“THE SQUID,” WAR SECRET ANTISUBMARINE WEAPON TESTED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 22891, 10 March 1949, Page 3

“THE SQUID,” WAR SECRET ANTISUBMARINE WEAPON TESTED

N.Z. NAVAL EXERCISES

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, March 10. “The squid,’’ a naval secret weapon which caused devastation among- U-boat packs in the latter stages of the last war, was revealed during naval exercises at sea off Kaikoura yesterdayafternoon.

The veil of secrecy imposed during-) and since the war was lifted as antisubmarine specialists tested their weapons on mock targets. "The squid,” the exact details of which are still secret, is a three-bar-relled mortar which fires many heavy charges with great accuracy to explode at a set depth in the water. Great mounds of blue water _ and fountains of spray rose in the air as many charges of the weapon exploded together. Rocked Ships Like ’Quake

The force of the explosion rocked each ship in the flotilla with the force of an earthquake.

The firing apparatus of "the squid” is trained by radar to fire at a surface target such as a submarine cruising while charging its batteries. The exercises are part of convoy manoeuvres with the cruiser Bellona, protected by a screening force of four frigates under Commander L. P. Bourke in the Taupo and an example of combined operations protection of the convoy from the air was demonstrated by a R.N.Z.A.F. Catalina flying boat. The call for air assistance was answered by the Catalina which took off from Wellington and dropped depth charges on a supposed submarine shadowing the convoy. As the ships ploughed their way through a southerly swell, they were then attacked by a flight of four Mosquitoes. Under full rudder the convoy and its escorts twisted and turned as they realistically carried out evasive manoeuvres. The four planes jinked and swerved as they dive-bombed and mock torpedo-bombed the cruiser. Best Shot of Day The five ships of the New Zealand squadron yesterday carried out aircraft and submarine firing exercises. The best shot of the day was fired by Able Seaman G. Boyd, of Napier, who controls the forward-power-operated twin Oerlikon on the Bellona’s starboard side.

Able Seaman Boyd had got away over 200 rounds from his weapon in the morning and made the finest shot of any gunner in the fleet with one of his bursts. He ignited a charge swinging beneath a parachute target. Two Mosquito aircraft from No. 75 squadron, Ohakea, dropped dazzling aircraft parachute flares from a height of several thousand feet. These flares were for all onti-aircraft guns of the squadron.

“Chicago Piano” Shoots Well Good shooting was also made by the gun crew of the Bellona's two-pounder pompom or “Chicago piano.” The gun crew is composed of British Royal Marines under the control of the captain of ihe gun, Corporal F. C. A. Grant, of Auckland.

Under the control of Lieut. J. A. Armstrong, the frigates' gunnery officer, an attacking force of two frigates carried out an efficient night attack on the rest of the squadron last night. Approaching in darkness _ with the cruiser and her attendant frigates lit by the setting moon, the attacking force fired star shells over the cruiser. Shells whistled overhead and burst silhouetting the three ships perfectly.