B TG depth charge

B TG depth charge mortar on RN Eugenio di Savoia's stern, with the charge itself visible mid-flight.

Description

The B TG is an Italian anti-submarine depth charge. It was widely used on Italian ships (light cruisers and motor torpedo boats). It's one of the smaller ASW weapons in the Italian fleet, with the other depth charge being B TG 100 with double the explosive mass.

Historically there were several B TG charges with a mass of 50kg (designated B TG/50), with the first one introduced in 1917 and the last one in 1936.

General info

B TG can be found on both: Coastal vessels and the Bluewater ships, but in both cases it has a relatively small explosive mass comparing to the depth charges of other nations. Typically to all of the depth charges in the game - the most difficult part is delivering them on target.

Effective damage

A single depth charge can kill any MTB or MGB if put right on it. For sub chasers and larger boats its typically best to leave a few charges to assure kill. Despite of having a smaller explosive filler than most of the depth charges - it makes no practical difference.

Comparison with analogues

When it comes to depth charges, there are two key factors to consider: the explosive filler and the number of charges that can be carried onboard. Unfortunately, the B TG depth charges fall short in both areas. With only 50 kg of explosive filler, they are less powerful than foreign counterparts which carry 3-4 times as much, making them less effective at causing damage and less forgiving of near-misses. Additionally, the small size of the charges is not compensated for by a larger quantity. Cruisers carry a similar number of charges as foreign counterparts, with the exception of the RN Eugenio di Savoia which carries only 2 charges in mortars, making it one of the least depth charges one can find on a bluewater ship. Coastal vessels, such as the VAS 201, typically carry around 12 charges, which is above average for Motor Torpedo Boats, but significantly less than the sub-chasers found in other navies.

Name	Country of origin	Mass (kg)	Explosive type	Explosive mass (kg)	TNT equivalent (kg)
7.2 in T37		29	Torpex	15.9	25.44
B TG		63	TNT	50	50
B TG 100		126	TNT	100	100
BAS		160	Torpex	70	112
BB-1		165	TNT	130	130
BM-1		45	TNT	25	25
Guiraud		176	TNT	130	130
K-gun Mk.9		190	TNT	136	136
Limbo mortar		177	Minol	94	108.1
Mk.6		190	TNT	136	136
Mk.6 mortar		190	TNT	136	136
Mk.9		190	TNT	136	136
Mk.10 Hedgehog mortar		29	Torpex	15.9	25.44
Mk.VII		196	TNT	130	130
RBM mortar		160	Amatol	70.8	70.8
Type 3		50	Type 88	20	26
Type 95		160	Amatol	100	100
WBD		196	Amatol	130	130
WBF		139	Amatol	60	60
WBG		160	Amatol	100	100
Y-gun Mk.VII		196	TNT	130	130

Usage in battles

Depth charges can be an effective weapon against enemy cruisers or destroyers when used by a Motor Torpedo Boats. They are most effective when dropped at point-blank range, almost right on the the enemy's hull. A few charges dropped in a series can make it very difficult for the enemy to escape. However, use against coastal vessels it is less reliable due to required timing and the enemy's ability to flee the blast radius before the charges detonate.

The use of depth charges on cruisers is much less common due to the difficulty of achieving a precise aim without visual aids in the game interface, and the need for the ship to be in close proximity to the enemy in order for the charge to be effective. The explosion also occurs relatively close to the ship, adding to the difficulty of this tactic. The delay between the ejection of the charge and its explosion can be modified in Options -> Main parameters -> Naval Battle Settings -> Depth Charge activation time (it defaults to 3s, with options ranging from 3 to 10 second delay). There is no way to alter this setting during the battle, nor to assign a specific delay to a specific ship.

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Available in a good amount on some of the Motor Torpedo Boats

Cons:

• Very low explosive filler
• A number of ships have an underwhelming number of charges onboard

History

B TG ("Bombe Torpedini da Getto", 'Thrown Torpedo Bomb') is a series of depth charges manufactured for Regia Marina during the both World Wars, serving as the Italian navy's primary anti-submarine weapon.

The in-game B TG depth charge is most likely B TG 50/1917 manufactured by the Moncenisio company located near Turin.

Depth charge throwers visible on the in-game cruisers were Lanciabomba AS 432/302 Mod. 1934-37 or Lanciabomba AS 302/1933 Mod. 1937 (model 1937 adding optional ability to discharge a small-diameter charges).

B TG family of depth charges

Designation	Introduced	Mass (kg)	External diameter (mm)	Selectable depth settings	Manufacturer
B TG 50/1917	1917	62.5	600	1 (unknown)	Moncenisio
B TG 50/1927	1927	64	300	4 (20, 40, 70, 100 m)	Moncenisio
B TG 100/1927	1927	128	430	4 (25, 50, 75, 100 m)	Moncenisio
B TG 50/1930	1930		300		Moncenisio
B TG 50/1936	1936	70	300		Moncenisio
B TG 100/1936	1936	130	430
B TG 150/1940	1940	180	430
B TG 30/1941	1941	42	300
B TG 60/1943	1943	130	450
B TG 125/1943	1943	180	450

Empty fields denote missing data

Media

Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.

See also

• B TG 100 depth charge

External links

• [NavWeaps] Italy - ASW Weapons
• [Regia Marina Italiana] Weapons by Cristiano D'Adamo - Antisubmarine
• Depth Charge!: Mines, Depth Charges and Underwater Weapons, 1914-1945 By Chris Henry (see: page 118)