General Notes

The Italians primarily relied upon depth charges for anti-submarine weapons for both world wars. There was also a towed torpedo in service.

All depth charges of World War II used a hydrostatic pistol. Depth charges were designated with "B.T.G." or "B TG" (for Bombe Torpedini da Getto), the manufacturer and followed by a number indicating the size of the charge in kilograms and the date of the design. Some charges had suffixes indicating the number of depth setting available.

For example, the designation B TG Monc. 100/1927 4 Reg. meant that this depth charge was built by Moncenisio Workshops, had a 100 kg (220 lbs.) charge, was designed in 1927 and had four selectable (Regolazioni) depth settings.

ASW Complement

Most destroyers carried about 30 DCs during World War II. Corvettes of the Gabbiano class carried 86 DCs.

Depth Charges

B TG Monc. 50/1917

Date Of Design 1917
Date In Service about 1917
Total Weight N/A
Explosive Charge 110 lbs. (50 kg)
Sink Rate / Terminal Velocity N/A
Settings N/A

This depth charge apparently had only a single setting.

B TG Monc. 50/1927 4 Reg.

Date Of Design 1927
Date In Service about 1927
Total Weight N/A
Explosive Charge 110 lbs. (50 kg)
Sink Rate / Terminal Velocity N/A
Settings 20, 40, 70 and 100 m (65, 130, 230 and 330 feet)

B TG Monc. 100/1927 4 Reg.

Date Of Design 1927
Date In Service about 1927
Total Weight N/A
Explosive Charge 220 lbs. (100 kg)
Sink Rate / Terminal Velocity N/A
Settings 25, 50, 75 and 100 m (80, 165, 250 and 330 feet)

B TG Monc. 50/1936

Date Of Design 1936
Date In Service about 1936
Total Weight 141 lbs. (64 kg)
Explosive Charge 110 lbs. (50 kg)
Sink Rate / Terminal Velocity N/A
Settings N/A

Designed for 30 cm (11.8 in) DC Throwers.

B TG Scot. 100/?

Date Of Design N/A
Date In Service N/A
Total Weight 282 lbs. (128 kg)
Explosive Charge 220 lbs. (100 kg)
Sink Rate / Terminal Velocity N/A
Settings N/A

Manufactured by Scotti and intended for 43 cm (16.9 in) DC Throwers.

Depth Charge Racks

"Gatteschi" type multi-level racks could hold six trolleys each containing two to four DC. Corvettes were equipped with one or two of these racks.

Depth Charge Projectors of World War II

There were some broadside DCT but no ahead-throwing weapons such as Hedgehog during World War II.

Anti-Submarine Torpedoes

Lancia Bas

Date Of Design N/A
Date In Service about 1960
Total Weight 353 lbs. (160 kg)
Explosive Charge N/A
Sink Rate / Terminal Velocity N/A

This was a three barrel 305 mm (12 in) mortar with automatic loading. It normally fired at a 45 degree angle. This mounting could fire 21 rounds in 70 seconds which would form a pattern of about 240 x 550 feet (70 x 165 m).

Menon Mortar K 113

Date Of Design N/A
Date In Service about 1975
Total Weight 353 lbs. (160 kg)
Explosive Charge N/A
Sink Rate / Terminal Velocity N/A

This is a single barrel 305 mm (12 in) mortar with automatic loading which replaced the K 113. The mortar normally fires at a 45 degree angle. This weapon feeds from a 7-round magazine and has a range of 440 to 980 yards (400 to 900 m).

MS 500

Date Of Design N/A
Date In Service about 1975
Total Weight 500 lbs. (227 kg)
Explosive Charge N/A
Sink Rate / Terminal Velocity N/A

This ASW bomb/mine was developed by Misar and was designed specifically for the Atlantic Maritime patrol aircraft. Although this is usually described as a bottom mine, it also has an acoustic trigger that detonates the bomb at its closest point to its target, eliminating the need for presetting the depth.

Sources

"The Gabbiano Class Corvettes: Part 1" by Elio Andò in "Warship Volume IX"
"Naval Weapons of World War Two" by John Campbell
"Italian Warships of World War II" by Aldo Fraccaroli
"The Naval Institute Guide to World Naval Weapon Systems 1991/92" by Norman Friedman

Page History

23 May 2006 - Benchmark
27 July 2014 - Added information on DC racks and Gabbiano class corvettes
23 February 2018 - Converted to HTML 5 format