The creeping attack was developed during the Battle of the Atlantic in World War II as an anti submarine measure. It was first used by 36 Escort Group of the Royal Navy after being developed by the Group's commanding officer, Captain "Johnnie" Walker. The advent of more sophisticated ASDIC systems, that held contact close in, and forward-throwing weapons, such as Hedgehog and Squid, also overcame the problems that made the creeping attack necessary, but it remained in use throughout the campaign.