[Boatanchors] Foxer and Unifoxer, Acoustic decoys.

[William L Howard]

Someone wanted to know about sonobouys. Here is some information.
Bill Howard

Subject: Foxer and Unifoxer, Acoustic decoys.


Would the List be interested to see a slightly sub-edited correspondence
current on another list? (Maritime History. MARHST-L@post.queensu.ca):-
 1. Has anyone an illustration of the RN's Foxer or Unifoxer acoustic
decoys?
A WW2 veteran denies that the device on this web page is a Foxer, and I
agree that it does not match text descriptions of it:
http://www.de220.com/Armament/Decoys/Decoys.htm
Might this device be a Unifoxer?
2. From: Bill Schleihauf  william@cae.com
The "foxer" shown about 1/2 down that web page looks rather a lot like
an
ordinary smoke float.  I'm not sure where you can find a real FOXER
piccie,
but the website for HMCS SACKVILLE should have some pictures of her
quarter
deck, on which is a reconstructed/replica CAT-
http://www.hmcssackville-cnmt.ns.ca/
3. From: Bob Nicholls <bobnich@BIGPOND.NET.AU>
If an elderly salt horse may contribute - my memory tells me that that
the device was known as the PNM - Pipe Noise Maker - and its code name
was Foxer.
It was for all the world like a primitive harrow in configuration. Try
and imagine a framework about the size of an iron bed head about five
feet long. The transverse bars were enclosed with pipes of a somewhat
larger diameter which were very loosely - fitting. The whole device,
which was noisy enough when on the quarterdeck with all the rattling of
the ironmongery, was streamed astern with the bars at right angles to
the ship on a wire of perhaps a couple of hundred yards in length.
Streaming had to take into account the fact that with the beast rattling
away, it quite masked any asdic echoes from quarter through stern to
quarter.
Two or more could be streamed and it came in larger sizes.
Trust that my description may arouse some memories in someone who can
describe the device more accurately. yours aye  Bob Nicholls
4. From: John Guard <jguard@BTINTER
I agree Bob Nichols excellent description of the Foxer, with two minor
comments; There were various models and some of the earlier ones were
very
much more simple; I think the length of tow was somewhat less than the
cable
or so he implies. As he says, their main problem was interference to own
and
consorts' asdic. Also the speed of tow was limited, too fast and they
tended
to break adrift or skate ineffectively near or on the surface.
The story of finding an effective countermeasure to the magnetic mine in
a
remarkably short time after its appearance out of the blue is well
known.
Much less well known is the finding an antidote to the acoustic torpedo
when
it similarly appeared - and in this case the equipment was of remarkable
simplicity and could be made for next to nothing by any blacksmith. Pure
genius.
5. From:Bob Todd I almost agree with Bill.  The object on top of the
depth charge rack is a standard issue smoke generator as fitted to
nearly all escorts in the Royal
Navy and Royal Canadian Navy in the Second World War.  Most  carried two
or
four of these generators but photographs of the corvette SNOWBERRY in
1943
show her with six of them.  They were often stowed on top of the DC
racks to
keep valuable quarter deck space free for rapid handling of the DCs.
These
generators were not floats; if dropped over the side they would sink.