Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW)

Anti-submarine warfare (ASW) in World of Warships concerns the methods of locating, dealing damage to, and avoiding damage from submarines. This includes using consumables and other mechanics to locate a submarine, as well as using various weapons to damage a submarine.

Finding a Submarine

The two primary means of finding a submarine are fuel spills and emitted sonar pings. Other methods include consumables such as Hydroacoustic Search  and Surveillance Radar .

Fuel Spills

When a submarine is hit at periscope or maximum depth from any armament, she begins to leak fuel (oil) that rises to the surface, regardless of whether she is detected or undetected. Fuel spills last for 40 seconds, and are the best way to pinpoint a submarine’s location, as they always leak from the exact location of a submarine, unlike sonar ping emissions. They are also visible from any range.

Ping Launch Emission

When a submarine uses its sonar, a visual effect appears within a 1 km radius of her, lasting five seconds. In addition to this visual effect, the actual sonar ping moving across the map is visible to ships within 8 km. In combination with the ping launch effect, it allows surface ships to get a general idea of the location of the submarine. It is generally not as accurate as fuel spills, as the ping launch effect is only accurate within 1 km. In addition, the moving sonar ping is not visible outside of 8 km. Finally, each ship sees only sonar pings within her acquisition radius (i.e a ship cannot see the sonar pings launched against an ally on the other side of the map).

Consumables

Against submarines on the surface or periscope depth, the Hydroacoustic Search  consumable is perhaps the best offensive and defensive tool against submarines, as it detects them all the way to maximum depth (albeit only at a range of 2 km at maximum depth), as well as detecting their torpedoes before they would otherwise become visible. The consumable’s long duration also helps as a submarine deterrent.

The Surveillance Radar  consumable detects submarines only at surface depth. It is unable to detect them at periscope and maximum depth. It can be useful for a quick update on a submarine’s position, but its limited use makes it a poor tool against submarines.

The Submarine Surveillance  consumable, available to all submarines (except I-56) and tech-tree Tier V+ Commonwealth, Japanese and Italian cruisers, is also an effective tool against underwater submarines. However, the version found on submarines has a long preparation time, making it unavailable for them in the early game. Submarines are unable to detect each other at maximum depth without it.

While the Hydrophone  consumable does not detect submarines, it does highlight their position (their silhouette) in the game world if they’re at surface or periscope depth. It also updates their “last spotted position” on the minimap.

Killing a Submarine

The primary ASW weapons are shipborne depth charges and airborne (via air strikes) depth charges. Other weapons (varying in effectiveness) include main battery and secondary guns, airborne rockets and bombs, and torpedoes.

Splash Damage

Because water is incompressible, the energy from an underwater explosion propagates outward in the form of a spherical shock wave, dispersing energy as the sphere expands. The energy at a given point on the sphere depends on the initial energy and the distance from the explosion. High enough energy will cause damage to the target. Thus unlike surface ships a direct hit is not necessary. “Close enough” applies with depth charges as it does with horseshoes.

In order to simplify the physics, the sphere is represented as concentric circles with the center at the explosion and the radius — the splash radius — at the farthest distance that damage is done. Within that radius, the splash damage is uniform (a simplification for game purposes), and decreases in each circle. With this comes a splash damage coefficient assigned to all weapon types in the game (except torpedoes), that affects the overall damage dealt to a submarine within the splash radius.

Introduced to model damage from underwater explosions, splash damage works by giving each shell and bomb a splash radius and splash damage coefficient. Splash radius is determined mostly by caliber for shells, bombs and rockets — the larger they are, the larger the radius. In terms of shell types, HE and SAP shells have large splash radii, while AP shells of the same caliber have approximately half their splash radius. The splash radius of depth charges from ships and aircraft is fixed.

——  Splash Radius Data  ——

Depth Charges Splash Radius
Armament	Splash Radius
Ship-mounted Depth Charges	800 m
Airstrike Depth Charges (Cruisers & Battleships)	375 m
Airstrike Depth Charges (Ägir, Mengchong & Siegfried)	300 m
Airstrike Depth Charges (Aircraft Carriers)	600 m

Shell Caliber Splash Radius
Caliber	AP Splash Radius	HE Splash Radius	SAP Splash Radius
76/88 mm	31.5 m	63.3 m	81.3 m
100 mm	40.5 m	81.3 m	81.3 m
102/105 mm	37.5 m	75 m	81.3 m
105 mm Secondaries	N/A	81.3 m	N/A
120 mm	40.5 m	81.3 m	81.3 m
127/130 mm	41.7 m	83.4 m	81.3 m
128 mm	40.5 m	83.4 m	N/A
135 mm	N/A	81.3 m	90.6 m
140 mm	43.5 m	87.3 m	81.3 m
Japanese 150 mm	45.3 m	90 m	N/A
All Other 150 mm	43.5 m	90.6 m	90.6 m
152 mm	43.5 m	90.6 m	81.3 m
Sicilia's 152 mm	N/A	N/A	90.6 m
155 mm	45.6 m	91.2 m	N/A
180/200/203/210/234/240/254 mm	50.7 m	101.7 m	101.7 m
190 mm	50.7 m	101.7 m	N/A
283/310 mm	58.8 m	117.6 m	N/A
305 mm	58.8 m	117.6 m	126.3 m
320 mm	61.8 m	N/A	126.3 m
330/340/356 mm	61.8 m	123.9 m	N/A
343/380/381 mm	63 m	126.3 m	126.3 m
406 mm	64.5 m	129 m	126.3 m
410 mm	64.5 m	129.3 m	N/A
419/420/431 mm	64.5 m	129 m	N/A
457/460/510 mm	66.9 m	133.8 m	126.3 m

Dutch Airstrike Splash Radius
Bomb Name	Splash Radius	Deployed Aboard
P.u.W 25 kg	45 m	X Tromp
P.u.W 100 kg	60 m	VI Kijkduin
P.u.W 120 kg	69 m	VII Eendracht, VIII Haarlem, VIII De Zeven Provinciën
P.u.W 120 kg	72 m	IX Johan de Witt, IX Van Speijk
P.u.W 140 kg	81 m	X Gouden Leeuw

Aircraft Armaments Splash Radius Rhein’s AP Rockets and AP Bombs have no Splash Radius (the value is set to 0 m)
Weapon Name (Type)	Splash Radius	Deployed Aboard
5-inch FFAR (HE Rocket)	19.5 m	IV Langley
AN-M64 (HE Bomb)	16.5 m	IV Langley, VIII Hornet, VIII Nebraska, IX Delaware, X Louisiana
5-inch FFAR (HE Rocket)	11.4 m	VI Ranger, VI Independence, VIII Lexington
AN-M65 (HE Bomb)	13.8 m	VI Ranger, VIII Lexington
HVAR 127 mm (HE Rocket)	12 m	VIII Lexington, X Midway, X Franklin D. Roosevelt, XI United States
Tiny Tim (HE Rocket)	32.1 m	VIII Lexington, VIII Yorktown, VIII Saipan (B), VIII Sanzang X Midway, X Essex, IX Kearsarge (B), IX Halford
AN-M62 (HE Bomb)	8.4 m	VI Independence, VIII Yorktown
AN-M62 (AP Bomb)	7.5 m	VIII Enterprise
AN-M60 (AP Bomb)	5.4 m	VIII Hornet
AN-M66 (HE Bomb)	16.8 m	X Midway, XI United States
AN-M63 (HE Bomb)	8.1 m	X Essex
AN-M66 (HE Bomb)	15.9 m	X Franklin D. Roosevelt
11.75-inch AR Rocket mod. 1 (HE Rocket)	52.2 m	XI United States
AN-M56A1 (HE Bomb)	24 m	XI United States
AN-M65 (HE Bomb)	11.1 m	VIII Nebraska (stock)
Type 3 No. 6 Mk. 27 (HE Rocket)	16.5 m	IV Hōshō
Type 99 No. 25 mod. 2 (AP Bomb)	3.9 m	IV Hosho
Type 3 No. 6 Mk. 27 (HE Rocket)	13.2 m	VI Ryūjō, VIII Shōkaku, VIII Kaga (B)
Type 99 No. 25 mod. 1 (AP Bomb)	6.9 m	VI Ryūjō (stock)
Type 3 No. 25 Mk. 4 (AP Bomb)	7.8 m	VI Ryūjō, VIII Shōkaku (stock)
Type 2 No. 50 Mk. 1 (AP Bomb)	9.3 m	VIII Shōkaku
Type 90 No. 50 Mk. 2 (HE Bomb)	13.2 m	VIII Kaga (B)
Type 5 No. 6 Mk. 9 (HE Rocket)	13.2 m	X Taihō
Type 5 No. 6 Mk. 9 (HE Rocket)	18.9 m	X Hakuryū, XI Sekiryu
Type 99 No. 80 Mk. 5 (AP Bomb)	10.2 m	X Hakuryū, X Taihō, XI Sekiryu
RP-3 18 lb Mk.I (HE Rocket)	13.5 m	IV Hermes
40 lb G.P. Bomb (HE Bomb)	13.5 m	IV Hermes
RP-3 60 lb No1 Mk.I (HE Rocket)	9 m	VI Furious, VI Ark Royal, VIII Implacable (stock)
250 lb G.P. Bomb (HE Bomb)	7.2 m	VI Furious, VIII Indomitable, VIII Colossus
HVAR 127 mm (AP Rocket)	20.4 m	VIII Colossus
40 lb G.P. Bomb (HE Bomb)	3.7 m	VI Ark Royal
RP-3 60 lb No2 Mk.I (HE Rocket)	14.1 m	VIII Implacable, X Audacious, X Malta, XI Eagle
250 lb G.P. Bomb Mk.I (HE Bomb)	8.4 m	VIII Implacable
RP-3 60 lb No1 Mk.I (HE Rocket)	12.6 m	VIII Indomitable
500 lb G.P. Bomb (HE Bomb)	9.6 m	X Audacious, XI Eagle
500 lb G.P. Bomb (AP Bomb)	6.6 m	X Malta
1000 lb G.P. Bomb (HE Bomb)	12 m	XI Eagle
RZ-73 (AP Rocket)	10.2 m	VI Weser
PC 500c (AP Bomb)	10.5 m	VI Weser, VIII August von Parseval (stock)
Panzerbrechend L/4.8 (AP Rocket)	14.1 m	VI Erich Loewenhardt, VIII August von Parseval
SC 1000 (HE Bomb)	18.3 m	VI Erich Loewenhardt
PC 500 (AP Bomb)	11.7 m	VIII August von Parseval, VIII Manfred von Richthofen (stock)
Wfr.Gr.21E (HE Rocket)	26.7 m	VIII Graf Zeppelin (B)
PD 500 (AP Bomb)	8.7 m	VIII Graf Zeppelin (B)
Panzerbrechend 2 L/4.8 (AP Rocket)	18.6 m	X Manfred von Richthofen
PC 1000 (AP Bomb)	13.2 m	X Manfred von Richthofen
SD 1000 (Skip Bomb)	16.5 m	X Max Immelmann
RS-132 (HE Rocket)	42 m	IV Komsomolets
FAB-100 (Skip Bomb)	72 m	IV Komsomolets
RS-132M (HE Rocket)	57 m	VI Serov
FAB-100 (Skip Bomb)	9.3 m	VI Serov
S-21M (HE Rocket)	21 m	VIII Pobeda
FAB-250 (Skip Bomb)	10.2 m	VIII Pobeda (stock)
FAB-500 (Skip Bomb)	13.2 m	VIII Pobeda, VIII Chkalov (B), X Admiral Nakhimov
FAB-500B (Skip Bomb)	11.4 m	VIII Chkalov (B)
S-21 (HE Rocket)	24.3 m	X Admiral Nakhimov
150-kg G.P. Mle 1930 (AP Bomb)	5.4 m	VI Béarn
500-kg G.P. Mle 1930 (Skip Bomb)	8.7 m	VI Béarn
RZ.65 (AP Rocket)	6.9 m	VIII Aquila

The splash damage coefficient affects the amount of damage a submarine receives from indirect hits. Splash damage against submarines is calculated with the formula Alpha Damage * Splash Damage Coefficient. Alpha damage is the maximum damage of an armament listed in the port. The splash damage coefficient of various armaments is listed below.

——  Splash Damage Coefficient Data  ——

Depth Charges Splash Damage Coefficients
Armament	Splash Damage Coefficient
Ship-mounted Depth Charges	1.0 (From 0.0 m to 120 m); 0.33 (From 120.1 m to 800 m)
Airstrike Depth Charges (Cruisers & Battleships)	1.0 (From 0.0 m to 150 m); 0.50 (From 150.1 m to 300 m); 0.0 (From 300 m to 375 m)
Airstrike Depth Charges (Ägir, Mengchong & Siegfried)	1.0 (From 0.0 m to 96 m); 0.45 (From 96.1 m to 240 m); 0.0 (From 240.1 m to 300 m)
Airstrike Depth Charges (Aircraft Carriers)	1.0 (From 0.0 m to 300 m); 0.50 (From 300.1 m to 480 m); 0.0 (From 480.1 m to 600 m)

Shell & Bomb Splash Damage Coefficients
Armament	Splash Damage Coefficient
AP Shells	0.1
HE Shells, SAP Shells, AP Rockets, AP Bombs, HE Bombs, Skip Bombs, Dutch Airstrikes	0.165

Example: A submarine is hit by an airstrike depth charge from 200 meters away launched by Vermont.

Alpha damage of Vermont’s Depth Charge Airstrike: 4,900

Splash damage coefficient at 200 meters: 0.50

Damage taken: 4,900 X 0.50 = 2,450

Example: A submarine at periscope depth is hit within the splash radius (i.e. not a direct hit) of a single AP rocket from Manfred von Richthofen.

Alpha damage of Manfred von Richthofen’s AP rockets: 3,100

Splash damage coefficient of AP rockets: 0.165

Damage taken: 3,100 X 0.165 = 512

Depth Charges

Found on almost all Tier V+ destroyers, and some Tier V+ cruisers, ship-mounted depth charges can be thought of as “underwater bombs”, designed to deal damage to submarines at all depths, and cannot damage other classes. Depth charges have a low flooding and fire chance, and rely on direct damage to deal with submarines. All depth charges have a 40 second reload time per charge, and an 800 meter splash radius. They also have an increased chance to disable a submarine’s sonar. Within a 120 meter radius, depth charges have a splash coefficient of 1. Past this range, they have a splash coefficient of 0.33.

Depth charges mounted on cruisers and destroyers vary in their drop pattern and the location of the mount. Both can be found in the table below.

——  Depth Charge Data  ——

Okhotnik and Leone do not carry depth charges.

As there is currently no reticle for shipborne depth charges, a common tactic is to use depth charges at the beginning of the battle and observe their drop pattern. This way, one won’t be caught off-guard when attacking a submarine with them.

All ships have 2 charges with a 40 second reload time, except for Karl von Schönberg which has 3 charges.

The ASW Mount Location is not necessarily the exact physical location of the mounts, but rather the general location of the mounts. Rear = behind or around the rearmost turret. Forward = ahead or around the forwardmost turret. Middle = Anywhere between the rearmost and forwardmost turrets.

In regards to the Drop Pattern, each depth charge is thrown/dropped one at a time, with a 1 second delay in between them. They are thrown/dropped in the order listed in the column. “Thrown” means the depth charge is launched some distance from the ship (~100 meters unless specified) before being armed, and, unless specified, thrown to the direct left/right side of the ship. “Dropped” means the depth charge does not travel a distance from the ship before arming (i.e. rolled off the ship). A semicolon (;) denotes the start of a new “cycle” of the drop pattern. A “cycle” is a different physical area/mount location depth charges are thrown/dropped from. Unless specified, notes about repetitions only apply to the cycle they appear immediately after.

Ship	Bombs per Charge	Damage per Bomb	Fire Chance	Flooding Chance	ASW Mount Location	Drop Pattern
VII Atlanta (B), VII Flint	8	3,800	15%	23%	Rear	1 thrown left rear, 1 thrown right rear (Cycle repeated 2x); 1 dropped left rear, 1 dropped right rear
X Austin	12	3,800	15%	23%	Rear	1 thrown left rear, 1 thrown right rear (Cycle repeated 2x); 1 dropped left rear, 1 dropped right rear (Cycle repeated 2x)
V Nicholas	8	5,100	21%	43%	Middle (Beside Turret #3); Rear	1 thrown left middle, 1 thrown right middle (Cycle repeated 1x); 1 dropped left rear, 1 dropped right rear (Cycle repeated 1x)
VI Farragut	6	5,100	21%	43%	Rear	1 thrown left rear, 1 thrown right rear; 1 dropped left rear, 1 dropped right rear (Cycle repeated 1x)
VI Monaghan	8	3,800	15%	23%	Middle (Between Torpedo Tubes); Middle (Beside Turret #3); Rear	1 thrown left middle, 1 thrown right middle; 1 thrown left middle, 1 thrown right middle (Cycle repeated 1x); 1 dropped left rear, 1 dropped right rear
VII Mahan	8	5,100	21%	43%	Middle (Beside Turret #4); Rear	1 thrown left middle, 1 thrown right middle; 1 dropped left rear, 1 dropped right rear (Cycle repeated 2x)
VII Sims (B)	10	3,800	15%	23%	Middle (Between Torpedo Tube #2 and Turret #3); Rear	1 thrown left middle, 1 thrown right middle (Cycle repeated 3x); 1 dropped left rear, 1 dropped right rear
VIII Benson	10	5,100	21%	43%	Middle (Between Turret #3 and #4); Rear	1 thrown left middle, 1 thrown right middle (Cycle repeated 1x); 1 dropped left rear, 1 dropped right rear (Cycle repeated 2x)
V Hill, IX Benham, X Somers	6	5,100	21%	43%	Rear	1 dropped left rear, 1 dropped right rear (Drop Pattern repeated 2x)
VIII Kidd, IX Black	10	5,100	21%	43%	Middle (Between Turret #3 and #4); Rear	1 thrown left middle, 1 thrown right middle (Cycle repeated 2x); 1 dropped left rear, 1 dropped right rear (Cycle repeated 1x)
IX Fletcher	12	5,100	21%	43%	Middle (Between Turret #3 and #4); Rear	1 thrown left middle, 1 thrown right middle (Cycle repeated 1x); 1 dropped left rear, 1 dropped right rear (Drop Pattern repeated 1x)
IX Halford	16	5,100	21%	43%	Middle (Beside Turret #3); Rear	1 thrown left middle, 1 thrown right middle (Cycle repeated 2x); 1 dropped left rear, 1 dropped right rear (Drop Pattern repeated 1x)
X Gearing	14	5,100	21%	43%	Middle (Beside Torpedo Tube #2); Rear	1 thrown left middle, 1 thrown right middle (Cycle repeated 2x); 1 dropped left rear, 1 dropped right rear (Cycle repeated 3x)
X Forrest Sherman	16	5,100	21%	43%	Rear	1 dropped right rear (Drop Pattern repeated 15x)
XI Joshua Humphreys	12	5,100	21%	43%	Middle (Beside Torpedo Tube #2); Rear	1 thrown left middle, 1 thrown right middle (Cycle repeated 3x); 1 dropped left rear, 1 dropped right rear (Cycle repeated 1x)
V Yahagi	6	4,600	19%	36%	Rear	1 dropped left rear, 1 dropped right rear (Drop Pattern repeated 2x)
VII Maya	9	4,600	19%	36%	Rear	1 dropped left rear, 1 dropped right rear, 1 dropped right rear, 5 dropped centerline rear
X Kitakami	10	4,600	19%	36%	Rear	1 dropped left rear, 1 dropped right rear (Drop Pattern repeated 4x)
V Mutsuki, V Kamikaze (R), V Fūjin	4	4,600	19%	36%	Rear	1 thrown left rear, 1 thrown right rear (Drop Pattern repeated 1x)
V Minekaze	4	4,600	19%	36%	Rear	1 thrown left rear, 1 thrown right rear (Drop Pattern repeated 1x)
VI Fubuki	6	4,600	19%	36%	Rear	1 dropped left rear, 1 thrown left rear, 1 dropped left rear, 1 thrown left rear 2 dropped right rear
VI Shinonome (B)	4	4,600	19%	36%	Rear	1 thrown right rear, 1 thrown left rear (Drop Pattern repeated 1x)
VI Hatsuharu, VIII HSF Harekaze, VIII HSF Harekaze II	6	4,600	19%	36%	Rear	1 thrown right rear, 1 thrown left rear (Drop Pattern repeated 2x)
VII Akatsuki	8	4,600	19%	36%	Rear	1 thrown left rear, 1 thrown right rear, 1 dropped left rear, 1 dropped right rear (Drop Pattern repeated 1x)
VII Shiratsuyu, VIII Kagerō	8	4,600	19%	36%	Rear	1 dropped left rear, 1 thrown right rear, 1 thrown left rear, 1 dropped right rear (Drop Pattern repeated 1x)
VII Yūdachi	8	4,600	19%	36%	Rear	1 thrown right, 1 thrown left (Cycle repeated 3x)
VIII Asashio (B), VIII AL Yukikaze IX Minegumo	8	4,600	19%	36%	Rear	1 dropped left rear, 1 thrown right rear, 1 dropped left rear, 1 thrown right rear, 1 dropped left rear, 3 dropped right rear
VIII Akizuki, IX Kitakaze	12	4,600	19%	36%	Rear	1 thrown left rear, 1 thrown right rear, 1 thrown right rear, 1 thrown left (Drop Pattern repeated 2x)
IX Yūgumo	12	4,600	19%	36%	Rear	1 dropped left rear, 1 thrown right rear, 1 dropped left rear, 1 thrown right rear, 2 dropped right rear (Drop Pattern repeated 1x)
X Harugumo, X Hayate	12	4,600	19%	36%	Rear	1 dropped left rear, 1 thrown right rear, 1 thrown right rear, 2 thrown left rear, 1 dropped right rear (Drop Pattern repeated 1x)
X Shimakaze	16	4,600	19%	36%	Rear	1 dropped left rear, 1 thrown right rear, 1 dropped left rear, 1 thrown right rear, 1 dropped left rear, 3 dropped right rear (Drop Pattern repeated 1x)
XI Yamagiri	20	4,600	19%	36%	Rear	1 dropped left rear, 1 thrown left rear, 1 dropped left rear, 1 thrown left rear, 1 dropped left rear, 1 thrown right rear, 1 thrown left rear, 3 dropped right rear (Drop Pattern repeated 1x)
V Kotovsky, V Murmansk	4	2,400	10%	15%	Rear	1 thrown left rear, 1 thrown right rear (Drop Pattern repeated 1x)
V Kirov	14	2,400	10%	15%	Rear	1 thrown left rear, 1 thrown right rear (Cycle repeated 1x); 1 dropped left rear, 1 dropped right (Cycle repeated 4x)
V Mikoyan	2	2,400	10%	15%	Rear	1 dropped left rear, 1 dropped right rear
V Krasny Krym	2	3,900	16%	42%	Rear	1 dropped left rear, 1 dropped right rear
VII Lazo, VI Gnevny	6	2,400	10%	15%	Rear	1 dropped left rear, 1 dropped right rear, 2 dropped left, 2 dropped right
VI Budyonny, VII Shchors, VIII Chapayev	6	2,400	10%	15%	Rear	1 thrown left rear, 1 thrown right rear (Cycle repeated 1x); 1 dropped left rear, 1 dropped right rear
VI Molotov, X Grozovoi	12	2,400	10%	15%	Rear	1 dropped left rear, 1 dropped right rear (Drop Pattern repeated 5x)
VIII Pyotr Bagration, VIII Bagration	4	3,900	16%	43%	Rear	1 thrown left rear, 1 thrown right rear (Drop Pattern repeated 1x)
IX Dmitri Donskoi	8	2,400	10%	15%	Rear	1 thrown left rear, 1 thrown right rear (Drop Pattern repeated 3x)
VIII Ochakov, X Smolensk	16	2,400	10%	15%	Forward; Rear	1 thrown left forward (~300 meters), 1 thrown right forward (~300 meters) (Cycle repeated 4x); 1 thrown left rear, 1 thrown right rear (Cycle repeated 3x)
X Alexander Nevsky	10	2,400	10%	15%	Forward	1 thrown left forward (~1 km), 1 thrown right forward (~1 km) (Drop Pattern repeated 4x)
V Podvoisky	4	2,400	10%	15%	Rear	1 dropped left rear, 1 dropped right rear (Drop Pattern repeated 1x)
V Gremyashchy, VII Leningrad	4	2,400	10%	15%	Rear	2 dropped left rear, 2 dropped right rear
VII Minsk	6	2,400	10%	15%	Rear	2 dropped left rear, 2 dropped right rear, 1 dropped left rear, 1 dropped right rear
VII Tashkent '39	6	2,400	10%	15%	Rear	1 thrown left rear, 1 thrown right rear; 1 dropped left rear, 1 dropped right rear (Cycle repeated 1x)
VIII Kiev	8	2,400	10%	15%	Rear	2 dropped left rear, 2 dropped right rear, 1 dropped left rear, 1 dropped right rear, 1 dropped left rear, 1 dropped right rear
VIII Ognevoi	10	2,400	10%	15%	Rear	1 thrown left rear, 1 thrown right, 1 dropped left, 1 dropped right (Drop Pattern repeated 3x)
IX Tashkent	14	2,400	10%	15%	Rear	1 dropped left rear, 1 dropped right rear, 1 dropped left rear, 1 thrown left rear, 1 dropped right rear, 1 thrown right rear, 1 dropped centerline rear (Drop Pattern repeated 1x)
IX Udaloi	9	2,400	10%	15%	Rear	1 thrown left rear, 1 thrown right rear (Cycle repeated 1x), 5 dropped right rear
IX Neustrashimy	12	2,400	10%	15%	Rear	1 thrown left rear, 1 thrown right rear (Drop Pattern repeated 5x)
X Delny	16	2,400	10%	15%	Rear	1 thrown left rear, 1 thrown right rear (Cycle repeated 2x); 1 dropped left rear, 1 dropped right rear (Cycle Repeated 4x)
X Khabarovsk	16	2,400	10%	15%	Rear	1 thrown left rear, 1 thrown right rear (Cycle repeated 2x); 1 dropped left rear, 1 dropped right rear (Cycle Repeated 4x)
XI Zorkiy	14	2,400	10%	15%	Rear	1 thrown left rear, 1 thrown right rear (Cycle repeated 1x); 1 dropped left rear, 1 dropped right rear (Cycle repeated 4x)
VII München	4	2,200	9%	26%	Rear	1 thrown left rear, 1 thrown right rear (Drop Pattern repeated 1x)
V T-22, VIII Mainz (B), VIII Cross of Dorn, VIII Prinz Eugen	6	2,200	9%	26%	Rear	1 dropped left rear, 1 dropped right rear (Drop Pattern repeated 2x)
X Z-42	8	2,200	9%	26%	Rear	1 thrown left rear, 1 thrown right rear (Drop Pattern repeated 3x)
VI Ernst Gaede, VI Karl von Schönberg	8	2,200	9%	26%	Rear	1 thrown left rear, 1 thrown right rear; 1 dropped left rear, 1 dropped right rear (Cycle repeated 2x)
VI T-61	10	2,200	9%	26%	Middle (Beside Funnel); Rear	1 thrown left middle, 1 thrown right middle (Cycle repeated 1x); 1 dropped left rear, 1 dropped right rear (Cycle repeated 2x)
VII Z-31	10	2,200	9%	26%	Rear	1 dropped left rear, 1 dropped right rear (Drop Pattern repeated 4x)
VII Z-39	12	2,200	9%	26%	Rear	1 dropped left rear, 1 dropped right rear (Drop Pattern repeated 5x)
VII Leberecht Maass, VIII Z-23	12	2,200	9%	26%	Middle (Beside Torpedo Tube #1); Middle (Between Turret #3 and #4); Rear	1 thrown left middle, 1 thrown right middle; 1 thrown left middle, 1 thrown right middle; 1 dropped left rear, 1 dropped right rear (Drop Pattern repeated 1x)
VIII Gustav-Julius Maerker	10	2,200	9%	26%	Middle (Beside Torpedo Tubes and Turret #3); Rear	1 thrown left middle, 1 thrown right middle (Cycle repeated 1x); 1 dropped left rear, 1 dropped right rear (Cycle repeated 2x)
VIII Z-35, IX Z-44	4	2,200	9%	26%	Middle (Beside Torpedo Tube #1); Middle (Between Turret #3 and #4)	1 thrown left middle, 1 thrown right middle; 1 thrown left middle, 1 thrown right middle
IX ZF-6	4	2,200	9%	26%	Middle (Beside Turret #2); Rear	1 thrown left middle, 1 thrown right middle; 1 thrown left rear, 1 thrown right rear
IX Z-46	12	2,200	9%	26%	Middle (Between Torpedo Tubes); Middle (Between Torpedo Tube #2 and Turret #2)	1 thrown left middle, 1 thrown right middle; 1 thrown left middle, 1 thrown right middle (Drop Pattern repeated 3x)
IX Felix Schultz	12	2,200	9%	26%	Middle (Between Funnel #2 and Turret #3)	1 thrown left middle, 1 thrown right middle (Drop Pattern repeated 5x)
X Z-52	16	2,200	9%	26%	Middle (Beside Torpedo Tube #1); Middle (Beside Torpedo Tube #2)	1 thrown left middle, 1 thrown right middle; 1 thrown left middle, 1 thrown right middle (Drop Pattern repeated 3x)
X Elbing	16	2,200	9%	26%	Middle (Beside Funnel #1); Middle (Between Funnel #2 and Turret #2); Rear	1 thrown left middle, 1 thrown right middle; 1 thrown left middle, 1 thrown right middle; 1 thrown left rear, 1 thrown right middle (Drop Pattern repeated 1x)
V Emerald, VI Leander	2	5,000	20%	42%	Rear	2 dropped left rear
VI Dido	5	5,000	20%	42%	Rear	1 dropped left rear, 1 dropped right rear, 1 dropped left rear, 1 dropped right rear, 1 dropped left rear
VII Fiji, VIII Edinburgh, VIII Belfast '43	3	5,000	20%	42%	Rear	3 dropped left rear
IX Neptune, X Minotaur	4	5,000	20%	42%	Rear	1 thrown left rear, 1 thrown right rear (Drop Pattern repeated 1x)
X Plymouth	4	5,000	20%	42%	Rear	1 thrown left rear, 1 thrown right rear, 1 dropped left rear, 1 dropped right rear
IX Edgar	3	5,000	20%	42%	Rear	5 thrown left rear (~300 meters, ~4 seconds travel time)
V Acasta	7	5,000	20%	42%	Middle (Beside Turret #3); Rear	1 thrown left middle, 1 thrown right middle; 1 dropped left rear, 1 dropped right rear (Cycle repeated 1x), 1 dropped centerline rear
VI Icarus	8	5,000	20%	42%	Middle (Beside Turret #3); Rear	1 thrown left middle, 1 thrown right middle; 1 dropped left rear, 1 dropped right rear (Cycle repeated 1x), 2 dropped centerline rear
VII Jervis	10	5,000	20%	42%	Rear	1 thrown left middle, 1 thrown right middle; 2 dropped centerline rear (Drop Pattern repeated 1x)
VI Gallant, VIII Cossack (B)	8	5,000	20%	42%	Middle (Beside Turret #3); Rear	1 thrown left middle, 1 thrown right middle; 2 dropped centerline rear (Drop Pattern repeated 1x)
VIII Lightning	12	5,000	20%	42%	Rear	1 thrown left, 1 thrown right; 1 dropped left, 1 dropped right (Cycle repeated 4x)
IX Jutland, IX Somme	12	5,000	20%	42%	Rear	1 thrown left rear, 1 thrown right rear; 1 dropped left rear, 1 dropped right rear; 1 dropped left rear, 1 dropped centerline rear (Drop Pattern repeated 1x)
X Daring	16	5,000	20%	42%	Rear	1 thrown left rear, 1 thrown right rear (Drop Pattern repeated 7x)
X Druid	9	5,000	20%	42%	Rear	1 thrown centerline rear, 1 thrown diagonally right rear, 1 thrown centerline rear (~400 m) (Drop Pattern repeated 2x)
V Jaguar	8	3,400	14%	18%	Middle (Between Turret #2 and Torpedo Tube #1); Rear	1 thrown left middle, 1 thrown right middle (Cycle repeated 1x); 1 dropped left rear, 1 dropped right rear (Cycle repeated 1x)
VI Guépard	10	3,400	14%	18%	Middle (Between Turret #2 and Torpedo Tube #1); Rear	1 thrown left middle, 1 thrown right middle (Cycle repeated 1x); 1 dropped left rear, 1 dropped right rear (Cycle repeated 2x)
V Siroco, VI Aigle, VIII Le Terrible	6	4,600	19%	36%	Rear	1 dropped left rear, 1 dropped right rear (Drop Pattern repeated 2x)
VII Vauquelin	10	3,400	14%	18%	Middle (Between Turret #3 and Torpedo Tube #1); Rear	1 thrown left middle, 1 thrown right middle (Cycle repeated 2x); 1 dropped left rear, 1 dropped right rear (Cycle repeated 1x)
VIII Le Fantasque	14	3,400	14%	18%	Middle (Between Turret #2 and Torpedo Tubes #1/#2); Middle (Between Turrets #3 and #4); Rear	1 thrown left middle, 1 thrown right middle; 1 thrown left middle, 1 thrown right middle (Cycle repeated 1x); 1 dropped left rear, 1 dropped right rear (Cycle repeated 3x)
IX Mogador	16	3,400	14%	18%	Middle (Between Turret #3 and Torpedo Tubes #3/#4); Rear	1 thrown left middle, 1 thrown right middle (Cycle repeated 2x); 1 dropped left rear, 1 dropped right rear (Drop Pattern repeated 1x)
X Kléber	18	3,400	14%	18%	Middle (Between Turret #3 and Torpedo Tubes #3/#4); Rear	1 thrown left middle, 1 thrown right middle (Cycle repeated 1x); 1 thrown left rear, 1 thrown right rear (Drop Pattern repeated 2x)
X Marceau	8	5,700	23%	55%	Middle (Between Turret #3 and Torpedo Tubes #3/#4)	1 thrown left middle, 1 thrown right middle (Drop Pattern repeated 3x)
VI Perth	2	5,000	20%	42%	Rear	2 dropped left rear
IX Hector	8	5,000	20%	42%	Rear	1 thrown left rear, 1 thrown right rear; 1 dropped left rear, 1 dropped right rear (Cycle repeated 2x)
VII Haida, VII Huron	9	5,000	20%	42%	Middle (Between Turret #3 and Torpedo Tube #1); Rear	1 thrown diagonally left middle, 1 thrown diagonally right middle; 1 dropped centerline rear (Drop Pattern repeated 2x)
X Vampire II	5	5,000	20%	42%	Middle (Between Turret #3 and Torpedo Tube #1); Rear	1 dropped left middle, 1 dropped right middle; 3 thrown right (~300 meters, ~4 second travel time)
V Raimondo Montecuccoli	4	3,200	13%	17%	Rear	1 thrown left rear, 1 thrown right rear (Drop Pattern repeated 1x)
VI Duca d'Aosta, VII Duca degli Abruzzi, VII Francesco Ferruccio	4	3,200	13%	17%	Rear	1 thrown left rear, 1 thrown right rear (Cycle repeated 1x)
VI Aviere	10	3,200	13%	17%	Rear	1 thrown left rear, 1 thrown right rear; 1 dropped left rear, 1 dropped right rear (Cycle repeated 3x)
VII FR25	6	2,400	13%	17%	Middle (Behind Turret #1); Rear	1 thrown left middle, 1 thrown right middle; 1 dropped left rear, 1 dropped right rear (Cycle repeated 3x)
V Maestrale, VII Luca Tarigo, VIII Vittorio Cuniberti, IX Adriatico,	10	3,200	13%	17%	Rear	1 thrown left rear, 1 thrown right rear; 1 dropped left rear, 1 dropped right rear (Cycle repeated 3x)
IX Paolo Emilio, X Attilio Regolo	8	3,200	13%	17%	Rear	1 dropped left rear, 1 dropped right rear (Drop Pattern repeated 3x)
VI Huanghe	3	1,700	10%	15%	Rear	3 dropped left rear
V Chungking, VI Rahmat	9	1,700	10%	15%	Rear	1 dropped left rear, 1 dropped right rear (Cycle repeated 2x); 3 dropped left rear
VII Chumphon	8	1,700	10%	15%	Rear	1 thrown left rear, 1 thrown right rear (Cycle repeated 2x); 1 dropped left rear, 1 dropped right rear
VIII Harbin	10	1,700	10%	15%	Rear	1 thrown left rear, 1 thrown right rear (Cycle repeated 2x); 1 dropped left rear, 1 dropped right rear (Cycle repeated 1x)
IX Dalian	12	1,700	10%	15%	Rear	1 thrown left rear, 1 thrown right rear (Cycle repeated 1x); 1 dropped left rear, 1 dropped right rear (Cycle repeated 3x)
IX Sejong, X Jinan	12	1,700	10%	15%	Rear	1 thrown left rear, 1 thrown right rear (Cycle repeated 2x); 1 dropped left rear, 1 dropped right rear (Cycle repeated 2x)
V Jianwei	4	1,700	10%	15%	Middle (Between Turret #4 and Torpedo Tube #2)	1 thrown left middle, 1 thrown right middle (Drop Pattern repeated 1x)
VI Fushun, VI Anshan	6	1,700	10%	15%	Rear	1 thrown left rear, 1 thrown right rear; 1 dropped left rear, 1 dropped right rear (Cycle repeated 1x)
VII Gadjah Mada	6	1,700	10%	15%	Middle (Between Turret #3 and Torpedo Tube #2); Rear	1 thrown left middle, 1 thrown right middle; 2 dropped centerline rear (Drop Pattern Repeated 1x)
VIII Hsienyang	18	1,700	10%	15%	Middle (Beside Turret #3); Rear	1 thrown left middle, 1 thrown right middle; 1 dropped left rear, 1 dropped right rear (Cycle repeated 7x)
VIII Loyang (B)	10	1,700	10%	15%	Middle (Between Turret #3 and Torpedo Tube #2); Rear	1 thrown left middle, 1 thrown right middle (Cycle repeated 1x); 1 dropped left rear, 1 dropped right rear (Cycle repeated 2x)
VIII Siliwangi	10	1,700	10%	15%	Rear	1 thrown left, 1 thrown right (Cycle repeated 4x)
VIII Fenyang, VIII Ship Smasha	18	1,700	10%	15%	Middle (Beside Turret #3); Rear	1 dropped left rear, 1 thrown left rear (Cycle repeated 1x); 1 dropped left rear, 1 thrown right rear, 1 thrown left rear, 3 dropped right rear
IX Chung Mu	12	1,700	10%	15%	Middle (Between Turret #3 and Turret #4); Rear	1 thrown left middle, 1 thrown right middle; 1 dropped rear left, 1 dropped right rear (Cycle repeated 1x)
X Yueyang	16	1,700	10%	15%	Middle (Beside Torpedo Tube #2); Rear	1 thrown left middle, 1 thrown right middle; 1 dropped left rear, 1 dropped right rear (Cycle repeated 3x, then Drop Pattern repeated 1x)
X Lüshun	12	1,700	10%	15%	Rear	1 thrown left rear, 1 thrown right rear (Cycle repeated 5x)
XI Kunming	12	1,700	10%	15%	Rear	1 dropped left rear, 1 dropped right rear (Cycle repeated 5x)
VI Elli	2	3,200	13%	17%	Rear	1 thrown left rear, 1 thrown right rear
V Visby	6	2,000	11%	12%	Rear	1 dropped left rear, 1 thrown left rear, 1 dropped left rear, 1 thrown right rear, 2 dropped right rear
V Muavenet	6	2,400	10%	15%	Rear	1 thrown left rear, 1 thrown right rear, 1 dropped centerline rear (Drop Pattern repeated 1x)
VI Västerås	8	2,000	11%	12%	Rear	1 dropped left rear, 1 thrown left rear, 1 dropped left rear, 1 thrown right rear, 1 dropped left rear, 3 dropped right rear
VI Stord, VII Stord '43	8	2,400	10%	15%	Rear	1 thrown left rear, 1 thrown right rear (Cycle repeated 1x); 1 dropped left rear, 1 dropped centerline rear (Cycle repeated 1x)
VII Skåne	10	2,000	11%	12%	Rear	1 thrown left rear, 1 thrown right rear (Cycle repeated 1x); 1 dropped left rear, 1 dropped right rear (Cycle repeated 2x)
VII Grom	8	2,400	10%	15%	Rear	1 dropped left rear, 1 dropped right rear (Drop Pattern repeated 3x)
VII Błyskawica	6	2,800	16%	43%	Rear	1 dropped left rear, 1 dropped right rear (Drop Pattern repeated 2x)
VIII Öland	12	2,000	11%	12%	Rear	1 thrown right rear, 1 thrown left rear (Drop Pattern repeated 5x)
VIII Split	10	2,400	10%	15%	Rear	1 dropped ceneterline rear (Drop Pattern repeated 9x)
VIII Orkan	6	2,800	16%	43%	Rear	1 thrown left rear, 1 thrown right rear; 1 dropped left rear, 1 dropped right rear (Cycle repeated 1x)
IX Östergötland	12	2,000	11%	12%	Middle (Beside Torpedo Tube #1); Rear	1 thrown left middle, 1 thrown right middle; 1 thrown left rear, 1 thrown right rear (Drop Pattern repeated 2x)
IX Lambros Katsonis	12	2,400	10%	15%	Rear	1 dropped left rear, 1 dropped right rear (Drop Pattern repeated 5x)
IX Velos	12	5,100	21%	43%	Rear	12 dropped right rear
IX Jäger	6	5,100	21%	43%	Rear	1 dropped left rear, 1 dropped right rear (Drop Pattern repeated 2x)
IX Friesland, IX Dalarna	8	2,000	11%	12%	Forward	1 thrown left forward, 1 thrown right forward (~1.1 km) (Drop Pattern repeated 3x)
X Halland, X Småland	8	2,000	11%	12%	Forward	8 thrown centerline forward (~1.1 km)
X Gdańsk	12	2,400	10%	15%	Rear	1 thrown left middle, 1 thrown right middle (Drop Pattern repeated 5x)
X Ragnar	4	2,000	11%	12%	Forward	4 thrown centerline forward (~1.2 km)
VI Juruá	6	5,000	20%	42%	Rear	6 dropped centerline rear
VIII Almirante Grau	6	2,000	11%	12%	Rear	1 dropped left rear, 1 dropped right rear (Drop Pattern repeated 3x)
V Celebes, VI Kijkduin	4	2,000	11%	12%	Rear	1 thrown left rear, 1 thrown right rear (Drop Pattern repeated 1x)
VII Eendracht	6	2,000	11%	12%	Rear	1 thrown left rear, 1 thrown right rear (Drop Pattern repeated 2x)
VIII Haarlem	8	2,000	11%	12%	Rear	1 thrown left rear, 1 thrown right rear (Drop Pattern repeated 3x)
VIII De Zeven Provinciën	6	2,000	11%	12%	Rear	1 dropped left rear, 1 dropped right rear (Drop Pattern repeated 3x)
IX Johan de Witt, IX Van Speijk, X Gouden Leeuw, X Prins van Oranje	4	5,000	20%	42%	Rear	1 thrown left rear, 1 thrown right rear (Drop Pattern repeated 1x)
IX Groningen	8	2,000	11%	12%	Forward	1 thrown left forward, 1 thrown right forward (~1.1 km) (Drop Pattern repeated 3x)
X Álvaro de Bazán	8	2,200	9%	26%	Middle (Beside Turret #3); Rear	1 thrown left middle, 1 thrown right middle; 1 dropped left rear, 1 dropped right rear (Cycle repeated 3x)

The damage distribution of Daring’s depth charges (cr. WoWs Shipbuilder)

When a depth charge from a ship is launched and hits the water, it becomes “active”. It falls at a base 10 knot speed, which is randomized by a multiplier of anywhere from about 0.8 to 1.2 times. It then explodes after a 7 second timer, which is also randomized by a multiplier of anywhere from about -0.5 to +0.5 seconds. This means the detonation depth at the end is random (from about 139.6 to 241.7 meters). The depth at which a depth charge detonates can be calculated by multiplying the fall speed, detonation timer and the travel speed in meters/second (1 knot = 2.6854 m/s). Shipborne depth charges explode at a much deeper depth than those from airstrikes.

Generally speaking, while ship-mounted depth charges have better potential damage over airborne depth charges, the fact that cruisers and destroyers have to risk their hull to attack a submarine with them limits their effectiveness. More often than not, it is not worth it for said classes to go out of their way to strike a submarine with depth charges, unless there is little risk of being attacked by enemy surface ships or aircraft. In addition, enemy submarines can also shotgun an approaching ship (or simply dive away either vertically or horizontally), further increasing the risk of using this type of depth charge effectively.

Example: A single depth charge from Daring drops at 9 knots (determined randomly), and explodes after 6.9 seconds (also determined randomly).

9 * 6.9 * 2.6854 = 166.7 meters at which the depth charge explodes.

Depth Charge Airstrikes

With the development of aviation, it became clear that aircraft made not only a great vehicle for traveling large distances, but also for scouting and attacking enemies. Patrol aviation became necessary to defend a country’s coastlines and shipping, as well as attack enemy submarines. Flying boats became the prime means of conducting these tasks, due to their ability to land and takeoff at sea, the vast amount of bodies of water, and low engine reliability of early aircraft. Equipped with searchlights, radar, and depth charges, they became a major threat to submarines throughout the course of World War II.

Found on all Tier V+ battleships, all Tier VI+ aircraft carriers, and some Tier V+ cruisers, Depth Charge Airstrikes (aka ASW airstrikes) are the other, arguably superior anti-submarine weapon in the game. They operate similarly to airstrikes on Dutch cruisers, where after a delay, they arrive at the designated area to drop their payload, but cannot spot ships or deal damage to other classes. Like shipborne depth charges, they have a low fire chance, but all depth charges from airstrikes have a 100% chance of causing flooding, as well as an increased chance of incapacitating a submarine’s sonar. Depth Charge Airstrikes on cruisers and battleships have a 30 second reload, with a 375 meter explosion radius (300 meters in the case of Ägir, Mengchong and Siegfried). Depth Charge Airstrikes found on aircraft carriers have a 25 second reload with almost double the explosion radius, at 600 meters. In addition, the Depth Charge Airstrike on aircraft carriers is automatically controlled, activating when a submarine is detected, leaking fuel or emitting pings within the airstrike’s range. The full characteristics of Depth Charge Airstrikes are listed below:

——  Depth Charge Airstrike Data  ——

The full list of ships with access to Depth Charge Airstrike is as follows (not including clones):

• All battleships Tier V+
• All aircraft carriers Tier VI+
• All American cruisers except Atlanta, Flint and Austin
• Japanese heavy cruiser line (Furutaka – Zao), light cruiser line (Agano – Yodo), Yahagi, Tokachi, Atago, Tone, Chikuma II, Azuma, and Yoshino
• Soviet cruisers Tallinn, Mikhail Kutuzov, Dmitry Pozharsky, Riga, Kronshtadt, Petropavlovsk, Moskva, Sevastopol, Stalingrad and Komissar
• German cruiser line (Königsberg – Clausewitz), Admiral Graf Spee, Leipzig, Weimar, Schill, Ägir, Admiral Schröder, and Siegfried
• British heavy cruiser line (Hawkins – Goliath), Exeter, London, Belfast, Cheshire, AL Cheshire, Hampshire, Tiger '59, Nottingham, Gibraltar, Monmouth and Defence
• French heavy and large cruiser lines (Émile Bertin – Condé, Cherbourg – Marseille), Dupleix, Toulon, Bayard, Carnot and Colbert
• All Commonwealth cruisers Tier V+ except Hector
• Italian cruiser line (Trento – Piemonte), Genova, Gorizia, Michelangelo, and Napoli
• Pan-Asian cruisers Irian, Wukong and Mengchong
• All Pan-American cruisers Tier V+ except Almirante Grau
• All Spanish cruisers Tier V+

Tier	Ship	Number of Charges	Range	Number of Aircraft	Bombs per Aircraft	Damage	Fire Chance	Flooding Chance	Reload
V	Cruisers	1	5 km	1	1	2,900	19%	300%	20 s
V	Delhi	2	7 km	1	1	2,300	16%	300%	20 s
VI	Cruisers	2	6 km	1	1	2,900	19%	300%	20 s
VI	Hobart	2	8 km	1	1	2,300	16%	300%	20 s
VI	Canarias	1	6 km	1	3	1,600	12%	300%	20 s
VII	Cruisers	2	6 km	1	1	3,400	19%	300%	25 s
VII	Uganda	3	8 km	1	1	2,700	16%	300%	25 s
VIII - IX	Cruisers	2	7 km	1	2	4,200	24%	300%	30 s
VIII - IX	Auckland, Encounter	3	10 km	1	2	3,400	24%	300%	30 s
IX	Ägir, Mengchong, Siegfried	2	7 km	1	3	1,600	12%	300%	30 s
X - XI	Cruisers	2	8 km	1	2	4,900	28%	300%	30 s
X	Cerberus	3	11 km	1	2	3,900	28%	300%	30 s
V	Battleships	1	8 km	1	1	2,900	19%	300%	20 s
V	Giulio Cesare	1	4 km	1	1	2,900	19%	300%	20 s
VI	Battleships	1	8 km	1	1	2,900	19%	300%	20 s
VII	Battleships	2	9 km	1	1	3,400	19%	300%	25 s
VIII - IX	Battleships	2	10 km	1	2	4,200	24%	300%	30 s
VIII - IX	Massachusetts (B), Musashi	2	5 km	1	2	4,200	24%	300%	30 s
X - XI	Battleships	2	11 km	1	2	4,900	28%	300%	30 s
VI	Carriers	1	6 km	1	1	3,400	19%	300%	25 s
VIII	Carriers	1	7 km	1	1	4,200	24%	300%	25 s
X - XI	Carriers	1	8 km	1	1	4,900	28%	300%	25 s

Within a 150 meter radius, airborne depth charges from battleships and cruisers have a splash coefficient of 1.0. From 150.1 to 300 meters, the splash coefficient is 0.50. From 300.1 to 375 meters, the splash coefficient is 0.0, however they can still disable a submarine’s sonar at this range. For Ägir, Mengchong and Siegfried, the splash coefficient is 1.0 within a 96 meter radius, 0.45 from 96.1 to 240 meters, and 0.0 from 240.1 to 300 meters, but they can still disable a submarine's sonar at the outermost range.

For aircraft carriers, within a 300 meter radius, airborne depth charges have a 1.0 splash coefficient. From 300.1 to 480 meters, they have a 0.50 splash coefficient. From 480.1 to 600 meters, they have a 0.0 splash coefficient, however they can still disable a submarine’s sonar at this range.

The damage distribution of Vermont’s Depth Charge Airstrike (cr. WoWs Shipbuilder)

The damage distribution of Siegfried’s Depth Charge Airstrike (cr. WoWs Shipbuilder)

The damage distribution of Midway’s Depth Charge Airstrike (cr. WoWs Shipbuilder)

Similar to shipborne depth charges, airborne depth charges become “active” as soon as they hit the water. They fall at a base speed of 3.5 knots, randomized by a factor of about 0.8 to 1.2 times. It then explodes after a 4 second timer, which is also randomized, at a factor of about -0.5 to +0.5 seconds. Therefore, detonation depth is also random (from about 26.3 to 50.8 meters). Like shipborne depth charges, the explosion depth of airborne depth charges can be calculated by multiplying the fall speed, detonation timer and the travel speed in meters/second (1 knot = 2.6854 m/s). Depth charges from aircraft explode closer to the surface than ship-launched depth charges.

Depth Charge Airstrikes provide a consistent source of attacking submarines, due to the armament’s quick reload and long range, especially for battleships, and — in the case of those on aircraft carriers — the high accuracy. If a submarine is detected or showing signs of its presence through fuel spills or sonar ping emissions, captains should make sure to use this armament as soon as possible against a submarine.

Example: A single depth charge from Vermont drops at 4.2 knots, and explodes after 3.5 seconds.

4.2 * 3.5 * 2.6854 = 39.4 meters at which the depth charge explodes.

Other Weaponry

HE and SAP shells are the most effective shell types against submarines, as they have a large splash radius compared to AP shells (almost twice as large), as well as exploding on contact with armor, of which submarines have very little of. However, as HE and SAP shells have a splash damage coefficient of 0.165, underwater submarines have almost comparable durability to that of French destroyers and their unique HP saturation mechanic (the value of 0.165 being, in fact, identical to that of saturated parts of a ship’s hull). AP shells have a splash coefficient of 0.1, further limiting their effectiveness against underwater submarines. In regards to armor penetration, submarines follow the same rules as other classes, even when the shell arms by hitting the water and penetrates afterwards.

Secondaries are usually unreliable for directly killing a submarine, but can force them to dive underwater. They are also useful for forcing a fuel spill from a submarine, due to their high rate of fire.

Regular ship- and airborne torpedoes can hit submarines at surface and periscope depths, but are generally ineffective as they lack a splash damage coefficient, requiring direct hits to deal damage. While airborne torpedoes are dropped at closer distances, a submarine is likely able to dive to escape damage. Finally, for ship torpedoes specifically, the distances at which they typically are launched means submarines will have ample time to avoid them by diving. Deepwater torpedoes do not hit submarines at any depth. Homing torpedoes, however, are a submarine’s best weapon against other submarines, due to the short distance at which their homing shuts off, combined with their homing capability.

The HE bomb airstrikes of Dutch ships deserve a special mention, as they can do heavy damage to surfaced submarines due to the large drop area size and amount of bombs dropped, as well as the large splash radius. However, it is just as easy for submarines to avoid airstrikes by diving, making this armament type unreliable against submarines. Indeed, one should not actively use this armament against submarines.

For aircraft carriers, their automatic ASW is arguably their best source of damage against submarines. The high accuracy of the airstrike combined with their large explosion radius means they can cripple if not destroy submarines who wander too close. For offensive purposes, rockets and bombs will prove useful to at least force a submarine to dive, due to their (usually) quick aiming nature. However, they are subject to the same 0.165 splash damage coefficient as HE shells, limiting their effectiveness against periscope depth submarines. In addition, their splash radius is usually very small (for comparison, Tachibana’s 76 mm AP shells have a splash radius ~3 times larger than most rockets and bombs), increasing their difficulty in dealing damage to submarines. Dropping a fighter on top of a submarine can also force them underwater, as a submarine will usually want to remain undetected to avoid enemy fire, as well as avoid a carrier’s ASW.

Upgrades & Commander Skills

Some upgrades and commander skills enhance combat capability against submarines:

Depth Charges Modification 1 adds two charges to the depth charge armament (i.e. a ship with 2 charges of the depth charge armament is increased to 4. It does not increase the amount of bombs in a single charge).

Airstrike Modification 1 increases the damage of airborne depth charges by 15%, as well as reducing the reload of airstrikes by 20%.

Demolition Expert on destroyers, cruisers and battleships increase the splash radius of shells by 15%.

Extra-Heavy Ammunition on destroyers increases depth charge damage by 10%.

AA Defense and ASW Expert on cruisers and battleships increases depth charge damage (both ship- and airborne) by 10%.

Secondary Armament Expert on aircraft carriers increases the damage of depth charges from the automatic ASW aircraft by 10%.

The Radio Location skill gives a bearing to a submarine if it is at surface or periscope depth. It does not work if the submarine is at maximum depth.

Defense Against Submarine-Launched Weapons

Against Homing Torpedoes

When dealing with homing torpedoes, the most common tactic is to slow down and/or turn in or out. For battleships in particular, they have it the easiest: Homing stops at the greatest distance for the class (2.1 km for single pings, 1.6 km for double pings in the case of Tier X submarines), and more often than not the simple act of slowing down is enough to dodge torpedoes at long ranges. As soon as a battleship spots torpedoes, they should slow down and turn in. Damage Control Party  should ideally be used if you are pinged and homing torpedoes are spotted heading towards you, and not immediately when you are pinged. However, if there is a risk of being set on fire or being flooded, it may be best to hold the usage of one’s Damage Control Party . In addition, battleships have strong ASW, with the longest reach and second-hardest hitting Depth Charge Airstrikes, behind aircraft carriers. Therefore, once pinged, battleship captains should be on the lookout for the ping emission effects, using them in tandem with fuel spills to locate and deal damage to submarines.

Cruisers and destroyers have it harder, as the homing distance is much closer. In addition, if a submarine lands a double ping, the homing distance cutoff is decreased by half. Both of these classes also have a very short Damage Control Party  duration, enabling submarines to quickly re-ping them. The same tactics as battleships apply, but it will be harder to pull it off. In addition, cruiser Depth Charge Airstrikes are weaker than battleships, particularly their range is significantly shorter. While you can still look out for signs of submarines, more often than not they will be out of your range to use your ASW. Cruisers and destroyers with depth charges should only actively try to deal with the submarine if no other ships present an active threat to them, and if they can minimize the risk of being shotgunned by a submarine.

Aircraft carriers initially have a long immunity duration against homing torpedoes, due to their automatic Damage Control Party that lasts a long time. Once the duration runs out, however, they can be easy prey for submarines. If a submarine is within range and spotted or showing a sign of its location, an aircraft carrier’s automatic ASW will keep it wary, due to the large AoE radius and almost pin-point accuracy. However, it is likely an aircraft carrier will have to rely on their team’s assistance in dealing with a skilled submarine intent on hunting them, especially if the submarine is at a range greater than a carrier’s ASW.

As submarine homing is the strongest against the class itself, submarine-vs-submarine combat is generally risky, and should ideally be avoided unless necessary and if a submarine has allied support. If engaged in combat with another submarine, captains should not only use their Damage Control Party wisely, but also change depths and course to dodge homing torpedoes. In addition, underwater submarine-vs-submarine combat relies on one’s Submarine Surveillance  to spot the submarine.

Against Conventional/Unguided Torpedoes (AKA “Shotgunning”)

In dealing with submarines who do not use their homing capabilities, it is much harder to counter them. If no sonar ping is emitted, there is no warning that a submarine is approaching (unless one uses a consumable to detect them, or the submarine is leaking fuel). Their stealth at the surface and complete invisibility at maximum depth also makes them tricky to deal with.

In general, one should be on the lookout for a submarine’s whereabouts at all times. Captains should pay attention to where a submarine was last spotted on the minimap. Consumables like Hydroacoustic Search  and Surveillance Radar  will help in providing recent updates to a submarine’s position, as well as potentially a deterrent in a submarine making shotgun attacks. One can also try slowing down when a submarine is preparing to shotgun, in an effort to avoid their torpedoes.

The unfortunate reality, however, is that there is very little — if anything — one can do in mitigating damage from an above-average submarine player who chooses to primarily rely on shotgunning in dealing damage to ships.

Sources

• How Splash Damage and Depth Charges Work against Submarines (Some outdated values)
• Submarines Are Again Lurking in the Depths of Our Seas for Testing Purposes
• WoWs Shipbuilder