Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 10:33:45-10:34:37

What protects the hypothetical Alaska group from submarines?

Gearings provide antisubmarine support, with the British cruisers also credited with their own detection equipment and weapons.

ABDA CommandAlternate HistoryAnti-Submarine WarfareCrown Colony Class CruisersGearing Class Destroyers
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Question

Could anything in the hypothetical Alaska battle group deal with Japanese spotting submarines?

Short answer

The Gearings could, and the Crown Colony cruisers are also credited with ASDIC and depth charges.

Notes

The four Gearings supply the immediate answer to the submarine threat. The Crown Colony cruisers are also credited with ASDIC and depth charges. British concern about cruiser antisubmarine protection is linked to the losses of Aboukir, Cressy, and Hogue. The explanation treats that earlier experience as a reason for retaining antisubmarine weapons on later cruisers.