A shallow-running uncrewed craft is not automatically beyond a ship's gun defenses. Diving projectiles have been designed for light and medium calibers, while 4.5-inch and 5-inch guns can fire rounds that act as depth charges at substantial range. A ship could place a pattern of underwater explosions across the threat bearing and repeat the barrage if the first pattern failed. That method does not guarantee a kill against every vehicle, but it converts rate of fire and magazine depth into repeated attack opportunities. Naval gunnery can therefore reach into the near-surface underwater layer as well as engage surface and air targets.
Notable Point · 4:03:39-4:04:56
Gun-fired defenses against shallow-running uncrewed craft
The panel points to diving projectiles and gun-launched depth-charge rounds as existing ways to attack uncrewed threats moving just below the surface.