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The hedgehog is a projector-type weapon that throws 24 small projectiles several hundred feet ahead of the attacking vessel. Immediately after entering the water the 32-pound projectiles arm and explode on contact with the U-boat or not until they reach the bottom of the ocean.
The main drawback of the depth charge was that the attacking vessel usually threw the charges blind as the ASDIC done could not detect a U-boat directly underneath. With the Hedgehog the vessel could very often maintain contact until the moment of attack.
The benefits of this type of weapon is that the position of the U-boat is more accurately known and the projectiles do not explode unless they hit something meaning that ASDIC contact is not lost due to massive underwater explosions unless the attack is successful.
Re-loading of a Hedgehog platform
Normally the U-boat did not survive 1-2 direct hits by the Hedgehog, although there are such cases.
The Hedgehog was an effective weapon but was not as thrilling as the escort rushing in dropping depth charges onto the suspected U-boat's position.
The first Hedgehog installation was put onboard the frigate (DE) HMS Bayntun on March 12, 1943.
So successful have the forward throwing projectiles and acoustic torpedoes become that they are the mainstream anti-submarine weapons to this date.