-68 off Kerry, Ireland, on 22 March 1916, by the Q-ship Farnborough. Germany became aware of the depth charge following unsuccessful attacks on U-67 on 15 April 1916, and U-69 on 20 April 1916. The only other submarines sunk by depth charge during 1916 were UC-19 and UB-29.