Type A Depth Charge (UK)

Type A, B and E Depth Charges

The British Type A Depth Charge was an early, small antisubmarine weapon adapted from the "Vernon boom" described in the Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1915.{{ARTS1915|pp. 164-5, 172, Plate 73, Plate 82}

Particulars

The total weight of the weapon was 210 pounds, only about ¹⁄₇th of this weight being explosive: 32.5 pounds of gun cotton initiated by a G.C. primer of 2.25 pounds.

Explosion was triggered mechanically by a float and wire system at a depth of 40 feet. Vernon calculated that this gave the weapon a 10 foot danger radius. It was the first British depth charge to be used and was in general use by small craft in October 1915.

The [[Type B Depth Charge (UK)|Type B]] was a minor refinement of the design, offering an 80 foot detonation depth option and a lower overall weight, and the [[Type E Depth Charge (UK)|Type E]] greatly increased the proportion of explosive comprising the overall weight.