Hedgehog (weapon)
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The Hedgehog was a forward-throwing anti-submarine weapon that was used primarily during the Second World War. The device, which was developed by the Royal Navy, fired up to 24 spigot mortars ahead of a ship when attacking a U-boat. It was deployed on convoy escort warships such as destroyers and corvettes to supplement the depth charges.
On HMS Westcott, November 1945
USS Moberly makes a Hedgehog attack against U-853 in 1945.
A large white upwelling of water from an underwater explosion just ahead of Moberly's bow following Hedgehog launch
USS Sarsfield after firing dual Hedgehogs, 1950
Anti-submarine weapon
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An anti-submarine weapon (ASW) is any one of a number of devices that are intended to act against a submarine and its crew, to destroy (sink) the vessel or reduce its capability as a weapon of war. In its simplest sense, an anti-submarine weapon is usually a projectile, missile or bomb that is optimized to destroy submarines.
A Hedgehog depth charge launcher
Mk. 17 depth bomb is being unloaded from a SOC Seagull scout plane on board the USS Philadelphia (CL-41) during an Atlantic U-boat sweep near Panama in June 1942.
Hedgehog, a 24-"barreled" anti-submarine mortar, mounted on the forecastle of the destroyer HMS Westcott, 28 November 1945. The 27-year veteran Westcott claimed the first-ever kill by Hedgehog February 2, 1942, when she sank U-581.
A U.S. Navy depth charge, used in WWII