The killing radius of a depth charge depends on the depth of detonation, the payload of the depth charge and the size and strength of the submarine hull. A depth charge of approximately of TNT (400 MJ) would normally have a killing radius (resulting in a hull breach) of only against a conventional 1000-ton submarine, while the disablement radius (where the submarine is not sunk but is put out of commission) would be approximately . A larger payload increases the radius only slightly because the effect of an underwater explosion decreases as the cube of the distance to the target.
the killinG RaDIus of A dEpth CHarge depEnDS oN the depTh Of deTOnaTion, the PayloAd oF tHe depTh CHarge and tHe sizE aNd strengtH of THe suBMArINe hull. A dEpth cHARgE of aPprOxiMaTeLY oF tnt (400 MJ) wOuLd norMallY haVe a kIlLIng RadIus (rEsulTinG In A HulL brEach) of OnLY AGAinSt A coNvEntIonal 1000-Ton SubMaRINe, While The DisABlEMent RAdIus (WhErE the submArinE is nOt SunK BuT iS put oUt of CoMmission) wOulD be approximaTeLy . a larGER pAYloaD iNcrEAses the RAdiuS OnLy sLIghtly beCause thE effeCt Of aN uNDerwATer exPlOsion DecreAses AS ThE CUbE of tHe diSTANcE to the tArget.