Why are depth charges so ugly?

[The Rat]

What's with the front end on most depth charges? Why flat? I can understand the barrel shaped one going off the side of a ship, all they need to do is sink, but even most airborne depth charges seem to be designed in the must unaerodynamic way possible. Is it to prevent them sinking too quickly, and allowing the depth sensors to get an accurate reading?

[rickshaw]

What's with the front end on most depth charges? Why flat? I can understand the barrel shaped one going off the side of a ship, all they need to do is sink, but even most airborne depth charges seem to be designed in the must unaerodynamic way possible. Is it to prevent them sinking too quickly, and allowing the depth sensors to get an accurate reading?

Basically, yes.  They were designed to hit the water and sink slowly, to allow the hydrometric pistols (fuses to laymen) to explode at the right depth.  They were usually dropped either beside or just in front of a diving submarine and you don't want it to go too deep until the submarine is amongst them.

[Old Wombat]

They also work on pressure waves, not shrapnel or flame, & the cylindrical shape packs more explosive into the length of the bomb to give a greater pressure punch.

[NARSES2]

I think you can add in easier storage.

And manufacture

[The Rat]

Thanks Gentlemen, my thought was basically confirmed. Now I have to carve the end off some bombs from the spares bin if I get ambitious with this Australian ASW Wellesley.

[zenrat]

It has a fork rest but nowhere for the knife or spoon...

[dogsbody]

Some externally carried depth charges were fitted with nose cones and bomb tails.

https://media.iwm.org.uk/ciim5/53/12/large_000000.jpg?_ga=2.178519911.2119361784.1569293957-1520609767.1569293957

https://media.iwm.org.uk/ciim5/51/885/large_000000.jpg?_ga=2.111409095.2119361784.1569293957-1520609767.1569293957





Chris

[Snowtrooper]

Hmmm. Would it have been possible (or was it actually done?) with the technology of the time to have the nose and tailcone detach when the depth charge hits the water? I'm no expert but on a hunch, making the fittings loose enough could probably cause them to shake off upon impact...

This way, you could have had the benefit of a more streamlined shape, more accurate drop, but still have the proper slow sink rate in water.

[zenrat]

Hmmm. Would it have been possible (or was it actually done?) with the technology of the time to have the nose and tailcone detach when the depth charge hits the water?...

Just have them made by British Leyland in the 1970's.

[The Rat]

Lots of good info here, thanks lads! I'll probably make them look like flat-fronted charges, because why not?