French
ASW Weapons
Updated 23 may 2006
ASW Information
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General Information

The French primarily relied upon depth charges for anti-submarine weapons for both world wars.  There was also a Ginocchio towed torpedo for the Le Hardi class and torpedo boats of World War II, but no details have been found.

All depth charges of World War II used a hydrostatic pistol.  Depth charges were designated by the weight of the warhead charge.

ASW Torpedoes are listed in the French Torpedo section.

The following is adapted from "Find and Destroy:  Antisubmarine Warfare in World War I" by Dwight R. Messimer:

The French produced insufficient numbers of DCs during World War I and the ones they did have were unreliable.  In 1917 the French asked both the British and the USA to supply them with DCs, but both nations refused as they did not have the production capacity to supply both their own navies and the French.  In a post war assessment, the French concluded that they should have simply copied the British Type D.
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Depth Charges
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Guiraud 40 KG
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Date Of Design 1914
Date In Service 1915
Total Weight N/A
Explosive Charge 90 lbs. (40 kg)
Sink Rate / Terminal Velocity N/A
Settings Adjustable to 110 feet (35 m)
Notes:  Used an obsolete torpedo detonator as part of the pistol.  Not considered reliable.
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Guiraud 70 KG
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Date Of Design 1914
Date In Service 1915
Total Weight N/A
Explosive Charge 156 lbs. (70 kg)
Sink Rate / Terminal Velocity N/A
Settings Adjustable to 110 feet (35 m)
Notes:  Used an obsolete torpedo detonator as part of the pistol.  Not considered reliable.
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200 KG
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Date Of Design N/A
Date In Service 1930 (?)
Total Weight 573 lbs. (260 kg)
Explosive Charge 441 lbs. (200 kg)
Sink Rate / Terminal Velocity 10 fps (3 mps)
Settings Original:  100, 165, 250 and 330 feet (30, 50, 75 and 100 m)
Improved:  130, 260 and 330 feet (40, 80 and 120 m)
Notes:  Dimensions were 50 x 88 cm (19.7 x 34.6 in).  This charge was used by destroyers and large destroyers and was generally dropped at 30 to 50 m (100 to 165 foot) intervals from enclosed roller chain stowagages which each held 12 DCs.
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100 KG
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Date Of Design N/A
Date In Service 1930 (?)
Total Weight 287 lbs. (130 kg)
Explosive Charge 220 lbs. (100 kg)
Sink Rate / Terminal Velocity 7.2 fps (2.2 mps)
Settings 100, 165, 250 and 330 feet (30, 50, 75 and 100 m)
Notes:  Dimensions were 25 x 84 cm (13.8 x 33 in).  This charge was carried by sloops and similar vessels.  Could be dropped or fired from a DC thrower.
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35 KG
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Date Of Design N/A
Date In Service 1930 (?)
Total Weight 115 lbs. (52 kg)
Explosive Charge 77 lbs. (35 kg)
Sink Rate / Terminal Velocity 7.2 fps (2.2 mps)
Settings 80, 165, 250 and 330 feet (25, 50, 75 and 100 m)
Notes:  This charge was for small warships.
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Depth Charge Racks
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The first Depth Charge Rack in French service was the USN Mark I, which was developed after the USN rejected the British practice of using a sling to hold a single DC.  Developed with help from Lt.Cmdr. Ishwood, RN, deliveries of the Mark I started in April of 1918 and 250 American, British and French destroyers had them installed by the Armistice.

Designations for other French DC Racks are not available at this time.  As noted above, during World War II destroyers used enclosed roller chain stowagages which each held 12 DCs.
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Depth Charge Projectors of World War II
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The 100/250 M1928 mortar was on a trainable mounting.  There was also a 24 cm Thornycroft mortar.
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Post-World War II ASW

305 mm Mortar

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Date Of Design N/A
Date In Service N/A
Total Weight 507 lbs. (230 kg)
Explosive Charge N/A
Range 440 to 3,000 yards (400 to 2,750 m)
Sink Rate / Terminal Velocity N/A
Notes:  This was a four barrel 305 mm (12 in) mortar used only on the Commandant Rivière class.  The rounds are time-fuzed with the fuze set inside the launch tube.  The mortar is fired at the rate of one round per second, with reloading being performed via the muzzle.  The continuous firing rate is four rounds in 25 seconds.  Rounds are stowed in four carousels, with each one feeding one launch tube.  Installation weights are 22 tons (22.2 mt) for the mortar, 18.5 tons (18.75 mt) for 72 rounds and 4.6 tons (4.7 mt) of fittings.
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Data from
"Naval Weapons of World War Two" by John Campbell
"The Naval Institute Guide to World Naval Weapon Systems 1991/92" by Norman Friedman
"Find and Destroy:  Antisubmarine Warfare in World War I" by Dwight R. Messimer