Talk:Game Updates/2019/July 30th/@comment-32647310-20190730121907/@comment-32647310-20190801110520

I did a bit of reading and the idea of lobbing the projectile had merit because it allowed the sub-hunter to not have to go 'over' or otherwise be too close to the sub. The Hedgehog (and later variations and improvements) work off of this principal and are considered 'mortars'.

The Brits had ASW mortars similar to this gear, but they were purpose-built and of very limited effectiveness (I don't think they actually ever damaged/sunk a sub) and were what led to the development of the Hedgehog. The only real benefit I can see is that infantry-based mortars use contact fuses, so unlike a depth charge, they won't have a reaction on sonar (which is very disruptive) unless there is a hit.

The headscratcher is the use of infantry weapons. I noted on another post that these would work, in theory. However in practice, it's like using a hammer to drive a screw into a block of wood: hit the screw hard enough and it will go into the wood, but it won't be clean and it isn't the right tool for the job.