Mine WarfareMine Warfare

Mine WarfareMine 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 effectiveRequires advanced planning

History of Mine WarfareHistory of Mine Warfare

Revolutionary WarRevolutionary War• Powder keg covered in tar which hung from a Powder keg covered in tar which hung from a

float ~1776float ~1776 Civil WarCivil War

• Large scale mining of land and seaLarge scale mining of land and sea World War IIWorld War II

• 23,000 mines laid sinking or damaging 1,075 23,000 mines laid sinking or damaging 1,075 Japanese shipsJapanese ships

Vietnam WarVietnam War• Extensive mining of inland waterwaysExtensive mining of inland waterways

HistoryHistory

U.S. has considerably reduced the use of U.S. has considerably reduced the use of mines since the end of the Cold Warmines since the end of the Cold War

Operation Desert StormOperation Desert Storm Need for a rapid clearing of shallow water Need for a rapid clearing of shallow water

minefieldsminefields

U.S. vs. MINESU.S. vs. MINES

What It Takes To Go”Anytime, Anywhere” by Rear Adm. Horne, Proceedings, Jan 1998

What It Takes To Go”Anytime, Anywhere” by Rear Adm. Horne, Proceedings, Jan 1998

USS Tripoli (LPH-10)USS Tripoli (LPH-10)

USS Princeton (CG 59)USS Princeton (CG 59)

““Bad Day at Sea”Bad Day at Sea”

USS Samuel B. Roberts (FFG 58)USS Samuel B. Roberts (FFG 58)

USS Samuel B. RobertsUSS Samuel B. Roberts

Not just ships……Not just ships……

The Mission Of Mine WarfareThe Mission Of Mine Warfare

Detect and Avoid or Eliminate mine threat Detect and Avoid or Eliminate mine threat (Mine Countermeasures (MCM))(Mine Countermeasures (MCM))

““Mining is also a force multiplier in today’s Mining is also a force multiplier in today’s and tomorrow’s conflict scenarios....”and tomorrow’s conflict scenarios....”

- Force 2001

Classification of MinesClassification of Mines

By method of deliveryBy method of delivery Air-delivered minesAir-delivered mines Surface-delivered minesSurface-delivered mines Submarine-delivered minesSubmarine-delivered mines

By position in the water By position in the water after deliveryafter delivery Moored minesMoored mines Bottom minesBottom mines Drifting minesDrifting mines

Classification of MinesClassification of Mines

By method of activationBy method of activation Contact MinesContact Mines Influence MinesInfluence Mines

• Magnetic Magnetic • AcousticAcoustic• PressurePressure• CombinationCombination

Typical Moored MineTypical Moored Mine

Magnetometer

ArmingDevice

Anchor Firing SystemComponents

MechanismSection

ExplosiveSection

Typical Bottom MineTypical Bottom Mine

Spoiler

Tail FinSearchCoil

Explosive Charge

ReleaseMechanism

Arming Device

Firing SystemComponents

ParachutePack

NoseFairing

U.S. MinesU.S. Mines

MK – 56MK – 56 MK – 60 CAPTORMK – 60 CAPTOR

MK 62/63 QuickstrikeMK 62/63 Quickstrike Mk – 67 SLMMMk – 67 SLMM

MK – 56/57MK – 56/57

Oldest ASW Mine still in useOldest ASW Mine still in use Moored mine Moored mine Designed for use against high Designed for use against high

speed and deep-operating subsspeed and deep-operating subs MK–56 – aircraft deliveredMK–56 – aircraft delivered MK–57 – submarine deliveredMK–57 – submarine delivered

MK-60MK-60

Navy’s only deep Navy’s only deep water minewater mine

MooredMoored Releases a Releases a

torpedotorpedo

MK – 62/63MK – 62/63

Shallow waterShallow water Air launchedAir launched Variable TDD (Target Variable TDD (Target

detection device)detection device) Magnetic/seismicMagnetic/seismic Emerging ThreatsEmerging Threats

MK - 67MK - 67

Sub LaunchedSub Launched ““Clandestine Mine”Clandestine Mine”

Shallow waterShallow water Bottom mineBottom mine Subs/surface shipsSubs/surface ships

Improved SLMMImproved SLMM

Minefield Planning ObjectivesMinefield Planning 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 MinesDelivering the Mines

Delivery ConsiderationsType of MinefieldHow many mines neededIs the area defendedWhat type of mines neededHow accurate the placement

Platforms AvailableAircraft (P-3 & S-3)Surface shipsSubmarine (Attack)

How Do I Plant the Mines?

Mine Counter MeasuresMine Counter Measures

Why?Why? Critical to control battlespaceCritical to control battlespace

IncludesIncludes LocateLocate NeutralizeNeutralize ID areas without minesID areas without mines

GoalGoal Avoid or neutralize the threatAvoid or neutralize the threat

• PassivePassive• ActiveActive

Mine Countermeasures (MCM)Mine Countermeasures (MCM) Self-ProtectionSelf-Protection

Silencing – acoustic minesSilencing – acoustic mines Degaussing - magnetic minesDegaussing - magnetic mines Steaming slowly – pressure minesSteaming slowly – pressure mines

Clearing/Removing MinesClearing/Removing Mines Mine sweeping – neutralize large areaMine sweeping – neutralize large area

• Cut cables then activate to destroy (moored mines)Cut cables then activate to destroy (moored mines)

• Use acoustic/magnetic noisemakers to activateUse acoustic/magnetic noisemakers to activate Mine hunting – search and neutralize individual minesMine hunting – search and neutralize individual mines

• Search area for objects that look like minesSearch area for objects that look like mines

• Use sonar then investigate every possible targetUse sonar then investigate every possible target . .

Mine sweepersMine sweepers MCM- Avenger ClassMCM- Avenger Class

Fiberglass-wood constructionFiberglass-wood construction• Wood covered in glass reinforced sheathingWood covered in glass reinforced sheathing

Mine HunterMine Hunter MHC- Osprey ClassMHC- Osprey Class

Coastal Mine hunterCoastal Mine hunter Glass Reinforced Plastic Glass Reinforced Plastic

construction (mono-hull)construction (mono-hull)

Mine sweepersMine sweepers

MH-53E Sea StallionMH-53E Sea Stallion drags sleddrags sled clears magnetic and clears magnetic and

acoustic minesacoustic mines

Mine Hunting TechniquesMine Hunting Techniques VHF Active SonarVHF Active Sonar EODEOD UUVUUV

Navy Seals & Sea LionsNavy Seals & Sea Lions

Navy Whales & DolphinsNavy Whales & Dolphins

Built in Mine Built in Mine HunterHunter

What It Takes To Go”Anytime, Anywhere” by Rear Adm. Horne, Proceedings, Jan 1998

What It Takes To Go”Anytime, Anywhere” by Rear Adm. Horne, Proceedings, Jan 1998

Questions???Questions???