Depth charges

Discussions on all (non-biographical) aspects of the Kriegsmarine except those dealing with the U-Boat forces.
Sturm78
Member
Posts: 17927
Joined: 02 Oct 2008, 18:18
Location: Spain

Depth charges

#1

Post by Sturm78 » 02 Apr 2013, 12:19

Hi all,

There is very little information about the different models of depth charges used by the german Kriegsmarine during World War II.

The only source i have found on the net is http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WAMGER_ASW.htm

WBD 180kg
WDF 139kg
WBG 180kg
WBH 240kg

Here an image from EBay: WBG ??

Sturm78
Attachments
marine15unten.jpg

RandJS
Member
Posts: 324
Joined: 04 Oct 2008, 12:36

Re: Depth charges

#2

Post by RandJS » 07 Apr 2013, 12:51

Hello,

A little more: Wasserbombe Type WBF and WBG:
Destruction zone = 0-5.6 m
Danger zone = 5.6-17 m
Damage zone = 17-28 m
Safety zone = over 28 m
Source: Destroyer! German Destroyers in WWII, M.J. Whitley, Naval Institute Press ISBN 0-87021-143-9.

Rand


OpanaPointer
Financial supporter
Posts: 5644
Joined: 16 May 2010, 15:12
Location: United States of America

Re: Depth charges

#3

Post by OpanaPointer » 07 Apr 2013, 14:33

I've got some translated works on German ASW in WWII somewhere in 50 books of books and papers. I'm moving in the next few weeks, but I'll keep an eye out for them.
Come visit our sites:
hyperwarHyperwar
World War II Resources

Bellum se ipsum alet, mostly Doritos.

Paidoskixos
Member
Posts: 149
Joined: 12 Feb 2009, 14:43

Re: Depth charges

#4

Post by Paidoskixos » 05 Mar 2014, 19:52

Just to add to the list:

WBA (C/15), 50 Kg explosive charge (TNT), fired using a depth laniard (WW1);
WBB (C/24), 132 Kg explosive charge, Hidrostatic fuze;
WBD II: 180kg, 125 Kg explosive, effective `till 120m deep; it differs from WBD in the disposition of the explosive charge. Clock mechanism fuzed, 3,5 m/sec sinking speed.
WB DM 11, 160 Kg, 100 kg explosive, same depth.
WBSS: 60 Kg, 2, 23 m/sec. sinking speed.

There were also rocket fired versions, using the following rockets attachments: RWB F40( range 40m, to be used on U-Jäger boats, weight 165kg, Vmax: 25m/s, with an hidrostatic fuze), RWB G40, RWB H40, RWB 600 and RWB 600U.

I will post what I have on german WW2 ASW rockets. There is still much to uncover regarding german anti-submarine weapons.

User avatar
Natter
Member
Posts: 1297
Joined: 19 Feb 2007, 22:43
Location: Bergen, Norway

Re: Depth charges

#5

Post by Natter » 13 Jan 2015, 02:57

I can't find a suitable topic for this, I hope this placement is ok...

I came across the term "Heeresvorstrandsperre" in a document describing (just a list + individual sketches) 42 of these along the french coast - some included in Stützpunkte, Wn's etc.

As underwater ordnance is my main focus, I'm curious about this use of depthcharges in german beachdefences: Was it purely improvised, or was it an "official" kind of ordnance? Clearly these were Heer-installations, but wasserbomben were - assumably - Kriegsmarine domain?
Does anyone have any details in regards to the construction of these/ photos etc?

The sketches suggest the charges were fired in groups of three (with two exeptions: One sperrung across the Seine has groups of two, and one of the two sperrungs at Somme has single charges). The number of charges in the different sperrungs vary from below 10 to more than 70.
Quite a few of the sketches specify "Frz Wasserbomben 100 kg" (details of this, anyone?) - appearantly this was the standard type, although I reckon different types could have been used as it's just a matter of adapting an electric detonator instead of the standard hydrostatic zünder.
Also, some sketches have "Zündtisch" or "Zündbunker" in stead of "Zündstand" (I'm not sure if this is significant though - I assume it's a rather simple construction similar to the arrangement for Abwehrflammenwerfer 42 etc).

I have attached a part of the sketch for "Heeresvorstrandsperre Nr. 34", which has other types of obstacles in addition to the depthcharges (many of the sites had only depthcharges according the sketches).
Attachments
hvs34.jpg
hvs34.jpg (146.23 KiB) Viewed 19015 times

User avatar
Natter
Member
Posts: 1297
Joined: 19 Feb 2007, 22:43
Location: Bergen, Norway

Re: Depth charges

#6

Post by Natter » 21 Apr 2015, 14:28

No response in regards to the use of depth charges in "Heeresvorstrandsperre", but still I'll try another question...

In this pionier-merkblatt the use of depth charges is also described. Again, I assume this is covering the use of Kriegsmarine (?) ordnance by the Heer, and I reckon the designations given here are used by the Heer?

The merkblatt (found in NARA RG 242 T-312 Roll 1051): https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/386 ... -21%29.pdf

Sturm78
Member
Posts: 17927
Joined: 02 Oct 2008, 18:18
Location: Spain

Re: Depth charges

#7

Post by Sturm78 » 10 Jan 2017, 22:36

Hi all,

Another image from Ebay. I am not sure about the exact model. WBG ???

Sturm78
Attachments
depth charges on Räumboot R238 in Norwegen.jpg

Sturm78
Member
Posts: 17927
Joined: 02 Oct 2008, 18:18
Location: Spain

Re: Depth charges

#8

Post by Sturm78 » 25 Jan 2017, 22:44

Hi all,

Another image from Ebay:

Sturm78
Attachments
s-l1600 (17).jpg

Sturm78
Member
Posts: 17927
Joined: 02 Oct 2008, 18:18
Location: Spain

Re: Depth charges

#9

Post by Sturm78 » 09 Mar 2017, 23:24

Hi all,

Two images from Ebay:

Sturm78
Attachments
Minensuchboot M17 Type 1935-class depth charges-.jpg
Minensuchboot M17 Type 1935-class depth charges.jpg

Sturm78
Member
Posts: 17927
Joined: 02 Oct 2008, 18:18
Location: Spain

Re: Depth charges

#10

Post by Sturm78 » 30 May 2017, 21:37

Hi all,

Another image from Ebay:

Sturm78
Attachments
U Boot Jäger 1102 Sperrwaffenmechaniker am Wasserbombenwerfer.jpg

User avatar
Pips
Member
Posts: 1280
Joined: 26 Jun 2005, 09:44
Location: Country NSW, Australia

Re: Depth charges

#11

Post by Pips » 31 May 2017, 02:21

Would anyone know of any books that compare RN, USN and Kriegsmarine anti-submarine warfare techniques and weapons? Cheers. :)

Sturm78
Member
Posts: 17927
Joined: 02 Oct 2008, 18:18
Location: Spain

Re: Depth charges

#12

Post by Sturm78 » 17 Jun 2017, 15:47


Sturm78
Member
Posts: 17927
Joined: 02 Oct 2008, 18:18
Location: Spain

Re: Depth charges

#13

Post by Sturm78 » 03 Jul 2018, 22:15

Hi all,

An image from Ebay: WBG ??

Sturm78
Attachments
German WBG depth charge.jpg
German WBG depth charge.jpg (96.53 KiB) Viewed 16801 times

Sturm78
Member
Posts: 17927
Joined: 02 Oct 2008, 18:18
Location: Spain

Re: Depth charges

#14

Post by Sturm78 » 12 Jan 2019, 14:05

Hi all,

A nice image from Ebay:
All images on this threat seems show the same model...

Sturm78
Attachments
depth charges in Norwegen, 1940-.jpg

Sturm78
Member
Posts: 17927
Joined: 02 Oct 2008, 18:18
Location: Spain

Re: Depth charges

#15

Post by Sturm78 » 08 Dec 2019, 14:13

Hi all,

Swedish depth charges at works. Any idea about the Swedish designation for this model ?

Sturm78
Attachments
Swedish depth charges in Motala Works, 1937,,.jpg

Post Reply

Return to “Kriegsmarine surface ships and Kriegsmarine in general”