Q&A · 2:46:30-2:47:31

Anti-submarine weapons used on land

The Australian Matilda Hedgehog provides a land adaptation of an anti-submarine weapon; the Japanese depth-charge example remains an uncertain recollection.

Question

Were anti-submarine weapons ever used against ground troops, reversing the use of land-attack weapons against ships?

Short answer

The Australian Matilda Hedgehog is a concrete example of adaptation for land use. Japanese depth-charge employment against landings is recalled uncertainly, and no example of torpedoes fired at troops is identified.

Notes

The Australian Matilda Hedgehog is the clearest example offered of adapting an anti-submarine weapon for land use. Possible Japanese use of depth charges against American landings is recalled, but no particular landing can be identified. No example of firing a torpedo directly at troops is supplied. Land and Sea Mattress are also mentioned, without a developed explanation of their relationship to anti-submarine weapons.