depth charge

depth charge
an explosive device that is used against submarines and other underwater targets, and is usually set to detonate at a predetermined depth. Also called depth bomb.
[1915-20]

* * *

or depth bomb

Weapon used by ships or aircraft to attack submerged submarines.

Developed by the British in World War I for use against German submarines, it consisted of a canister filled with explosives and dropped off the stern of a ship near a submerged submarine. It rarely exploded close enough to sink the submarine, but its shock waves loosened the submarine's joints and damaged its instruments, forcing it to the surface, where naval gunfire could finish it off. Modern depth charges can be fired as far as 2,000 yards (1,800 m) from a ship's deck or launched from aircraft. Atomic depth charges have a nuclear warhead and a vastly increased killing radius.

* * *

weapon
also called  Depth Bomb,  

      a type of weapon that is used by surface ships or aircraft to attack submerged submarines (submarine). The first depth charges were developed by the British in World War I for use against German submarines. They consisted of a canister filled with explosives that was rolled or dropped off the stern of a ship in the presumed vicinity of the submerged submarine. The canister would sink through the water, and its explosive charge would be detonated at a preselected depth by means of a hydrostatic valve. The depth charge rarely exploded close enough to sink the submarine, but its shock waves loosened the submarine's joints and damaged its instruments, thus forcing it to the surface, where it could be finished off by naval gunfire. An attacking ship would try to drop a pattern of depth charges around a submarine to increase the chances of one exploding near enough to damage the sub.

      Late in World War I, devices were developed to propel depth charges through the air over distances of 100 or more yards, thus widening the effective radius at which a ship could attack submarines. The Royal Navy's Hedgehog depth charge of World War II consisted of a salvo of 24 small, high-explosive bombs that could be launched to a distance of 250 yards (228 m) and which exploded on contact as they sank through the water. Other, more conventional depth charges weighing as much as 3,000 pounds (1,360 kg) were used in World War II. Modern depth-charge launchers are computer-controlled mortars that can fire 400-pound (180-kilogram) depth charges in patterns 2,000 yards (1,800 m) away from a ship. Atomic depth charges are fitted with a nuclear warhead and have a vastly increased killing radius owing to their great explosive power. Other depth charges have been developed that can be launched from aircraft.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно решить контрольную?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Depth Charge — is a character in the Beast Wars : Transformers universe. Beast WarsTransformers character name = Depth Charge caption = affiliation =Maximal, later Autobot subgroup = Transmetals function = Aquatic Forces Commander rank = 10 ( Beast Wars ) 8 (… …   Wikipedia

  • Depth Charge (EP) — Depth Charge EP EP by Little Nobody Released April 2003 Genre Electronic Length 21 mins …   Wikipedia

  • depth charge — or depth bomb n. a powerful explosive charge that is dropped from a ship or airplane and explodes under water: used esp. against submarines …   English World dictionary

  • depth charge — depth′ charge n. mil an explosive device used underwater, esp. against submarines, and set to detonate at a predetermined depth. Also called depth′ bomb • Etymology: 1915–20 …   From formal English to slang

  • depth charge — n a bomb that explodes at a particular depth under water …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • depth charge — depth charges N COUNT A depth charge is a type of bomb which explodes under water and which is used especially to destroy enemy submarines …   English dictionary

  • depth charge — ► NOUN ▪ an explosive charge designed to explode under water, used for attacking submarines …   English terms dictionary

  • depth charge — depth ,charge noun count a bomb that is designed to explode under water, used especially for destroying a SUBMARINE …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • Depth charge — For other uses, see Depth charge (disambiguation). Mark IX Depth Charge used by the U.S. Navy late in World War II. Unlike the cylindrical, barrel shaped depth charge used earlier, the Mark IX is streamlined and equipped with canted fins to… …   Wikipedia

  • depth charge — noun a bomb that explodes at a preset depth under water; antisubmarine device • Syn: ↑depth bomb • Hypernyms: ↑bomb * * * noun or depth bomb : a projectile to be exploded underwater against submarines or other underwater targets * * * an expl …   Useful english dictionary

  • Depth charge — Grenade anti sous marine Grenade Mark XI utilisée par l US Navy, à la fin de la 2e GM. A la différence des grenades classiques, elle est profilée et possède des ailettes (sur la partie supérieure) pour la mettre en rotation, lui donnant une… …   Wikipédia en Français

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”