Mine warfare

Minehunting

Active Mine Countermeasure

Minesweeping

Active Mine Countermeasure

What are the two types of Defensive MCM?

Active and Passive

Mine Classification: Delivery Mehtod+A41

Aircraft (offensive, replenish minefields, rapid deployment), Surface Vessels (large capacity and variety, most accurate, greatest risk), Submarines (primarily offensive, covert, limited numbers)

MCM1

Avenger - minehunting, minesweeping, mine neutralization, slow, wood hull,

General precautions

Avoid MDAs and MTAs, watertight integrity,

What are the MCM for Pressure

Bernoulli effect determines pressure signature so a reduction in speed and or and increase in water may reduce pressure signature

Mine Classification: Position Method

Bottom (held in place on seabed by own weight), Moored (anchored to the seabed, set at predetermined depths), Drifting (float freely with wind, tide, and current)

What is the calibration of the vessel's degaussing system called

Check Ranging

Mine Classification: Actuation Method

Contact (oldest and most common), Controlled (used in defensive mine fields, controlled by remote from separate location), Influence (actuated by environmental changes from target's presence: magnetic, acoustic, seismic, pressure)

Combination minesweeping

Counter specific mines with multiple actuation methods - uses acoustic and magnetic minesweeping methods

Passive MCM

Degaussing, Quiet ship, PRAIRIE/Masker Air, Dampening, Tactics,

Precautions against Magnetic Mines

Degaussing, secure cathodic protection, slow speed, secure unnecessary electrical equipment

EOD

Detection, Classification, Identification, neutralization, exploitation - limited by depth, mine type, & environmentals

Mine Classification is made up of what

Final position in water, method of actuation, delivery platform

MH-60S

Knighthawk - mine engagement and neutralization, mine hunting

What are the three types of Passive Defensive MCM?

Locate threat, Localize threat, Reduce platform risk

Mine Countermeasures

MCM incorporates all methods for reducing damage or danger from mines. This includes all offensive (deter or prevent enemy from laying mines) or defensive (reduce the effect of enemy mining) measures, active (minehunting and sweeping) and passive (steps applied to reduce ship vulnerability and susceptibility to mine actuation or explosion)

5 types of degaussing coils

Main, Forecastle, Quarterdeck, Longitudinal, Athwartship

MDA

Mine Danger Area - An area drawn around the position of each discovered mine, providing an initial estimate of the minefield

MILCO

Mine Like Contact - A sonar contact detected and classified as minelike. Determination as to whether the object is a mine or a non-mine can only be done through visual identification by a mine neutralization vehicle (MNV) or a diver.

MILEC

Mine Like Echo - A sonar echo selected as being minelike by sonar operators or automatic processing during the detection phase. A MILEC can be classified as a minelike contact (MILCO) or a non-minelike contact.

MTA

Mine Threat Area - A general term used to indicate an area in which a credible threat exists from enemy mining

What are the three types of Active Defensive MCM?

Minehunting, Minesweeping, neutralization

Mining

Mining includes all methods whereby sea mines or UWIEDs are used to inflict damage on shipping to hinder, disrupt, and deny adversary sea operations.

NOMBO

Non-mine minelike Bottom object - A minelike object classified as a non-mine. The object could be an outcropping, coral reef, or man-made debris which produces a minelike echo (MILEC) on minehunting sonars.

What are the two types of Mine Countermeasure

Offensive and Defensive

What are the three types of Minning?

Offensive, Defensive, Protective

Disadvantages of Mine warfare

Passive weapons, poor intelligence, depth restrictions, dangerous removal

Magnetic Minesweeping

Process of replicating ships magnetic field triggering the mines

PRAIRIE

Propeller Air Internally Emitted

Precautions against Acoustic/Seismic Mines

Quiet ship bill, PRAIRIE/Masker Air, slow speed, transit through deep water

Precautions against Pressure Mines

Remain in deepest water possible, slow speed, minimize speed changes, de-ballast well decks

MH-53E

Sea Dragon - current primary AMCM platform, minesweeping, limited neutralization capability

What are the MCM for Seismic vibrations

There is no special equipment to protect against seismic sensors

Acoustic Minesweeping

Typically used for bottom mines, activated by simulating the vessel's acoustic signature

What are the MCM for acoustic signature

Vibration Dampening systems, Speed avoidance by previously calibrated vessels, Appropriate use of PRAIRIE and Masker systems

Advantages of Mine Warfare

cheep, relatively safe and reduces chances of retaliatory action/pursuit/counter fire, element of surprise, 24hr, psychological effect, multiple delivery methods, preemptive defense

Precautions in a group transit scenario

column formation 2000 yard spacing, Kingfisher equipped lead the column

Protective Minning

limit enemy access to friendly waters

Precautions against Drifting or contact Mines

mine lookouts, aircraft visual search, small object avoidance mode

What are other MCM

reduce speed to reduce vulnerability, minimize and stabilizing movement of machinery

Cathodic Protection Systems

reduces bimetallic corrosion but creates EM fields

Degaussing System

reduces magnetic signature, counteracts vessel's magnetic field, required to be energized whenever ship is underway

Defensive Mining

restricts adversary access, freedom of navigation, **laid in extraterritorial , neutral, or friendly waters

Offensive/Defensive Minning

restricts the movement of surface ships and submarines

Offensive Mining

restricts the movement of surface ships and submarines, makes shipping routs hazardous, deny waterway access, augment military assets

Mine Warfare

the strategic, operational, and tactical employment of naval mines (minning) and MCM

Mk 104 Mod 3

towed by MH-53, acoustic minesweeping