"The depth charge was such a successful device that it attracted the attention of the United States..."
Chris Henry, Museum of Naval Fire Power
The first significant use of submarines in warfare occurred during World War I, and with that came the need for anti-submarine weapons. The idea of using the destructive shockwaves of a "dropping mine" against submarines was discussed by the British Navy in 1910. However, it was not until the Commander in Chief, Sir George Callaghan (1852-1920), requested their production in 1914thatthey became a reality.
It is the "D" type, developed by Herbert Taylor in 1915 at HMS Vernon Torpedo and Mine School, Portsmouth, England, that is credited with being the first effective depth charge. This was essentially a steel barrel packed with high explosive that could be detonated at preselected depths.
Early depth charges were deployed simply by rolling them off racks on the stern of the attacking vessel. Although a simple and effective deployment method, it was not without its problems. Even the larger depth charges had to detonate within 16 feet (5 m) of the target submarine to rupture its hull. Most losses were due to accumulated damages acquired over sustained attacks. Due to the close proximity of the attacking vessels and submarines, attacks were often detected, allowing submariners to dive and maneuver to avoid attack. To overcome this, the depth charges were streamlined to enable them to sink faster, and propulsion devices were developed, as were charges that could be dropped from planes.
Although largely replaced by forward-throwing devices, such as the "Hedgehog" and homing torpedoes, the depth charge is still in use today.
