Weapons · Germany · 1939-1945
WBD Wasserbombe
anti-submarine depth charge
The Wasserbombe was the standard Kriegsmarine depth charge, used defensively by U-boats when under attack and offensively by German destroyers, torpedo boats and escort vessels hunting Allied submarines. The pre-war WBD type weighed about 397 lb (180 kg) and carried roughly 276 lb (125 kg) of SW18 explosive, sinking at about 11.5 ft/s (3.5 m/s) and set off by a hydrostatic time fuze with six depth settings out to around 394 ft (120 m); the lighter WBF and WBG variants carried a smaller 132 lb (60 kg) charge. Charges were dropped from stern racks and fired from throwers mounted on escort ships, and a dedicated aircraft-delivered version was also produced.
| total weight | 397 lb (180 kg), WBD type |
|---|---|
| explosive charge | 276 lb (125 kg) SW18 explosive (WBD); 132 lb (60 kg) on lighter WBF/WBG variants |
| sink rate | ~11.5 ft/s (3.5 m/s) |
| depth setting | hydrostatic time fuze, six settings to ~394 ft (120 m) max |
| delivery | stern racks and shipboard throwers; separate aircraft-delivered version |
Battle of the Atlantic, Mediterranean and North Africa
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