View source for Squid (weapon)

{{Infobox Weapon
|name= Squid
|image= [[Image:Squid Mortar.jpg|300px]]
|caption= Squid anti-submarine mortar on display at the [[Devonport Naval Base]]
|origin= {{UK}}
|type= Anti-submarine Mortar
<!-- Type selection -->
|is_ranged=yes
|is_bladed=
|is_explosive=yes
|is_artillery=yes
|is_vehicle=
|is_missile=
|is_UK=yes
<!-- Service history -->
|service= 1943&ndash;1977
|used_by=[[Royal Navy]]
|wars= 
<!-- Production history -->
|designer= [[Directorate of Miscellaneous Weapons Development]]
|design_date=1942
|manufacturer=
|unit_cost=
|production_date=
|number= 
|variants= 
<!-- General specifications -->
|spec_label=
|weight= 10 tons
|length= 
|part_length= 
|width=
|height=
|diameter=
|crew=
<!-- Ranged weapon specifications --> 
|cartridge= 440 lb (200 kg)
|caliber=12 in (305 mm)
|barrels=Three
|action= 
|rate= 
|velocity= 
|range= 275 yards (250 m)
|max_range= 
|feed= 
|sights= 
<!-- Artillery specifications -->
|breech=
|recoil=
|carriage=
|elevation=
|traverse=
<!-- Explosive specifications --> 
|filling=[[Minol (explosive)|Minol]]
|filling_weight=207 lb (94 kg)
|detonation=Time fuse
|yield=
}}
'''Squid''' was a [[World War II]] [[ship]]-mounted [[anti-submarine warfare|anti-submarine]] [[weapon]]. It consisted of a three-barrelled [[mortar (weapon)|mortar]] which launched [[depth charge]]s. It replaced the [[Hedgehog (weapon)|Hedgehog]] system, and was in turn replaced by the [[Limbo (weapon)|Limbo]] system.

Literally ordered directly from the drawing board in 1942, under the auspices of the [[Directorate of Miscellaneous Weapons Development]], this weapon was rushed into service in May 1943 onboard [[HMS Ambuscade (D38)|HMS ''Ambuscade'']]. The first production unit was installed on [[HMS Hadleigh Castle|HMS ''Hadleigh Castle'']], it went on to be installed on 70 frigates and corvettes during the [[Second World War]]. The first successful use was by [[HMS Loch Killin|HMS ''Loch Killin'']] on 31 July 1944, when she sank [[Unterseeboot 333|''U333'']]. The system was credited with 17 submarines in 50 attacks. 195 Squid installations had been produced by 1959.  

This weapon was a three-barrel 12&nbsp;inch (305&nbsp;mm) mortar with the mortars mounted in series but off-bore from each other in order to scatter the projectiles.  The barrels were mounted in a frame that could be rotated through 90&nbsp;degrees for loading.  The projectiles weighed 390 lb (177 kg) with a 207&nbsp;lb (94&nbsp;kg) [[Minol (explosive)|minol]] charge.<ref>Due to shortages of [[trinitrotoluene|TNT]] and [[RDX]] (cyclonite) in World War II, the British used a 50/50 mixture of ammonium nitrate and TNT ([[amatol]]) in [[naval mine]]s and depth charges. This low grade explosive was later improved by the addition of about 20% [[aluminium]] powder, producing ''minol''.</ref> Sink rate was 43.5 ft/s (13.3 m/s) and a clockwork time [[Fuse (explosives)|fuse]] was used to set the depth. Maximum depth was 900&nbsp;feet (274&nbsp;m) and all three projectiles had to be set the same.

The weapons were automatically fired from the [[sonar]] range recorder at the proper moment. The pattern formed a triangle about 40&nbsp;yards (37&nbsp;m) on a side at a distance of 275&nbsp;yards (250&nbsp;m) ahead of the ship. Most Squid installations utilised two sets of mortars. All six bombs were fired in salvo so they formed opposing triangular spreads. The salvos were set to explode 25&nbsp;feet (7.6&nbsp;m) above and below the target, the resulting pressure wave crushing the hull of the submarine. Postwar trials found Squid was nine times more effective than conventional depth charges.<ref>Zimmerman, David. ''Great Naval Battle of Ottawa'' (Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1989), p.127.</ref>

Despite its proven effectiveness, some officers, notably [[Captain (naval)|Captain]] [[Kenneth Adams]], [[Royal Canadian Navy|RCN]], opposed fitting Squid to escorts because it meant sacrificing guns, which would make ships unsuitable for fleet actions.<ref>Zimmerman, p.128-9.</ref>

In April 1977, the [[Type 61 frigate]] [[HMS Salisbury (F32)|''Salisbury'']] became the last ship to fire Squid in Royal Navy service.

==See also==
{{Commonscat-inline|Squid anti-submarine mortar}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}
{{Refbegin}}
* ''Jane's Naval Weapon Systems Issue 33'', E R Hooton, ISBN 0-7106-0893-4
* ''Naval Armament'', Doug Richardson, 1981, Jane's Publishing, ISBN 0-531-03738-X
{{Refend}}

{{Template:WWIIBritishCommNavalWeapons}}

[[Category:Explosive weapons]]
[[Category:Anti-submarine mortars]]
[[Category:Naval weapons of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:World War II naval weapons]]
[[Category:World War II weapons of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:World War II mortars]]
[[Category:305 mm artillery]]

[[Category:2Fix]]