Depth Charge by Chris Henry

Author:Chris Henry
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781783460427
Publisher: Pen and Sword
Published: 2013-05-31T00:00:00+00:00

An illustration showing Taylor’s design of shell construction.

Probably Taylor’s greatest contribution in the field of mine sinkers was the Mark 16 submarine-laid sinker, introduced in 1934 and used until 1945. The Mark 16 sinker incorporated a loose bight pawl and a special case that could be rapidly drained or filled with water to aid the submarine’s trim. A loose bight pawl was used on mines laid by submarines, to ensure that the mine never showed above the surface and did not get to its set depth until the submarine was well away. The complete mine unit fell to the sea-bed, where the positive buoyancy of the mine tended to pull it away from the sinker, at first delayed by some kind of device. When the mine rose, a hydrostat released a length of chain to form part of the mooring cable. The chain momentarily slackened the tension of the mooring cable, operating a locking mechanism on the sinker and stopping the rising mine under the surface. This was done by pawl and ratchet connected to the drum of the mooring cable; the chain therefore was known as a loose bight. These clever mechanical devices are simple yet effective and even in the late 1940s were used for standard submarine minelaying techniques.

Also in 1934 Taylor designed the Mark XVI mine for laying with the Mark 16 sinker. This was actually designed for use with the new minelaying submarines of the Porpoise class, fitted with chain conveyor gear. The new mines had ten horns and could be laid in 80 – 100 fathoms (480 – 600ft) of water. The charge was 320lb and they were designed for offensive laying purposes. The Mark XIV, introduced in 1933, was a development of the H2 with Hertz horns. It was 40in in diameter and had a detachable charge case containing either 320lb or 500lb of explosive. A larger, more buoyant mine, the Mark XV, was designed to maintain the taut cable at depths of 500ft and 1,000ft. Both Taylor’s moored contact mines, the Mark XIV and Mark XV, became the standard Royal Navy mines of this type. When equipped with the new mine horn, the Mark XIV became the Mark XVII.

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