ChezDaJez -> RE: damagelethality of depth charges (6/26/2006 10:34:54 AM)
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Actually El Cid isn't far wrong this time. The outer hull was whatever shape the designers decided on but the pressure hull (inner hull) of most WWII submarines was round or oval shaped. Basically all the ballast piping and fuel cells were located between the hulls. Most designers did create somewhat oval outer hulls for improved seakeeping abilities when on the surface. As far as the concussive effects of a depthcharge on a submerged hull, the effect was deflected not reflected by the hull shape. But the biggest factor in depth charge effectiveness was depth The deeper the sub, the greater the concussive force of the charge and the further the DC could be from the sub and still inflict damage. It was very rare for a single DC to breach a sub's hull. Normally it was the cumulative effect of charge after charge pounding the hull until something failed. And that something generally wasn't the hull itself but one of the many openings in the hull for pipes, hatches, various shafts and cabling. If it was a big enough opening such as a main induction valve for the engines, the flooding would be severe and the boat would be lost. BTW, the submarine credited with surviving the most depth charges during one attack is the U-427 in April, 1945. She survived 678 charges. She was scuttled at Kiel when the war ended. As far as the Falklands war goes, the Brits made a deliberate decision to attack any suspected submarine contact whether it was verified or not. They simply weren't going to take any chances. We (US Navy) called it the Sherwin Williams tactic... paint the ocean with torpedoes and other assorted ASW weps. They expended so many that Maggie approached Ronnie for more Mk-46 torps and we gave/sold/lent 150 of them from our war reserve supplies. The US Navy imposed a 90 day moratorium on the P-3 community on dropping live torpedoes until the Falklands conflict ended. Chez
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