1. Mine Warfare

2. Learning Objectives The student will know the mission of mine warfare.
The student will know the methods of classifying mines.
The student will know the basic types mines in the U.S. Navy's current inventory.
The student will comprehend the factors involved in planning a minefield.
The student will comprehend the principles of mine countermeasures.

3. 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
Mines are different than the weapons systems we have talked about previously.
1. Target comes to the weapons system. Launch platform plant mines and leaves. The mines wait for the target to come within weapons range.
2. It is an ambush type of attack. You plant the weapon’s system and it is activated by the presence a target. Attack could come months or years after the weapons system is planted.
3. A mine does not have to be very sophisticated to work. In fact it can be crude by modern weapon’s standards and still work effectively.
4. In reality, the mine is very much like a terrorist weapon in that it is a political weapon. The fear that the weapon is there is often as effective as the weapon itself. If a choke point is thought to be mined it will disrupt shipping without having to have been activated.
5. There is normally no warning of an attack from mines. Like other weapons you have warnings such as radar returns, seeker radar activation, detect the launch of the weapon or the launch platform.

4. History of Mine Warfare
Revolutionary War
Powder keg covered in tar which hung from a float ~1776
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
Wine warfare is one of the oldest naval weapons systems
Cover Graphic.
Add:
a. Since the beginning of the cold war the US lost interest in mine warfare.
b. Operations in the Persian Gulf illustrated that mines are still an effective
weapons system and we need the capability to lay mines and clear
minefields rapidly
c. Recently damage from mines are: USS Samuel B. Roberts, Princeton
and Tripoli.
- 14 April 1998, USS Samuel B. Roberts(FFG-58) hit a mine planted
by Iran just east of Bahrain. Blew gas turbine engines off mounts,
sent a fireball 150 ft in the air, ignited fires and put a 21 ft hole in hull
flooding two compartments. Keel was broken, took heroic effort to
keep from sinking. $96 million to repair.
- Mine used was an old mine and was previously considered obsolete.
d. Gulf war made it clear that U.S. needed to rethink mine warfare and
counter warfare capability. Mines can easily stop an amphibious
landing.

5. History
U.S. has considerably reduced the use of mines since the end of the Cold War
Operation Desert Storm
Need for a rapid clearing of shallow water minefields

6. U.S. vs. MINES
What It Takes To Go”Anytime, Anywhere” by Rear Adm. Horne, Proceedings, Jan 1998

7. USS Tripoli (LPH-10)

8. USS Princeton (CG 59)

9. “Bad Day at Sea”

10. USS Samuel B. Roberts (FFG 58)

11. USS Samuel B. Roberts

12. Not just ships……

13. The Mission Of Mine Warfare
Detect and Avoid or Eliminate mine threat (Mine Countermeasures (MCM))
“Mining is also a force multiplier in today’s and tomorrow’s conflict scenarios....”
Mission of mine warfare focuses primarily of defensive measures, or mine countermeasures.
However, the Navy DOES have mines in its inventory, and mining IS part of our strategy.
Quote is from page 93 of 1997 edition. This is also a good reference to discuss current developments in mines and MCM’s.
- Force 2001

14. 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
Discuss graphic.
Add: The US does not use drifting mines.
Drifting mines are the mines you heard about in Gulf war.
- seen picture of sailors detonating with rifles
With drift mines you don’t have to go into an area to plant.

15. Classification of Mines
By method of activation
Contact Mines
Influence Mines
Magnetic
Acoustic
Pressure
Combination
1. Third method of categorizing mines is by method of activation.
2. Go over graphic.
3. Add:
a. Contact mines are usually moored mines
b. Influence mines are usually bottom mines.
4. Influence mines can be set so they are somewhat selective.
- has to be a large ship. (pressure setting)
- has to be a military vessels (different acoustic sounds)

16. Typical Moored Mine Arming Device Magnetometer Anchor Explosive
Section
Firing System
Components
Mechanism
Section
Moored mines normally planted in deeper water.
Examples include:
a. Mk-56 Dropped by aircraft targeted against submarines
- Magnetic fusing
b. Mk-57
- Planted by submarines
- Targeted against advanced (second generation Soviet subs)
- Magnetic fusing

17. Typical Bottom Mine Tail Fin Nose Fairing Search Coil Arming Device
Release
Mechanism
Typical Bottom Mines include
a. Destructor series (Mk-36, Mk-40, Mk-41)
- Shallow water, targeted against surface ships
- Dropped from aircraft
- Modified 2,000 & 4,000 lb bombs
Parachute
Pack
Explosive
Charge
Firing System
Components
Spoiler

18. U.S. Mines
MK – 56
MK – 60 CAPTOR
MK 62/63 Quickstrike
Mk – 67 SLMM

19. MK – 56/57 Oldest ASW Mine still in use Moored mine
Designed for use against high speed and deep-operating subs
MK–56 – aircraft delivered
MK–57 – submarine delivered

20. MK-60
Navy’s only deep water mine
Moored
Releases a
torpedo

21. MK – 62/63 Shallow water Air launched
Variable TDD (Target detection device)
Magnetic/seismic
Emerging Threats

22. MK - 67 Sub Launched Shallow water Bottom mine Subs/surface ships
“Clandestine Mine”
Shallow water
Bottom mine
Subs/surface ships

23. Improved SLMM

24. Minefield Planning Objectives
Environmental Consideration
Geographic location
Water depth
Currents
Bottom type and slope
Prevailing sea state
Type of Minefield
Offensive
Defensive
Protective
To effectively use mines requires detailed planning before planting the mines.
First step is determine the type of mine that is needed. To determine that many factors go into the decision.
a. The purpose of the mines - Offensive Defensive or Protective
b. The purpose usually dictates where the mines are placed, provides
input on the type of mine and how many are needed.
c. Where mines are to be placed determines the type of environment the
mines will be in. This location adds to the section of mines
d. Go over Environmental conditions from graphic
Discuss:
How bottom type and slope effect mines.
Don’t want mines breaking loose and drifting into
undesired areas.
What type of Mine do I use?

25. Delivering the Mines How Do I Plant 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)
Go over the Delivery Considerations
Platforms:
1. Aircraft
a. Most suitable for delivery of offensive mines.
b. Can be planted rapidly.
c. Accuracy not highest priority.
d. P-3 and S-3 can lay mines.
2. Surface Ship
a. Traditionally used for laying defensive or protective minefields.
b. Just pushed over the stern.
c. U.S. no longer uses surface ships to plant mines.
3. Submarines
a. For laying mines covertly.
b. For laying mines in well-defended areas.
c. Attack boats are configured to lay mines (shot through torpedo tubes)
How Do I Plant the Mines?

26. Mine Counter Measures Why? Includes Goal
Critical to control battlespace
Includes
Locate
Neutralize
ID areas without mines
Goal
Avoid or neutralize the threat
Passive
Active

27. Mine Countermeasures (MCM)
Self-Protection
Silencing – acoustic mines
Degaussing - magnetic mines
Steaming slowly – pressure mines
Clearing/Removing Mines
Mine sweeping – neutralize large area
Cut cables then activate to destroy (moored mines)
Use acoustic/magnetic noisemakers to activate
Mine hunting – search and neutralize individual mines
Search area for objects that look like mines
Use sonar then investigate every possible target.
To counter the threat of mines:
a. To protect from acoustic mines make the ship run quiet
b. To protect from magnetic mines, minimize the ship’s magnetic field
- Periodically wrap ship in wires and neutralize the magnetic field.
- Process known as degaussing. Must measure ship’s magnetic
signature periodically and monitor it.
c. To protect from pressure or seismic activated mines, steam slowly.
Can remove mines. To do this involves finding the mines and destroying them
by detonating them safely.
a. Mine Sweeping is done to neutralize a large area.
b. Sweeping for moored mines involves cutting the mooring cable and
letting mines float to the surface where they are destroyed.
c. Acoustic and Magnetic mines are detonated by dragging noisemakers
through the water which causes the mines to detonate.
Mine hunting is way to find mines. Usually done with sonar, then sent individually to investigate any possible target. Could be a refrigerator or other junk
Add: U.S. has detailed bottom survey of harbors so if suspected they are mined and easily identify new objects.

28. Mine sweepers MCM- Avenger Class Fiberglass-wood construction
Wood covered in glass reinforced sheathing
General Characteristics, Avenger class Builders: Peterson Shipbuilders, Sturgeon Bay, Wis.; Marinette Marine, Marinette, Wis. Power Plant: Four diesels (600 horsepower each), two shafts with controllable pitch propellers Length: 224 feet (68.28 meters) Beam: 39 feet (11.89 meters) Displacement: 1,312 tons (1,180.8 metric tons) full load Speed: 14 knots (16.1 mph, kmph)

29. Mine Hunter MHC- Osprey Class Coastal Mine hunter
Glass Reinforced Plastic construction (mono-hull)
USS PELICAN (MHC 53)
Characteristics   Displacement                  895 Metric Tons   Length                             188 Feet   Beam                               36 Feet   Maximum Speed            In excess of 10 knots   Propulsion                       2 a- magnetic, 800 hp diesel engines                                           2 Voith-Schneinder Cyclodial Propellers   Combat Systems            AN/SLQ-48 Mine Neutralization System                                           AN/SQQ-32 Mine Hunting Sonar                                           AN/SYQ-13 Navigation, Command and Control   Complement                   officers, 46 enlisted

30. Mine sweepers MH-53E Sea Stallion drags sled
clears magnetic and acoustic mines
MH-53E Sea Dragon
Description: The MH-53E is used primarily for Airborne Mine Countermeasures (AMCM), with a secondary mission of shipboard delivery.
Background: The MH-53E was derived from the CH-53E Super Stallion and is heavier and has a greater fuel capacity than its ancestor. The MH-53s can operate from carriers and other warships. Sea Dragon is capable of carrying up to 55 troops or a 16-ton payload 50 nautical miles or a 10-ton payload 500 nautical miles. The MH-53E is capable of towing a variety of mine-sweeping countermeasures systems, including the Mk 105 minesweeping sled, the AQS-14 side-scan sonar, and the Mk 103 mechanical minesweeping system.
Point of Contact: Navy: Commander Naval Air Systems Command Office of Public Affairs Liljencrantz Road Patuxent River, MD (301)
General Characteristics
Contractor: Sikorsky Aircraft Division of United Technologies Corp. Propulsion: Three General Electric T64-GE-416 turboshaft engines (4,380 shaft horsepower each) Length: Fuselage: 73 feet 4 inches (22.34 meters)
Overall: 99 feet (30.18 meters) Height: 28 feet 4 inches (8.63 meters) Weight: 21 tons (max gross) (18.9 metric tons) Main Rotor Diameter: 72 feet 3 inches (21.7 meters) Range: 1,120 nautical miles (1,289 statute miles, 1802 km) Ceiling: 27,900 feet Speed: 150 knots (172 miles per hour, 241 km per hour) Crew: Two pilots, one to six aircrewman, depending on mission Armament: None Date deployed: 1983; replaced last of CH-53E in 1994

31. Mine Hunting Techniques
VHF Active Sonar
EOD
UUV

32. Navy Seals & Sea Lions

33. Navy Whales & Dolphins

34. The Future - Near Term Mine Reconnaissance System

35. Built in Mine Hunter
What It Takes To Go”Anytime, Anywhere” by Rear Adm. Horne, Proceedings, Jan 1998

36. Questions???