Photo © M.D. Thomas.

Canadian Navy Anti-Submarine Weapons and Torpedoes

Introduction

This is a basic list of the ASW and torpedo weapon systems used by the Canadian Navy since the 1930s. The different sources upon which this page is based sometimes have conflicting information and details, and some of the information seen here has therefore been extrapolated from those conflicting sources. The information provided herein is not intended to be a detailed technical resource, but rather an inventory and identification aid for gun systems used by the Canadian Navy. This page includes a fair bit of guesswork, and corrections will be welcomed! Standard Depth Charges & Delivery Systems Stern Rail (for Depth Charges) Fitted to Flower, Revised Flower, and Castle class corvettes, River class frigates, River, Tribal, V, and C class destroyers, trawlers, Fairmiles, etc. Role Depth charge rail Range N/A, charges dropped in ship's wake. Ammunition Mk.VII and VII Heavy depth charges Design Date ?? Approximate Cdn. Service Dates 1939-1945 Comments Stern rails were fitted to most or all RCN ships engaged in ASW during the Second World War. The later Castle class corvette was built with only a small rail offset to starboard, as the new Squid mortar largely superseded use of the rails. Ships often mounted smoke generators on the rails, as seen below in the photos of SACKVILLE. Early corvettes often had minesweeping gear fitted (see photo 6) and this limited the number of charges that could be carried at the stern. Later corvettes had more room for rails and storage (see photo 5 with the hoists for reloading) and frigates had even more elaborate rails and storage (see photo 4). Sources Naval Weapons of the World website. Macpherson, Ken and Milner, Marc. (1993). Corvettes of the Royal Canadian Navy 1939-1945. Vanwell Publishing Ltd. St. Catherines, ON. Canadian War Museum Photos 1-6: © Sandy McClearn 1. On SACKVILLE. 2. On SACKVILLE. 3. On SACKVILLE. 4. Frigate model at CWM. 5. Late war corvette model at CWM. 6. Early corvette model at CWM. DC Throwers Mk.II and Mk.IV Fitted to BANGOR and ALGERINE class minesweepers, Flower, Improved Flower, and CASTLE class corvettes, River class frigates, River, Town, and Tribal class destroyers. Role Depth charge thrower Barrels / Projectiles 1 each Range 40 yards for Mk.II with Type D DC, 67 and 51 yards respectively for Mk.VII and Mk.VII Heavy DCs. Ammunition Mk.VII and Mk.VII Heavy depth charges Design Date 1916 for Mk.II; ~1940 for Mk.IV Approximate Cdn. Service Dates 1939 - 1950? Comments The Mk.II launcher was designed during the First World War, and remained largely unchanged at the outbreak of the Second World War. This launcher fired the depth charge, complete with its cradle, at 90 degrees to the ship's course. Mk.IV launchers retained the depth charge cradle, making it easier to load the next charge. These latter launchers were reserved for destroyers, frigates, and Castle class corvettes in Canadian service. These launchers were modified for use with light ASW torpedoes postwar on ST. LAURENT and similar destroyers, as noted below. Photo 2 below shows the depth charge cradles stored on deck next to the launcher. Sources Naval Weapons of the World website. Gough, Barry M. (2001). HMCS HAIDA - Battle Ensign Flying. Vanwell Publishing Ltd. St. Catharines, ON. Macpherson, Ken and Milner, Marc. (1993). Corvettes of the Royal Canadian Navy 1939-1945. Vanwell Publishing Ltd. St. Catherines, ON. Canadian War Museum Photos 1&3: © Sandy McClearn Photo 2: © Rolie Leduc Photo 4&5: © DND / CWM. Photos 6&7: © Charles Sadler, courtesy of John Sadler 1. Mk.II on SACKVILLE. 2. Mk.II on SHERBROOKE. 3. Mk.II on SACKVILLE. 4. Loading a charge on the thrower. 5. Firing a Mk.II launcher. 6. Thower and charge on JOLIETTE. 7. On JOLIETTE (River class). 8. 9. Depth Charge Mk.VII and Mk.VII Heavy Fitted to Trawlers, Fairmiles, Minesweepers, Corvettes, Frigates, Destroyers. Role ASW depth charges Launcher Mk.II or Mk.IV depth charges throwers, stern rails. Range Effective to 300 foot and later 500 foot depths. Warhead 290 lbs. TNT with hydrostatic fuse. Design Date ?? Approximate Cdn. Service Dates 1939 - 1945? Comments Standard depth charges in Canadian service during the Second World War. The Heavy charge had an extra weight attached to increase the sink rate. The author is uncertain if the Heavy charge was actually used in Canadian service. Sources Naval Weapons of the World website. Macpherson, Ken and Milner, Marc. (1993). Corvettes of the Royal Canadian Navy 1939-1945. Vanwell Publishing Ltd. St. Catherines, ON. Photo 1: © Sandy McClearn Photo 2: © Rolie Leduc 1. On SACKVILLE. 2. On SHERBROOKE. 3. Depth Charge Mk.X Fitted to River class destroyers Role Anti-submarine depth charge Launcher 21" torpedo tube Range Effective to 220 foot depth. Warhead 2000 lbs. TNT with hydrostatic fuse. Design Date 1941 Approximate Cdn. Service Dates 1942 - 1945? Comments Heavy depth charge launched from the 21" torpedo tubes on River class destroyers. Not used on Tribal class destroyers, even though these ships carried the same 21" torpedo tubes as the River class, presumably because they were not generally tasked with ASW duties. Sources Naval Weapons of the World website. Gough, Barry M. (2001). HMCS HAIDA - Battle Ensign Flying. Vanwell Publishing Ltd. St. Catharines, ON. Macpherson, Ken. (1985). The RIVER Class Destroyers of the Royal Canadian Navy. Charles J. Musson & Associates, Publishers. Toronto, ON. Photos 1: © M.D. Thomas 1. 21" tubes on HAIDA. 2. 3. Ahead-Throwing Anti-Submarine Weapons "Hedgehog" Fitted to FLOWER class corvettes, River class frigates, River class destroyers Role Ahead throwing ASW projector Barrels / Projectiles 24 projectiles for full mounting Range 180m Ammunition Contact fused bombs (also with magnetic proximity fuses) with 35 lbs of Torpex warhead. Design Date Early 1940s Approximate Cdn. Service Dates 1943? to 1945 Comments Hedgehog was the first ahead-throwing ASW weapon to enter service with the RCN, and was a huge improvement over conventional depth charges in that it allowed the attacking ship to stand-off from the target and maintain sonar contact right up until the time of firing the weapon. With conventional depth charges, the attacking ship was forced to break sonar contact with the target in order to approach and fire the weapons. The mounting could be adjusted to point 15 degrees either side of the bow, and the bombs were angled slightly in the launcher in order to drop on the target in a spread pattern. The contact fused bombs would only explode if they made contact with the target (or the ocean bottom if shallow enough). The caps on the top of the bombs covered the arming propellers (one can be seen uncovered in Photo 4 below) which would turn in the water to arm the bomb. There were also half-Hedgehog versions, with 12 projectiles each, which could be installed port and starboard on ships where it was desired to retain a gun mounting. Sources Naval Weapons of the World website. Macpherson, Ken and Milner, Marc. (1993). Corvettes of the Royal Canadian Navy 1939-1945. Vanwell Publishing Ltd. St. Catherines, ON. Photos 1-4: © Sandy McClearn 1. On SACKVILLE. 2. On SACKVILLE. 3. On SACKVILLE. 4. On SACKVILLE. 5. 6. Mk.4 "Squid" Fitted to CASTLE class corvettes, PRESTONIAN class frigates, Tribal class destroyers Role Ahead throwing ASW mortar Barrels / Projectiles 3 Range 250m Ammunition Hydrostatically fused depth bombs with 200 lb. warhead. Design Date 1943 Approximate Cdn. Service Dates 1944 - 1967 Comments Second generation ahead-throwing ASW weapon to see RCN service, this triple short-barrelled mortar was an improvement over the previous Hedgehog, although the RCN was slow to adopt this weapon during the war, and it only saw service in the twelve CASTLE class corvettes before 1950. The mounting could be rotated through 90 degrees for loading (see photos 4 and 5), and the mounting was usually accompanied by a short track that supported the loading cart (photos 1 and 5). The barrels were angled slightly apart (see photos 1 and 6) to drop the bombs on the target in a triangular pattern, designed to crush the submarine's pressure hull. The weapon was closely integrated with the Type 144 (and later Type 164) sonars to control firing. Because the bombs were hydrostatically fused, rather than contact fused like the previous Hedgehog weapon, they would explode every time rather than only when they hit the target. CASTLE class corvettes mounted a single Squid forward of the bridge, while later ships carried two mountings.on the quarterdeck. On HAIDA (see photos 7 and 8), the mortar ammunition handling room was in the deckhouse just forward of the Squid mountings. This is where the ammunition was hoisted up from the magazine (situated in the bowels of the ship below the wardroom), and the ready-use ammunition was stored. Sources Naval Weapons of the World website. Gough, Barry M. (2001). HMCS HAIDA - Battle Ensign Flying. Vanwell Publishing Ltd. St. Catharines, ON. Macpherson, Ken and Milner, Marc. (1993). Corvettes of the Royal Canadian Navy 1939-1945. Vanwell Publishing Ltd. St. Catherines, ON. Correspondence with M. Healey and N. Millen. Canadian War Museum HMCS HAIDA National Historic Site Photo 1:  © M.D. Thomas Photos 2-8:  © Sandy McClearn 1. On HMS CAVALIER. 2. At CWM. 3. At CWM. 4. On HAIDA. 5. On HAIDA. 6. On HAIDA. 7. On HAIDA. 8. On HAIDA. 9. Mk.NC10 "Limbo" Fitted to ALGONQUIN, CRESCENT, and ST. LAURENT, RESTIGOUCHE, MACKENZIE, ANNAPOLIS, and IROQUOIS class destroyers. Role Ahead throwing ASW mortar Barrels / Projectiles 3 Range Controllable, between 366 to 910m Ammunition Time fused bombs with 200 lb. warhead. Design Date ?? Approximate Cdn. Service Dates 1955 - early 1990s Comments Third and final generation of ASW mortar to see Canadian service, this triple barrelled mortar had longer barrels than Squid and was stabilized to provide greater accuracy. Limbo mountings were aimed, and the depth fuses were set, by the SQS 502 and 505 sonars. The Limbo launcher could be rotated parallel to the deck for storage and loading, the latter of which was done through ports in the side of the mortar well (see photo 1). Limbo was carried on the quarterdeck, and all ships (with the exception of the ANNAPOLIS and IROQUOIS classes) were built (or modified in the case of ALGONQUIN and CRESCENT) with two mountings (see photo 8 for a detail photo of a model of HMCS MACKENZIE in the Canadian War Museum). ST. LAURENT class ships lost the forward mounting to make room for the new helicopter hangar during the DDH refits, while Improved RESTIGOUCHE class ships lost the forward mounting in favour of ASROC. Sources Naval Weapons of the World website. Corvus Publishing Group / Canada's Navy Annual. Various Issues. (1985-1991) Mike Potter's ST. LAURENT class weapons table Correspondence with T. Fullerton, M. Healey, and N. Millen. Canadian War Museum Photos 1,5,7&8: © Sandy McClearn Photo 2: © M.D. Thomas Photos 3,4: Courtesy Corvus Pub. Grp. Photo 6: © DND. 1. On HMS PLYMOUTH. 2. On HMS PLYMOUTH. 3. In storage / loading position. 4. Trained to starboard. 5. Mortar handling room on PLYMOUTH. 6. Twin mortars fore and aft. 7. Ammunition room on PLYMOUTH. 8. Twin Limbo on model in CWM. 9. Anti-Surface Warfare and ASW Torpedoes 21" surface torpedo launcher Fitted to River, Town, Tribal, V, and C class destroyers, UGANDA/QUEBEC, and ONTARIO. Role Torpedo launcher for 21" ASuW torpedoes Barrels / Projectiles 4 each launcher Range N/A, launched torpedoes over the side of the ship at 90 degrees to the ship's course.. Ammunition 21" ASuW torpedoes and Mk.X depth charges Design Date ?? Approximate Cdn. Service Dates ?? - 1966 Comments Torpedo launcher for 21" diameter torpedoes installed primarily on destroyers in the RCN, but also on the cruisers UGANDA/QUEBEC and ONTARIO. River class destroyers were originally fitted with two quad launchers, with the aft launcher later removed to make room for new AA armament. Later destroyers were only fitted with a single quad launcher, and HAIDA carried hers into retirement. The Town class destroyers in Canadian service, such as COLUMBIA (see photo 5), carried the original USN type triple launchers. Sources Naval Weapons of the World website. Gough, Barry M. (2001). HMCS HAIDA - Battle Ensign Flying. Vanwell Publishing Ltd. St. Catharines, ON. Correspondence with B. Lake. HMCS HAIDA National Historic Site Photo 1: © M.D. Thomas Photo 2: © DND / B. Lake Photos 3&4: © Sandy McClearn Photo 5: © Charles Sadler, courtesy of John Sadler 1. On HAIDA. 2. On ONTARIO. 3. On HAIDA. 4. On HAIDA. 5. USN type on COLUMBIA. 6. Mk.IX Fitted to River, Tribal, V, and C class destroyers, UGANDA/QUEBEC, and ONTARIO. Role ASuW torpedo Propulsion Radial diesel Speed 36-41 knots (depending on version) Range 10-11,000 yards (depending on version) Warhead Approx. 750 lbs of high explosive (TNT and later Torpex), impact or magnetic influence exploders Design Date 1928 Approximate Cdn. Service Dates 1931-1966 Comments Primary surface-launched anti-surface torpedo used by the RCN from 1931 until 1966, when this type of weapon was retired from service. These weapons were a major part of pre-war destroyer training, but saw little use with the RCN during the war. Sources Naval Weapons of the World website. Gough, Barry M. (2001). HMCS HAIDA - Battle Ensign Flying. Vanwell Publishing Ltd. St. Catharines, ON. Correspondence with B. Lake. Photo 1: © DND / B. Lake. 1. Retrieval of practice torp on ONTARIO. 2. 3. Submarine Torpedo Tubes Role Tubes for "heavyweight" submarine torpedoes. Ammunition In the RCN, primarily Mk.NT37 and Mk.48 torpedoes Comments Both the OBERON and VICTORIA class submarines have six forward firing torpedo tubes. The OBERON class also had two rear-firing tubes, for un-guided countermeasure torpedoes, but these were disabled fairly early on in their service lives (and reportedly sometimes used for beer storage thereafter) and were later removed altogether during the SOUP refits. On O-boats, only the top two tubes were power-loaded. Sources Perkins, J. David. (2000). The Canadian Submarine Service in Review. Vanwell Publishing Ltd. St. Catharines, ON. Photo 1: Courtesy Corvus Pub. Grp. Photos 2-7: © Sandy McClearn 1. On O-boat. 2. On OLYMPUS. 3. On HMAS ONSLOW. 4. On WINDSOR. 5. On WINDSOR. 6. On VICTORIA class. 7. On VICTORIA class. 8. 9. Mk.37 ASW torpedo Fitted to OBERON class submarines Role "Lightweight" ASW torpedo Diameter 19" Versions Used Mod 0, Mod 2, and Mk. NT37 Propulsion Electric drive (Mod 0 and 2) or OTTO fuel engine (NT37) Range 9 to 21 km depending on version and speed Speed 26 or 17 knots (respective to range) for Mk.37; 36 knots for Mk.NT37. Warhead 330 lbs Torpex Design Date 1956 Approximate Cdn. Service Dates 1965 to late 1980s. Comments USN origin torpedoes used exclusively in RCN service in OBERON class submarines. Mod 2 torpedoes were wire guided, while the Mod 0 version was shorter, unguided (though still with passive-active homing capability), and was used in the stern countermeasure tubes. The new Mk.NT 37 version incorporated a new powerplant, which increased speed and range. This torpedo unfortunately did not work well with the RN practice of keeping warshots loaded and flooded in the tubes at all times; the Mk.37 could only be kept flooded for a few hours, and immersion rendered the torpedo useless for further use as it could not be considered reliable. The photos below show a Mk.37 torpedo being loaded in an OBERON class submarine. Sources Naval Weapons of the World website. Perkins, J. David. (2000). The Canadian Submarine Service in Review. Vanwell Publishing Ltd. St. Catharines, ON. Photos 1-3: Courtesy Corvus Pub. Grp. Photos 4&5: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Mk.48 torpedo Fitted to OBERON and VICTORIA class submarines Role "Heavyweight" ASW and ASuW torpedo Diameter 21 inches Versions Used Mod 4 and possibly ADCAP Propulsion External combustion gas piston engine Range 9 km? Speed 55 to 63 knots approx. Warhead 1,200 lb. TNT equivalent Design Date 1970 Approximate Cdn. Service Dates Late 1980s. Comments Replaced the Mk.37 torpedo in Canadian service in OBERON class submarines, and the new VICTORIA class submarines are being refurbished to carry this weapon. Existing torpedoes may be upgraded to the ADCAP standard for use on the newer submarine class. Sources Naval Weapons of the World website. Perkins, J. David. (2000). The Canadian Submarine Service in Review. Vanwell Publishing Ltd. St. Catharines, ON. Photos 1. 2. 3. Thrower Mk.4 Fitted to CRESCENT, ALGONQUIN, and ST. LAURENT, RESTIGOUCHE, MACKENZIE, and ANNAPOLIS class destroyers. Role Torpedo thrower Projectiles Mk.44 or Mk.46 torpedoes Range Launched torpedoes over the side of the ship. Design Date 1916 for Mk.II; ~1940 for Mk.IV Approximate Cdn. Service Dates 1955 to 1980s? Comments Former depth charge thrower converted for use launching lightweight ASW torpedoes over the side of destroyers. Replaced in service by the Mk.32 triple torpedo launcher. Photo 1 shows this type of launcher as depicted on a model of HMCS MACKENZIE in the Canadian War Museum; it was mounted adjacent to the after-most deckhouse on these ships. The cradle was permanently attached to the launcher, and only the torpedo was thrown clear of the ship. The cradle was angled to ensure that the torpedo entered the water nose first. Sources Naval Weapons of the World website. Gough, Barry M. (2001). HMCS HAIDA - Battle Ensign Flying. Vanwell Publishing Ltd. St. Catharines, ON. Macpherson, Ken and Milner, Marc. (1993). Corvettes of the Royal Canadian Navy 1939-1945. Vanwell Publishing Ltd. St. Catherines, ON. Barrie, Ron and Macpherson, Ken. (1996). Cadillac of Destroyers: HMCS ST. LAURENT and Her Successors. Vanwell Publishing Ltd. St. Catherines, Ont. Mike Potter's ST. LAURENT class weapons table Canadian War Museum Photo 1: © Sandy McClearn 1. On model in CWM.. 2.  3.  Mk.32 torpedo launcher Fitted to ST. LAURENT, RESTIGOUCHE, MACKENZIE, ANNAPOLIS, and IROQUOIS class destroyers, and HALIFAX class frigates. Role Launcher for "lightweight" ASW torpedoes Projectiles Mk.44 or Mk.46 torpedoes Range Launched torpedoes over the side of the ship. Design Date ?? Approximate Cdn. Service Dates Early 1970s to present Comments Available as a trainable triple launcher (as installed on IROQUOIS class ships) or as a fixed twin launcher installed in the forward corners of the hangar structure on HALIFAX class ships. The former must be reloaded in the open, while the latter can be reloaded from inside the ship. Installed on IROQUOIS class ships as built, the triple launcher was retrofitted to the older destroyers later on. Sources Naval Weapons of the World website. Barrie, Ron and Macpherson, Ken. (1996). Cadillac of Destroyers: HMCS ST. LAURENT and Her Successors. Vanwell Publishing Ltd. St. Catherines, Ont. Canadian War Museum Photos 1-3: © Sandy McClearn Photo 4: © DND / CWM. 1. 2. On IROQUOIS class. 3. On HALIFAX class. 4. Launching torpedo. 5. 6. Mk.44 ASW torpedo Fitted to ST. LAURENT, RESTIGOUCHE, MACKENZIE, ANNAPOLIS, and IROQUOIS class destroyers ?? Role Lightweight ASW torpedo Diameter 12.75" Propulsion Seawater battery Range 5 km Speed 30 knots Warhead 75 lbs Torpex Design Date 1952 Approximate Cdn. Service Dates ?? Comments Former standard NATO lightweight ASW torpedo for use from surface ships. Also used with ASROC. Replaced by Mk.46. Sources Naval Weapons of the World website. Photos 1. 2. 3. Mk.46 ASW torpedo Fitted to ST. LAURENT, RESTIGOUCHE, MACKENZIE, ANNAPOLIS, and IROQUOIS class destroyers, HALIFAX class frigates. Role Lightweight ASW torpedo Diameter 12.75" Propulsion OTTO fuelled reciprocating external combustion engine Range 7 km Speed 28+ knots Warhead 98 lbs PBXN-103 Design Date 1964 Approximate Cdn. Service Dates ?? to present Comments Current standard NATO lightweight ASW torpedo for use from surface ships and aircraft. Also intended for use with ASROC. Note contra-rotating propellers in Photo 1, and the parachute at the tail of the torpedo in Photo 2. Sources Naval Weapons of the World website. Barrie, Ron and Macpherson, Ken. (1996). Cadillac of Destroyers: HMCS ST. LAURENT and Her Successors. Vanwell Publishing Ltd. St. Catherines, Ont. Photos 1-2: © Sandy McClearn 1. Shipboard training torpedo. 2. Helicopter dropped version. 3. ASROC Fitted to Improved RESTIGOUCHE class destroyers Role Unguided (ballistic) rocket launched torpedo system Range 9 km max. Payload Mk.44 or Mk.46 12.75" lightweight ASW torpedo Design Date 1950s Approximate Cdn. Service Dates 1968 - 1997 Comments Intended to extend the effective range of destroyers for ASW operations, especially those without native helicopter capabilities. The mounting could train through approximately 180 degrees. Eight reloads were carried in a deckhouse behind the mounting, and were loaded out through hatches in the bulkhead (see photos). Launch control in Canadian ships was carried out by Canadian developed software. Sources Naval Weapons of the World website. Mike Potter's ST. LAURENT class weapons table Photo 1: Courtesy Corvus Pub. Grp. Photos 2-4: © Sandy McClearn 1. On Improved RESTIGOUCHE. 2. On TERRA NOVA. 3. On JDS MATSUYUKI. 4. On JDS SHIMAYUKI. 5. 6. Additional Sources: Barrie, Ron and Macpherson, Ken. (1996). Cadillac of Destroyers: HMCS ST. LAURENT and Her Successors.     Vanwell Publishing Ltd. St. Catherines, Ont. Steed, Roger G. (1999). Canadian Warships Since 1956. Vanwell Publishing Ltd. St. Catherines, ON. Jane's Fighting Ships, Various Editions  Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships, Various Editions   Corvus Publishing Group / Canada's Navy Annual. Various Issues. (1985-1991) With information from the files of Mike Potter. Correspondence with B. Lake. Photos from M.D. Thomas.

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