Mine Warfare

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Mine Warfare

• Naval Weapons Systems

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Objectives

• Know the mission of mine warfare.
• Know the meathods of classifying mines.
• Know the basic types of mines in the U.S. Navys
  current inventory.
• Comprehend the factors involved in planning a
  mine field.
• Comprehend the principles of countermeasures.

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Mine Warfare

• Different than other weapons systems
• Target comes to the weapon
• Weapons system activated (planted)
• without a specific target detected.
• Dont have to be there for it to work.
• Can be crude and still be VERY effective
• Requires advanced planning

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History of Mine Warfare

• Revolutionary War
• Powder keg covered in tar with flintlock firing
  device
• Civil War
• Large scale mining of land and sea
• World War II
• 23,000 mines laid sinking or damaging 1,075
  Japanese ships
• Vietnam War
• Extensive mining of inland waterways

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History of Mine Warfare

• The U.S. had considerably reduced the use of
  mines since the end of the cold war
• Recent Events
• USS Samuel B. Roberts
• USS Princeton
• USS Tripoli
• Operation Desert Storm
• The need for a rapid clearing of shallow water
  minefields were required in preparation for an
  amphibious assault.

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The Mission Of Mine Warfare

• Detect and Avoid or Eliminate mine threat (Mine
  Countermeasures (MCM))
• Mining is also a force multiplier in todays and
  tomorrows conflict scenarios....

- Force 2001
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Classification of Mines

• By method of delivery
• Air-delivered mines
• Surface-delivered mines
• Submarine-delivered mines
• By position in the water after delivery
• Moored mines
• Bottom mines
• Drifting mines

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Classification of Mines

• By method of activation
• Contact Mines usually moored
• Influence Mines usually bottom
• Magnetic
• Acoustic
• Pressure
• Combination

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Typical Moored Mine
Arming Device
Magnetometer
Anchor
Explosive Section
Firing System Components
Mechanism Section
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Typical Bottom Mine
Tail Fin
Search Coil
Release Mechanism
Arming Device
Nose Fairing
Parachute Pack
Explosive Charge
Firing System Components
Spoiler
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Mine Types

• Shallow Water Bottom
• MK-36/40/41 Target Surf, Delivery Air
• MK-52/55 Target SurfSub, Delivery Air
• Med-Depth Moored
• MK-56/57 Target Sub, Delivery Air56 Sub57

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Captor Mine (MK 60)
Delivered by air or subs Releases a torpedo
after it detects a sub.
Deep-Water Moored Mine Rising Mine Targeted
Against Submarines
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Submarine-Launched Mobile Mine MK-67
Shallow-water bottom mine Against Surface
ships
Submarine Delivered Self propelled
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Minefield Planning Objectives
Environmental Consideration Geographic
location Water depth Currents
Bottom type and slope Prevailing sea state
Type of Minefield Offensive
Defensive Protective
What type of Mine do I use?
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Delivering the Mines
Delivery Considerations Type of Minefield How
many mines needed Is the area defended What type
of mines needed How accurate the placement
Platforms Available Aircraft (P-3 S-3) Surface
ships Submarine (Attack)
How Do I Plant the Mines?
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Mine Countermeasures (MCM)

• Self-Protection
• Silencing (protection from acoustic mines)
• Degaussing (protection from magnetic mines)
• Steaming slowly (protection from pressure mines)
• Clearing/Removing Mines
• Mine sweeping
• Cut cables then activate to destroy (moored
  mines)
• Use acoustic/magnetic noisemakers to activate
• Mine hunting
• Search and neutralize individual mines
• Use sonar then investigate every possible target.