Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 4:09:48-4:11:01

Hedgehog available at the start of the war

An ASW answer explains how forward-thrown weapons change both escort tactics and the German submarine force's accumulation of experience.

Anti-Submarine WarfareBattle of the AtlanticHedgehog Anti-Submarine WeaponSonarU-Boats
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Question

How effective would Allied escorts be if Hedgehog were available in 1939?

Short answer

A single escort could attack while maintaining sonar contact, causing heavier early U-boat losses and reducing the experienced crews available for the later Happy Times.

Notes

Depth-charge runs forced an attacking escort to lose sonar contact, often requiring a second ship to maintain the track. Hedgehog let one escort fire ahead while preserving contact, making solo prosecution far more effective. Higher early U-boat losses would also kill crews before they could train the expanded wartime fleet, weakening or possibly preventing the most successful German campaign periods.