USS Cassin Young Volunteers

• 5 Inch / 38 Duel Mount
• Mark 37 Directors
• Computer Mark 1a
• 40mm Anti-Aircraft
• Mark 51 Directors
• 20mm Anti-Aircraft
• Mark 15 Torpedoes
• Mark 27 Directors
• Mark 32 Torpedoes
• Mark 9 Depth Charges
• Hedgehogs
• Combat Info Center

USS Cassin Young DD-793 - Hedgehog Anti-Sub Weapon

Anti-submarine mortar-like projectile = 7.2" dia. projectile

Explosive: 30-35lbs

Weight: 65lbs total

Sink Rate: 22-23fps = 17 seconds from firing to sink to 200 ft

Firing Pattern: Circular or oval

Distance: 100-150 yard in front of ship

Disadvantage: 40 ton recoil force

Information:

Twenty-four (24) hedgehogs fired in pairs with the launch times staggered by .1 to .2 seconds. They land in the water all at the same time approximately 200 yards ahead of the ship in a 140’ x 120’ oval pattern. The bombs then sink down and explode on contact with the submarine. When one hits and explodes, it triggers the other 23 to explode at the same time.

Launcher can be trained in an arc of 20 degrees on either side of bow, The spigots also had a tilt capability to compensate for the roll-and-pitch motion of the deck.

Hedgehog attacks had a success rate of 25% versus the approximately 9% success rate for depth charge attack.