Depth charges second. Depth charge is a threat to elusive submarines. Irish "depth charge"

Experienced bartenders claim that the Depth Bomb cocktail explodes three times: first in the glass during preparation, then in the mouth during tasting, and finally, after some delay, in the skull. We will look at the classic recipe and two of the most popular variations of the drink.

Historical reference. It is unknown who first thought of putting a glass of strong alcohol into a glass of beer. In North America, these cocktails (in addition to the “Depth Bomb”, the names “Bomb shot” and “Boilermarker” are found) have been mentioned in printed publications since the 30s of the 20th century. According to one version, the name appeared due to the rapid intoxicating effect that causes an explosion in the depths of consciousness.

In one variation or another, the cocktail has appeared on screen more than once, for example, in the films “Dumb and Dumber,” “Hooked,” “Thor,” and in the TV series “Breaking Bad” and “Person of Interest.”

Classic Depth Charge

Bar version with liqueurs laid in layers on top of the glass. It looks beautiful, but on the first sips it turns out to be a sweet beer, which is quite unusual.

Composition and proportions:

• light beer – 300 ml;
• golden tequila – 50 ml;
• Blue Curacao – 10 ml;
• Cointreau – 10 ml;
• strawberry liqueur – 10 ml.

1. Pour beer into a glass.

2. Carefully lower the glass of tequila into the beer.

3. Using a bar spoon, place layers of Blue Curacao, Cointreau and strawberry liqueurs along the walls of the glass.

4. Drink in one gulp.

Russian "depth charge"

Of course, the most explosive and dangerous. An adapted version of the cocktail to domestic alcoholic traditions is considered a variety of “Ruff”. Easy to prepare at home. Those who like to mix vodka with beer will like it, but do it beautifully. After a few servings, even advanced users experience a “brain explosion.”

Ingredients:

• vodka – 50 ml;
• beer – 150-200 ml;
• salt – 1 pinch.

1. Pour vodka into a shot glass and place in the microwave for 10 seconds.

2. Pour cold beer into a glass.

3. Remove the shot glass from the microwave and light the vodka. Wait 5-10 seconds.

4. Salt the beer, then throw in a glass of hot vodka (you can do it sharply so that splashes appear). Drink in one gulp.

If you use Corona beer and replace the vodka with tequila (any kind), you get a “Mexican Bomb” or “Mexican Ruff”.

Irish "depth charge"

It contains only Irish spirits, hence the name. The main difference is that it is prepared on the basis of dark Guinness beer and is memorable for its light chocolate aftertaste.

Regulars of grand parties and other entertainment events often give preference to the spectacular Depth Bomb cocktail, which evokes a cycle of positive emotions, or, as it is also called, the Deep Sea Bomb. The uniqueness of this drink lies in the fact that during the tasting process the “depth charge” manages to “explode” three times: the first time during production, the second time in the mouth during tasting, the third time in the skull.

The used components of such a mix cause a storm of emotions in the body, which turn into a seething cycle that instantly provides a festive mood. I invite you to consider several recipes for such an amazing alcoholic drink, which delights not only with its special, curious taste, but also with its incredibly impressive presentation.

Such a mix will undoubtedly appeal to consumers who don’t mind knocking back a couple of glasses of beer and who want to enhance the effect of drinking it. As a result of mixing drinks of varying strengths, you will quickly lift your spirits and be able to experience an unusual exciting sensation when a blast wave passes through you and leaves only pleasant emotions. After the first sip of this bomb mix, you will feel the indescribable taste of sweetish beer, which is difficult to describe in words, but can be felt in real life.

List of components

Cooking process

1. First of all, fill the beer glass with chilled light beer.
2. Take a small glass and fill it with golden tequila.
3. Carefully lower the glass of strong alcohol into the glass of beer.
4. Using a bar spoon or a knife with a thick blade, carefully add Blue Curacao liqueur along the side of the glass.
5. Next, create the next layer of Cointreau, and place a layer of strawberry liqueur on top of it.
6. We drink the drink in large sips or, if we have the strength and capabilities, in one gulp.

Simplified version

The presented version of the Depth Bomb cocktail will appeal to those who do not like sweet additives, but respect non-standard mixing of classic alcoholic drinks. Since this recipe does not include ingredients that can dilute a high degree of strong alcohol, be vigilant about the amount you drink, otherwise, after the second explosive portion, you will not be able to be responsible for your own actions.

List of components

Cooking process

1. Fill a large glass with a wide neck with chilled light beer.
2. Fill a small glass with iced tequila.
3. We take the glass with its contents by the edges and carefully lower it to the bottom of the glass of beer.
4. We take a big breath and on the second breath we drink the mix in one gulp. Do not make too sudden movements, otherwise the glass may hit your teeth.

Female version

Enterprising bartenders have developed a special version of the Depth Charge cocktail, which will appeal to the fair sex. The drink has a charming magical note and gives a sweet, long-lasting aftertaste.

List of components

Cooking process

1. Fill a small glass, no more than 60 ml, with grenadine.
2. Using a knife blade, create a second layer of the mix by adding Blue Curacao.
3. Then create a third layer of orange clear liquor.
4. Fill a beer glass with light beer and add lemon juice to it.
5. Then carefully lower the glass containing the prepared sweet mix into the beer mixture.
6. We watch the beautiful trail, and then drink the drink in large sips.

Male version

Representatives of the stronger half of society will certainly like the domestic version of the Depth Charge cocktail. The effect of mixing an intoxicating drink with strong alcohol will not take long to appear, and the desired cheerful mood will be achieved within a few minutes.

List of components

Cooking process

1. Fill a glass with high-quality vodka and put it in the microwave for about 10 seconds.
2. Meanwhile, pour cold light beer into a beer glass and salt it.
3. We take the glass of strong alcohol out of the microwave and set the vodka on fire.
4. We count to ten and throw the glass with its contents into a glass of intoxicating drink.
5. We drink alcohol in one breath, in one gulp.

Cocktail recipe Irish car bomb

Oddly enough, the piquancy of this mix lies in the fact that it is quite risky to order in Irish bars. Among local residents, this alcoholic drink is associated with real bombs that were planted in cars during the conflicts in Northern Ireland. Americans call this cocktail Irish only for the reason that it contains exclusively Irish spirits.

List of components

Cooking process

1. Fill a beer glass with cold Irish Guinness beer.
2. Fill a standard shot glass halfway with Jamison Irish whiskey.
3. Fill the second part of the glass with Baileys.
4. Then we lower the glass with its contents to the bottom of the beer glass.
5. We immediately drink the cocktail in one gulp, without waiting for the drinks to mix. Otherwise, after a few seconds after mixing, Baileys will curdle and it will become difficult to drink the cocktail.

Video recipes for preparing the Depth Charge cocktail

The depth charge is a unique cocktail that allows you not only to improvise with its components, but also to change the way it is served. To better understand the possibilities that this drink offers, I advise you to watch several videos in which professional bartenders will present their own variations of preparation.

In the presented video you can see the entire process of preparing such an original cocktail as the Depth Charge. The master will demonstrate step-by-step instructions and give many useful tips.

Here the master of his craft will present you his version of the Irish Car Bomb. After making the drink, the taster will taste the finished strong drink and share his own conclusions regarding its qualities.

An experienced bartender will show you how to prepare this explosive cocktail at home, and will present you with his proportions and ingredients used.

Helpful information

Bar art is famous for allowing people to discover new talents and create wonderful drinks with their own hands that will decorate and enrich any party or any other entertainment event, improving the mood of those gathered just with its amazing view.

• If you decide to improve your skills in creating delicious mixes, I advise you to study the list of “cocktails with orange juice.”
• I also suggest that you familiarize yourself with the opportunities that cocktails with liqueur will provide to the taster.
• If you are a beginner and don’t know where to start learning how to bar, try the most simple to prepare and very tasty cocktails with cola, which will not require expensive ingredients from you.
• If you want to brighten up the morning of someone you love, then explore interesting mixtures that will certainly make a favorable impression and fill you with vital energy for the whole day.

Depending on your imagination and desire, you can easily change the character and taste of the Depth Charge mix. However, do not forget that no matter what combinations you use, mixing liquids of different strengths almost always creates a real time-bomb effect for the consumer. Write in the comments which version of this cocktail you liked best and tell us why. I will also be very grateful for new ideas and successful combinations when making the Depth Charge. Thanks for your time and good luck with your experiments!

Naval ammunition included the following weapons: torpedoes, sea mines and depth charges. A distinctive feature of these ammunition is the environment in which they are used, i.e. hitting targets on or under water. Like most other ammunition, naval ammunition is divided into main (for hitting targets), special (for illumination, smoke, etc.) and auxiliary (training, blank, for special tests).

Torpedo- a self-propelled underwater weapon consisting of a cylindrical streamlined body with tails and propellers. The warhead of a torpedo contains an explosive charge, a detonator, fuel, an engine and control devices. The most common caliber of torpedoes (hull diameter at its widest part) is 533 mm; samples from 254 to 660 mm are known. The average length is about 7 m, weight is about 2 tons, explosive charge is 200-400 kg. They are in service with surface (torpedo boats, patrol boats, destroyers, etc.) and submarines and torpedo bomber aircraft.

Torpedoes were classified as follows:

- by type of engine: combined-cycle (liquid fuel burns in compressed air (oxygen) with the addition of water, and the resulting mixture rotates a turbine or drives a piston engine); powder (gases from slowly burning gunpowder rotate the engine shaft or turbine); electric.

— by guidance method: unguided; erect (with a magnetic compass or gyroscopic semi-compass); maneuvering according to a given program (circulating); homing passive (based on noise or changes in the properties of water in the wake).

— by purpose: anti-ship; universal; anti-submarine.

The first samples of torpedoes (Whitehead torpedoes) were used by the British in 1877. And already during the First World War, steam-gas torpedoes were used by the warring parties not only in the sea, but also on rivers. The caliber and dimensions of torpedoes tended to steadily increase as they developed. During the First World War, torpedoes of 450 mm and 533 mm caliber were standard. Already in 1924, the 550-mm steam-gas torpedo “1924V” was created in France, which became the first-born of a new generation of this type of weapon. The British and Japanese went even further, designing 609-mm oxygen torpedoes for large ships. Of these, the most famous is the Japanese type “93”. Several models of this torpedo were developed, and on the “93” modification, model 2, the charge mass was increased to 780 kg to the detriment of range and speed.

The main “combat” characteristic of a torpedo—the explosive charge—usually not only increased quantitatively, but also improved qualitatively. Already in 1908, instead of pyroxylin, the more powerful TNT (trinitrotoluene, TNT) began to spread. In 1943, in the United States, a new explosive, “torpex,” was created specifically for torpedoes, twice as strong as TNT. Similar work was carried out in the USSR. In general, during the Second World War alone, the power of torpedo weapons in terms of the TNT coefficient doubled.

One of the disadvantages of steam-gas torpedoes was the presence of a trace (exhaust gas bubbles) on the surface of the water, unmasking the torpedo and creating the opportunity for the attacked ship to evade it and determine the location of the attackers. To eliminate this, it was planned to equip the torpedo with an electric motor. However, before the outbreak of World War II, only Germany succeeded. In 1939, the Kriegsmarine adopted the G7e electric torpedo. In 1942, it was copied by Great Britain, but was able to establish production only after the end of the war. In 1943, the ET-80 electric torpedo was adopted for service in the USSR. However, only 16 torpedoes were used until the end of the war.

To ensure a torpedo explosion under the bottom of the ship, which caused 2-3 times more damage than an explosion at its side, Germany, the USSR and the USA developed magnetic fuses instead of contact fuses. The German TZ-2 fuses, which were put into service in the second half of the war, achieved the greatest efficiency.

During the war, Germany developed maneuvering and torpedo guidance devices. Thus, torpedoes equipped with the “FaT” system during the search for a target could move “snake” across the ship’s course, which significantly increased the chances of hitting the target. They were most often used towards a pursuing escort ship. Torpedoes with the LuT device, produced since the spring of 1944, made it possible to attack an enemy ship from any position. Such torpedoes could not only move like a snake, but also turn around to continue searching for a target. During the war, German submariners fired about 70 torpedoes equipped with LuT.

In 1943, the T-IV torpedo with acoustic homing (ASH) was created in Germany. The torpedo's homing head, consisting of two spaced hydrophones, captured the target in the 30° sector. The capture range depended on the noise level of the target ship; usually it was 300-450 m. The torpedo was created mainly for submarines, but during the war it also entered service with torpedo boats. In 1944, the modification “T-V” was released, and then “T-Va” for “schnellboats” with a range of 8000 m at a speed of 23 knots. However, the effectiveness of acoustic torpedoes turned out to be low. The overly complex guidance system (it included 11 lamps, 26 relays, 1760 contacts) was extremely unreliable - out of 640 torpedoes fired during the war, only 58 hit the target. The percentage of hits with conventional torpedoes in the German fleet was three times higher.

However, the Japanese oxygen torpedoes had the most powerful, fastest and longest range. Neither allies nor opponents were able to achieve even close results.

Since there were no torpedoes equipped with the maneuvering and guidance devices described above in other countries, and Germany had only 50 submarines capable of launching them, a combination of special ship or aircraft maneuvers was used to launch torpedoes to hit the target. Their totality was defined by the concept of torpedo attack.

A torpedo attack can be carried out: from a submarine against enemy submarines, surface ships and ships; surface ships against surface and underwater targets, as well as coastal torpedo launchers. The elements of a torpedo attack are: assessing the position relative to the detected enemy, identifying the main target and its protection, determining the possibility and method of a torpedo attack, approaching the target and determining the elements of its movement, choosing and occupying a firing position, firing torpedoes. The end of a torpedo attack is torpedo firing. It consists of the following: the firing data is calculated, then they are entered into the torpedo; The ship performing torpedo firing takes a calculated position and fires a salvo.

Torpedo firing can be combat or practical (training). According to the method of execution, they are divided into salvo, aimed, single torpedo, area, successive shots.

Salvo firing consists of the simultaneous release of two or more torpedoes from torpedo tubes to ensure an increased probability of hitting the target.

Targeted shooting is carried out in the presence of accurate knowledge of the elements of the target’s movement and the distance to it. It can be carried out with single torpedo shots or salvo fire.

When firing torpedoes over an area, torpedoes cover the probable area of ​​the target. This type of shooting is used to cover errors in determining the elements of target movement and distance. A distinction is made between sector firing and parallel torpedo firing. Torpedo firing over an area is carried out in one salvo or at time intervals.

Torpedo firing by sequential shots means firing in which torpedoes are fired sequentially one after another at specified time intervals to cover errors in determining the elements of the target’s movement and the distance to it.

When firing at a stationary target, the torpedo is fired in the direction of the target; when firing at a moving target, it is fired at an angle to the direction of the target in the direction of its movement (with anticipation). The lead angle is determined taking into account the target's heading angle, the speed of movement and the path of the ship and torpedo before they meet at the lead point. The firing distance is limited by the maximum range of the torpedo.

In World War II, about 40 thousand torpedoes were used by submarines, aircraft and surface ships. In the USSR, out of 17.9 thousand torpedoes, 4.9 thousand were used, which sank or damaged 1004 ships. Of the 70 thousand torpedoes fired in Germany, submarines expended about 10 thousand torpedoes. US submarines used 14.7 thousand torpedoes, and torpedo-carrying aircraft 4.9 thousand. About 33% of the fired torpedoes hit the target. Of all ships and vessels sunk during the Second World War, 67% were torpedoes.

Sea mines- ammunition secretly installed in the water and designed to destroy enemy submarines, ships and vessels, as well as to impede their navigation. The main properties of a sea mine: constant and long-term combat readiness, surprise of combat impact, difficulty in clearing mines. Mines could be installed in enemy waters and off their own coast. A sea mine is an explosive charge enclosed in a waterproof casing, which also contains instruments and devices that cause the mine to explode and ensure safe handling.

The first successful use of a sea mine took place in 1855 in the Baltic during the Crimean War. The ships of the Anglo-French squadron were blown up by galvanic shock mines laid by Russian miners in the Gulf of Finland. These mines were installed under the surface of the water on a cable with an anchor. Later, shock mines with mechanical fuses began to be used. Sea mines were widely used during the Russo-Japanese War. During the First World War, 310 thousand sea mines were installed, from which about 400 ships sank, including 9 battleships. In World War II, proximity mines (mainly magnetic, acoustic and magnetic-acoustic) appeared. Urgency and multiplicity devices and new anti-mine devices were introduced into the design of non-contact mines.

Sea mines were installed both by surface ships (minelayers) and from submarines (through torpedo tubes, from special internal compartments/containers, from external trailer containers), or dropped by aircraft (usually into enemy waters). Anti-landing mines could be installed from the shore at shallow depths.

Sea mines were divided according to the type of installation, according to the principle of operation of the fuse, according to the frequency of operation, according to controllability, and according to selectivity; by media type,

By type of installation there are:

- anchored - a hull with positive buoyancy is held at a given depth under water at an anchor using a minerep;

- bottom - installed on the bottom of the sea;

- floating - drifting with the flow, staying under water at a given depth;

- pop-up - installed on an anchor, and when triggered, it releases it and floats up vertically: freely or with the help of a motor;

- homing - electric torpedoes held underwater by an anchor or lying on the bottom.

According to the principle of operation of the fuse, they are distinguished:

— contact — exploding upon direct contact with the ship’s hull;

- galvanic impact - triggered when a ship hits a cap protruding from the mine body, which contains a glass ampoule with the electrolyte of a galvanic cell;

- antenna - triggered when the ship's hull comes into contact with a metal cable antenna (used, as a rule, to destroy submarines);

- non-contact - triggered when a ship passes at a certain distance from the influence of its magnetic field, or acoustic influence, etc. Non-contact ones are divided into: magnetic (react to the target’s magnetic fields), acoustic (react to acoustic fields), hydrodynamic (react to dynamic change in hydraulic pressure from the movement of the target), induction (react to changes in the strength of the ship’s magnetic field (the fuse is triggered only under a ship that is moving), combined (combining fuses of different types). To make it difficult to combat proximity mines, emergency devices were included in the fuze circuit, delaying the bringing of a mine into a firing position for any required period, multiplicity devices that ensure the explosion of a mine only after a specified number of impacts on the fuse, and decoy devices that cause a mine to explode when an attempt is made to disarm it.

According to the multiplicity of mines, there are: non-multiple (triggered when the target is first detected), multiple (triggered after a specified number of detections).

According to controllability, they are distinguished: uncontrollable and controlled from the shore by wire or from a passing ship (usually acoustically).

Based on selectivity, mines were divided into: conventional (hit any detected target) and selective (capable of recognizing and hitting targets of given characteristics).

Depending on their carriers, mines are divided into ship mines (dropped from the deck of ships), boat mines (fired from torpedo tubes of a submarine) and aviation mines (dropped from an airplane).

When laying sea mines, there were special ways to install them. So under mine jar meant an element of a minefield consisting of several mines placed in a cluster. Determined by the coordinates (point) of the production. 2, 3 and 4 min cans are typical. Larger jars are rarely used. Typical for deployment by submarines or surface ships. Mine line- an element of a minefield consisting of several mines laid linearly. Determined by the coordinates (point) of the beginning and direction. Typical for deployment by submarines or surface ships. Mine strip- an element of a minefield consisting of several mines placed randomly from a moving carrier. Unlike mine cans and lines, it is characterized not by coordinates, but by width and direction. Typical for deployment by aircraft, where it is impossible to predict the point at which the mine will land. The combination of mine banks, mine lines, mine strips and individual mines creates a minefield in the area.

Naval mines were one of the most effective weapons during World War II. The cost of producing and installing a mine ranged from 0.5 to 10 percent of the cost of neutralizing or removing it. Mines could be used both as an offensive weapon (mining enemy fairways) and as a defensive weapon (mining one’s own fairways and installing anti-landing mines). They were also used as a psychological weapon - the very fact of the presence of mines in the shipping area already caused damage to the enemy, forcing them to bypass the area or carry out long-term, expensive mine clearance.

During World War II, more than 600 thousand mines were installed. Of these, Great Britain dropped 48 thousand by air into enemy waters, and 20 thousand were dropped from ships and submarines. Britain laid 170 thousand mines to protect its waters. Japanese aircraft dropped 25 thousand mines in foreign waters. Of the 49 thousand mines installed, the United States dropped 12 thousand aircraft mines off the coast of Japan alone. Germany deposited 28.1 thousand mines in the Baltic Sea, the USSR and Finland – 11.8 thousand mines each, Sweden – 4.5 thousand. During the war, Italy produced 54.5 thousand mines.

The Gulf of Finland was the most heavily mined during the war, in which the warring parties laid more than 60 thousand mines. It took almost 4 years to neutralize them.

Depth charge- one of the types of weapons of the Navy, designed to combat submerged submarines. It was a projectile with a strong explosive enclosed in a metal casing of cylindrical, spherocylindrical, drop-shaped or other shape. A depth charge explosion destroys the hull of a submarine and leads to its destruction or damage. The explosion is caused by a fuse, which can be triggered: when a bomb hits the hull of a submarine; at a given depth; when a bomb passes at a distance from a submarine not exceeding the radius of action of a proximity fuse. A stable position of a spherocylindrical and drop-shaped depth charge when moving along a trajectory is given by the tail unit - the stabilizer. Depth charges were divided into aircraft and shipborne ones; the latter are used by launching jet depth charges from launchers, firing from single-barrel or multi-barrel bomb launchers, and dropping them from stern bomb releasers.

The first sample of a depth charge was created in 1914 and, after testing, entered service with the British Navy. Depth charges found widespread use in the First World War and remained the most important type of anti-submarine weapon in the Second.

The operating principle of a depth charge is based on the practical incompressibility of water. A bomb explosion destroys or damages the hull of a submarine at depth. In this case, the energy of the explosion, instantly increasing to a maximum in the center, is transferred to the target by the surrounding water masses, through them destructively affecting the attacked military object. Due to the high density of the medium, the blast wave along its path does not significantly lose its initial power, but with increasing distance to the target, the energy is distributed over a larger area, and accordingly, the damage radius is limited. Depth charges are distinguished by their low accuracy - sometimes about a hundred bombs were required to destroy a submarine.

Ship depth charges and bomb launchers

Depth charges continued to be the main means of destroying submarines in a submerged position during the Second World War. Under Lend-Lease, at least five types of conventional (as opposed to those used for multi-barrel bomb launchers) depth charges were serially supplied to the USSR.

From the analysis of the table it is clear that imported samples of depth charges were significantly superior in their characteristics to domestic bombs BB-1 and BM-1, which were put into service back in 1933. Improvements in the characteristics of Allied bomb weapons occurred during the war years, while our bombs did not modernized. In particular, the increase in the maximum diving depth of enemy submarines to 200-220 m by the end of the war made them completely ineffective. At the same time, it should be noted that a number of even more advanced models of Allied bombs were not supplied to the USSR. For example, in England, since the end of 1940, a “heavy” Mk VII bomb was used with a immersion speed of 5.1 m/s and an effective explosion radius of 7.9 m1. In the USA in 1943-1944. depth charges Mk 8 with magnetic and Mk 14 with acoustic fuses were developed. In the spring of 1943, the Mk 9 depth charge was put into service, in which, by reducing the weight to 154 kg (the weight of the explosive is 91 kg of torpex), giving it a teardrop shape, a special stabilizer and cargo, it was possible to increase the immersion speed initially to 4.4 m/ s, and then up to 6.9 m/s2. The domestic analogue - a bomb with an increased dive speed "BPS" (weight - 138 kg, explosive weight - 96 kg, dive speed - 4.2 m/s) - entered service with the Soviet fleet only in 1950.

The most effective way to use depth charges in the British fleet was initially considered to be an attack by a single ship, according to the GAS. Having established the course, speed and approximate diving depth of the submarine (it was determined based on the distance at which contact was lost due to the fact that the target was under the sonar beam), the ship passed over it on a catching course, after which it took a lead corresponding to the diving time of the deep-sea submarines. bombs and the speed of the submarine, and dropped a series of bombs. Depending on the type and armament of the ship, at the beginning of World War II it consisted of no more than 3-7 depth charges. Already in 1940, it became clear that in order to reliably destroy a submarine, it was necessary to simultaneously drop at least 10 Mk VII depth charges, according to which by the middle of the war, most anti-submarine ships were able to drop 10-14 bomb series.

Subsequently, a method was developed that was called the “sneaking attack.” It consisted of the interaction of two anti-submarine ships, one of which maintained hydroacoustic contact with the submarine and directed the second ship, which carried out an attack using stern bomb releasers and on-board bomb throwers.

In the Soviet Navy (Northern Fleet), the first cases of using imported depth charges dated back to the end of 1941, but they began to be used regularly only in 1944-1945. The total deliveries of imported depth charges were: 7093 conventional and 1426 for multi-barrel bomb launchers from the UK, as well as 9198 and 20630, respectively, from the USA. The “Final Report on the Combat Activities of the Northern Fleet during the Great Patriotic War” noted that imported bombs were initially used without descriptions and without equipment for checking fuses, which arrived very late. This, as well as the insufficient mastery of foreign equipment by personnel, led to the fact that in the first months of use, Lend-Lease bombs gave up to 50-60% failures. Subsequently, with the elimination of the above shortcomings, failure rates were reduced to 1-3%.

To increase the affected area, on-board bomb launchers were used, firing at the beam of the anti-submarine ship. Together with the Allied ships, two types of onboard single-barrel bomb launchers were supplied to the armament of our fleet: the English rod-mounted Mk II (on the “Daring” type EM) and the American rodless Mk 6 (also called the “K” gun”; installed on frigates, minesweepers “AM” and big hunters "BO-1"). Imported bomb launchers could throw British Mk VII bombs at distances of 37 and 62 m, respectively. According to technical specifications, they roughly corresponded to the Soviet BMB-1 rod bomb launcher. throwing BB-1 bombs at 40-110 m. At the same time, the reporting documents noted that the presence of rods, with which there was no centralized supply to the warring fleets, significantly complicated the use of bomb throwers. In this situation, the Northern Fleet command had to organize the production of wooden rods using local industry8. The reports noted that rodless bomb throwers are somewhat more complex in their design, but much simpler to use, however, due to the limited supply of imported depth charges, all Lend-Lease ships must be re-equipped with domestic bomb throwers." The first domestic rodless bomb launcher, VMB-2, was put into service in 1951, when this type of weapon was already obsolete.

Table 1. Basic tactical and technical data of depth charges used by the USSR Navy in 1941-1945.

Bomb type Bomb weight, Explosive weight, Explosive type Effective speed depth

(country) kg kg explosion radius, m** immersion, m/s immersion, m

MkVII (B Br) 185 136 minol 6.1 2.1-3 to 305

MkVIII,XI (B Br) 113 77 torpex approx. 4 approx. 3* 7.6*

Mk 6(SSA) 191 136 TNT 6.4 2.4-3.7 183

Mk 7 (USA) 348 272 TNT 8.8-10.7 2.7-4 183

BB-1 (USSR) 165 135 TNT approx. 5 2.3-2.5 up to 100

BM-1 (USSR) 41 25 TNT approx. 1.2 2.1-2.3 up to 100

* English depth charges Mk VIII, XI were created for use from aircraft, but in the USSR Navy they were used from surface ships (features of combat use were not found in archival materials). The bombs were equipped with a hydrostatic fuse with an explosion depth set at 7.6 m - against submarines on the surface or making an urgent dive.

** The radius of a bomb explosion at which a 22-mm german casing is pierced. VIIC series submarines.

Depth charges continued to be the main means of destroying submarines in a submerged position during the Second World War. Most Soviet surface combat ships were adapted to use ship-borne anti-submarine weapons, which by the beginning of the Great Patriotic War were mainly represented by large and small depth charges dropped from the stern or BMB-1 bomb launchers. In the 1930s, the main disadvantage of depth charges was considered to be the small kill zone, the size of which was determined by the number of bombs dropped. To increase the affected area, Special Design Bureau No. 4 (SKB-4) at the Leningrad Artillery Plant No. 7 "Arsenal" named after. Frunze, which was led by the outstanding Soviet designer B.I. Shavyrin, received tactical and technical assignments for the development of an onboard bomb launcher that would fire BB-1 bombs abeam the ship. With a complete lack of experience in designing such installations, a group of designers led by B.I. Shavyrina completed the task in record time. SKB-4 received drawings of the BB-1 bombs in July 1939, and a month later a prototype bomb launcher entered testing. In November 1939, the first shots were fired from a bomb launcher at the NIAP naval artillery range. Factory and state tests were successfully completed in June - August 1940 on the minesweeper "Stag". The selection committee in its conclusion stated that: “The bomb launcher is portable, easy to use and can be used on small-tonnage ships.” Using a rod and tray, the bomb launcher made it possible to fire large BB-1 depth charges at a distance of 40, 80 and 110 m, which ensured an increase in the bombing area. In the same year, a rod-type bomb launcher was adopted into service by the Soviet Navy under the designation “Large Marine Bomb Launcher BMB-1.” During the Great Patriotic War, Soviet rod bombers BMB-1 showed their best performance in combat conditions, but at the same time, reporting documents of that time noted that the presence of rods, which were not centrally supplied to the war fleets, significantly complicated their use. For example, in the current difficult situation, the Northern Fleet command had to organize the production of wooden rods for BMB-1 bomb throwers using local industry. At the same time, reports noted that the American Mk 6 rodless bombers, installed on frigates, AM minesweepers and large BO-1 hunters (which were supplied to the USSR under Lend-Lease during the war), are somewhat more complex in their design, but at the same time much easier to use. However, due to the limited supply of imported depth charges, all Lend-Lease ships were subject to re-equipment with domestic bomb throwers. The first domestic rodless bomb launcher BMB-2 (“large sea bomb launcher 2”) of 433 mm caliber was developed after the war at SKB-101 (“Design Bureau of Mechanical Engineering”) under the leadership of B.I. Shavyrin and adopted by the Soviet Navy in 1951. It was intended for firing depth charges at submarines and torpedoes. The BMB-2 bomb launcher made it possible to fire large BB-1 and BPS depth charges across the ship's beam at a range of 40, 80 and 110 m, while simultaneously using aft bomb releasers to expand the bombing area. The BMB-2 bomb launcher was part of the anti-submarine weapons of ships of various projects. Thus, on Project 56 destroyers, BMB-2 bomb launchers were installed in the stern, three per side. By the time the BMB-2 was adopted, this type of weapon was already obsolete, so they were gradually replaced by more modern RBU-2500 rocket launchers. Anti-submarine defense during the Great Patriotic War was of greatest importance in the Barents, White and Kara Seas, where from 6 to 30 enemy submarines operated in the operational zone of the Northern Fleet during the war. For anti-submarine defense, Soviet warships from destroyers to MO-class boats, as well as allied British ships, were involved. On average, in the North, 120 ships and boats were used for anti-submarine defense purposes in 1941, in 1943 - 100, in 1944 - 160, and in 1945 - 218. Despite the increase in the number of anti-submarine defense ships, there were still not enough of them , especially during periods of Arctic navigation. In addition, the anti-submarine ships themselves, due to their small numbers and imperfect hydroacoustic means, had insufficient search capabilities. However, it was surface ships that became the basis of the anti-submarine forces of the Northern Fleet. During the war, they made 430 detections of enemy submarines, on which 334 attacks were made, as a result of which two of them were definitely sunk and another was probably sunk. In addition, approximately 10 more submarines were damaged, at least 2 of which were seriously damaged. Soviet submariners and aviators accounted for only about 5% of detections and 15% of attacks on enemy submarines. Mostly, surface ships used depth charges (272 attacks), in 59 cases rocket launchers were used, and three attacks began with ramming an enemy submarine and then dropping depth charges at the place where it dived. Typically, bombs were dropped from the stern, which required the ship to pass over the boat, which always resulted in loss of contact. Systematic searches for submarines using hydroacoustics and radar were carried out in a 40-mile zone from the coast of the Kola Peninsula. Initially, the most effective way to use depth charges was initially considered to be an attack by a single ship according to sonar data. Having established the course, speed and approximate diving depth of the submarine (it was determined based on the distance at which contact was lost due to the fact that the target was under the sonar beam), the ship passed over it on a catching course, after which it took a lead corresponding to the diving time depth charges and the speed of the submarine, and dropped a series of bombs. Depending on the type and armament of the ship, at the beginning of the Great Patriotic War it consisted of 2-6 depth charges. Subsequently, another method of attack was used, which consisted in the interaction of two anti-submarine ships, one of them maintained hydroacoustic contact with the submarine and directed the second ship, which carried out the attack using stern bomb releasers and on-board bomb throwers. The destroyers searched in a group of 2–3 ships, large hunters from 3–5 ships or 2 hunters and 2 torpedo boats. The most effective searches for submarines were carried out by destroyers equipped with hydroacoustic and radar stations. The use of large hunters was limited by sea conditions up to 4–5 points. MO type patrol boats could only be used in roadsteads and in coastal areas in favorable weather.

Caliber – 433.5 mm
Weight – 355 kg
Elevation angle – 45° Bombing range – 40, 80, 120 m Damage depth – 330 m
Rate of fire – 4 shots in 24 sec.
Recoil force – 15 tons
Dimensions - 1.65x0.65x0.65 m Number of bombs in a salvo - 1 Type of bomb - BB-1 or BPS. Work to improve domestic torpedo, anti-submarine and mine-sweeping weapons resumed in the Soviet Union in the early 1920s. To organize and coordinate these works, already in 1921 the Scientific and Technical Committee of the Office of the Naval Forces of the Red Army (STC UVMS of the Red Army) and the Special Technical Bureau for Military Inventions (Ostekhbyuro) were created. Since 1927, the Ostekhbyuro began designing the first Soviet depth charges and means for dropping them. Already in 1930, the first Soviet small anti-submarine depth charge 4V-M was created, which had two zones for setting the explosion depth - 12 m and 24 m, and the large depth charge 4V-B, which had four fixed explosion depths - 12, 24, 36 and 48 m. In 1933, two new depth charges were developed and adopted by the Navy - the large BB-1 and the small BM-1. The main requirements for the creation of these depth charges were to increase the depth of the explosion to the maximum diving depth of submarines and to ensure the possibility of their use from warships of various classes. The BB-1 depth charge was a cylindrical steel container weighing 165 kg, with an explosive charge (TNT) weighing 135 kg, in the bottom of which a fuse with a VGB clock mechanism was mounted. The immersion depth of the bomb was up to 100 m, the immersion speed was 2.3-2.5 seconds. The effective explosion radius ranged from 8 to 20 m. The VGB hydrostatic fuse with a clock mechanism ensured that the explosion depth of depth charges could be set in the range from 10 to 100 m. For the convenience of dropping and storing these bombs on ships, stationary and movable bomb releasers were created in the form of carts, and also carts for storing bombs on the upper deck of ships. However, the VGB fuse turned out to be insufficiently reliable and safe to use. In 1940, the Navy adopted a new fuse for depth charges K-3, developed at the plant named after. M.I.Kalinina. It made it possible to set the explosion depth of bombs from 10 to 210 m. The creation of this fuse, simple in design, safe and reliable in operation, ensured the successful use of Soviet depth charges throughout the war without its modernization, while foreign fleets (British and American) due to the increase in the diving depth of submarines, they were forced to modernize their depth charge fuses or create new ones. Depth charges were the main type of anti-submarine weapon used by the Soviet Navy during the Great Patriotic War. Small BM-1 bombs were used for warning (preventive) bombing, and large BB-1 bombs were used to destroy detected submarines. However, the supply of depth charges themselves in the fleets at the beginning of the war was insufficient, amounting to only 68,615 units. Thus, on June 22, 1941, in the Northern Fleet, out of the required 44,642 depth charges, only 6,834 (27.8%) were available; in the Baltic Fleet, out of 47,210 - 19,564 (41.4%), in the Black Sea Fleet, out of 49,006 - 13,625 (27 ,8 %). As of August 1, 1942, the situation had not changed fundamentally: in the North, the supply of depth charges was 52.8%, in the Baltic - 25.6%, in the Black Sea - 65%. Only in 1943 did the Northern and Black Sea fleets receive the required number of depth charges; the Baltic Fleet was not satisfied, but bombs were practically not in demand there at that time. By the end of the war, despite the massive use of depth charges, their stock increased to 123,921 units. The bombs were simple in design and could be produced at many industrial enterprises. The total combat consumption of depth charges during the war was about 88,000. Their greatest consumption occurred in 1944 - 32%, and among the fleets - in the Black Sea - 38%, where depth charges were mainly used for trawling enemy proximity mines with counter-explosions. Depth charges were used most effectively in the Northern Fleet, where 3 German submarines were destroyed by these weapons from ships that had sonars. At the beginning of 1942, the first “Manual on the fight against submarines of surface ships” was published. It provided for an attack on a submarine by a single ship or a group of 2–3 ships. In the same year, the “Rules for Bombing Ships” (PBK-42) were published. Depending on the tactical situation and the presence of bombs on the ship, the Rules provided for three types of bombing: a large series of depth charges - 6 bombs, a small series - 3 bombs and a pinning series - one or two bombs. However, despite the colossal efforts of Soviet sailors and repeated detections and attacks on German submarines, the first success of surface ships came only in the fourth year of the war, when the small hunter MO-103 (guard commander, senior lieutenant A.P. Kolenko) was in the Vyborg Bay. sank the submarine U 250. This happened on July 30, 1944. On this day, U 250 torpedoed a Soviet patrol boat in the Bjorkesund Strait. The small hunter MO-103 urgently came out to search for her. Upon arriving in the patrol area, he soon established contact with the enemy submarine. After three consecutive attacks with depth charges, 6 people in life jackets appeared on the surface of the water; German submariners swam with their hands raised. During the Great Patriotic War, this was the only case of capturing crew members of a sunken submarine. As the prisoners said, the boat was damaged from the very first explosions of depth charges, but the engines were working and the commander hoped to break away from the pursuit. However, one of the bombs of the second series exploded directly near the hull of the boat. Water poured into the hole. The diesel compartment was flooded, chlorine began to be released from the batteries, and people lost consciousness. Communication with the compartments was interrupted. Therefore, the remnants of the crew were forced to evacuate from the sunken submarine. In total, using anti-submarine and mine-torpedo weapons, surface ships and submarines of the USSR Navy destroyed 18 submarines of Germany and its allies: 9 of them were blown up by mines, 7 were sunk by depth charges from surface ships, 2 were torpedoed by submarines. Soviet naval aviation sank 5 submarines, and coastal artillery destroyed 1 submarine. Another 12 enemy submarines were damaged as a result of attacks by surface ships and air raids. Of the 5 submarines destroyed in the Northern Fleet, 4 sank surface ships with depth charges, and one was torpedoed by a submarine. In the Northern Fleet, 275 attacks were carried out using BB-1 and BM-1 depth charges. As a result, according to the fleet, 8 submarines were damaged and destroyed (success rate - 2.9%). In the Baltic Fleet, of the 15 destroyed German submarines: 9 were blown up by mines, 3 were destroyed by depth charges on surface ships, 1 were torpedoed by a submarine, 1 were destroyed by aviation and 1 by coastal artillery. In the Black Sea, the nature of the fleet's anti-submarine operations was determined by the small number of the enemy - until 1943, only 8 German, one Romanian and several small Italian submarines operated here. During the Great Patriotic War, Black Sea ships used up 1,973 depth charges. However, they did not sink a single submarine. All the success went to aviation - the naval air force sank one Italian submarine in Yalta in 1943 and three German ones during a raid on the Romanian Constanta on August 20, 1944. Depth charge type – high explosive Depth charge mass – 165 kg Explosive charge mass – 135 kg Explosive type – TNT Depth charge length – 710 mm
Depth charge diameter - 430 mm Fuze brand - VGB, K-3 Immersion depth - up to 100 m Immersion speed - 2.3 - 2.5 sec Effective explosion radius - 8 - 20 m.