Mine Warfare

Mine Warfare

Naval Weapons Systems

Naval Weapons Systems

Mine Warfare

Mine Warfare

Different than other weapons systems

Target comes to the weapon

Weapons system activated (planted)

without a specific target detected.

Don’t have to be there for it to work.

Can be crude and still be VERY effective

Requires advanced planning

History of Mine Warfare

History of Mine Warfare



Revolutionary War

Revolutionary War

–

Powder keg covered in tar with flintlock

Powder keg covered in tar with flintlock

firing device

firing device



Civil War

Civil War

–

Large scale mining of land and sea

Large scale mining of land and sea



World War II

World War II

–

23,000 mines laid sinking or damaging

23,000 mines laid sinking or damaging

1,075 Japanese ships

1,075 Japanese ships



Vietnam War

Vietnam War

–

Extensive mining of inland waterways

Extensive mining of inland waterways

History of Mine Warfare

History of Mine Warfare



The U.S. had considerably reduced the use

The U.S. had considerably reduced the use

of mines since the end of the cold war

of mines since the end of the cold war



Recent Events

Recent Events

•

USS Samuel B. Roberts

USS Samuel B. Roberts

•

USS Princeton

USS Princeton

•

USS Tripoli

USS Tripoli



Operation Desert Storm

Operation Desert Storm

•

The need for a rapid clearing of shallow water

The need for a rapid clearing of shallow water

minefields were required in preparation for an

minefields were required in preparation for an

amphibious assault.

amphibious assault.

USS Samuel B. Roberts (FFG

USS Samuel B. Roberts (FFG

58)

58)

Iranian M-08 mine

Iranian M-08 mine

USS Tripoli (LPH-11)

USS Tripoli (LPH-11)

MN103 - MANTA

MN103 - MANTA

The Mission Of Mine

The Mission Of Mine

Warfare

Warfare



Detect and Avoid or Eliminate mine

Detect and Avoid or Eliminate mine

threat (Mine Countermeasures (MCM))

threat (Mine Countermeasures (MCM))



“

“

Mining is also a force multiplier in

Mining is also a force multiplier in

today’s and tomorrow’s conflict

today’s and tomorrow’s conflict

scenarios....”

scenarios....”

- Force
2001

Classification of Mines

Classification of Mines



By method of delivery

By method of delivery

•

Air-delivered mines

Air-delivered mines

•

Surface-delivered mines

Surface-delivered mines

•

Submarine-delivered mines

Submarine-delivered mines



By position in the water

By position in the water

after delivery

after delivery

•

Moored mines

Moored mines

•

Bottom mines

Bottom mines

•

Drifting mines

Drifting mines

Classification of Mines

Classification of Mines



By method of

By method of

activation

activation

•

Contact Mines

Contact Mines

•

Influence Mines

Influence Mines

–

Magnetic

Magnetic

–

Acoustic

Acoustic

–

Pressure

Pressure

–

Combination

Combination

Typical Moored Mine

Typical Moored Mine

Magnetometer

Arming
Device

Anchor

Firing System

Components

Mechanism
Section

Explosive
Section

Typical Bottom Mine

Typical Bottom Mine

Spoiler

Tail Fin

Search

Coil

Explosive

Charge

Release

Mechanism

Arming

Device

Firing System

Components

Parachute

Pack

Nose

Fairing

Captor Mine (MK 60)

Captor Mine (MK 60)

* Deep-Water Moored Mine
* Rising Mine
* Targeted Against Submarines

* Delivered by air or subs
* Releases a torpedo after
it detects a sub.

Submarine-Launched

Submarine-Launched

Mobile Mine

Mobile Mine

* Shallow-water bottom mine
* Against Surface ships

* Submarine Delivered
* Self propelled

Minefield Planning

Minefield Planning

Objectives

Objectives

Type of Minefield
Offensive
Defensive
Protective

Environmental Consideration
Geographic location
Water depth
Currents
Bottom type and slope
Prevailing sea state

What type of Mine do I use?

Delivering the Mines

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 & F/A-18)
Surface ships
Submarine (Attack)

How Do I Plant the Mines?

Mine Countermeasures

Mine Countermeasures

(MCM)

(MCM)



Self-Protection

Self-Protection

•

Silencing (protection from acoustic mines)

Silencing (protection from acoustic mines)

•

Degaussing (protection from magnetic mines)

Degaussing (protection from magnetic mines)

•

Steaming slowly (protection from pressure mines)

Steaming slowly (protection from pressure mines)



Clearing/Removing Mines

Clearing/Removing Mines

•

Mine sweeping

Mine sweeping

–

Cut cables then activate to destroy (moored mines)

Cut cables then activate to destroy (moored mines)

–

Use acoustic/magnetic noisemakers to activate

Use acoustic/magnetic noisemakers to activate

•

Mine hunting

Mine hunting

–

Search and neutralize individual mines

Search and neutralize individual mines

–

Use sonar then investigate every possible target

Use sonar then investigate every possible target

.

.

Next Week:

Next Week:

MILITARY EXPLOSIVES/

MILITARY EXPLOSIVES/

WARHEADS I

WARHEADS I

&

&

Final Project Titles

Final Project Titles