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UnitedStatesofAmericaMines

Updated18September2014

Information.

EarlyHistory

Possiblythefirstwatermineintheworldwithatargetfiredtrigger(asopposedtoearlieroneswhichhadsimple,slowburningfuzes)wasinventedbyDavidBushnell,themanwhoismostfamousforinventingaonemansubmersible,theTurtle.LiketheTurtle,theseseamineswereunsuccessfulwhentheywereusedagainsttheBritishfleetinPhiladelphiaduringJanuary1778,althoughtheresulting"BattleoftheKegs"didcauseafewcasualtiesandinspiredawellknownRevolutionaryWarpoem.

Formostofthe19thcenturytheUSArmywasresponsibleforthedevelopmentanduseofmines,asmineswereconsideredtobedefensiveweaponsthatwereusefulforprotectingharborsandcoastalwaters.TheConfederateNavyusedmines,ortorpedoes,astheywerethencalled,quiteextensivelyduringtheAmericanCivilWar,andsankapproximately27Federalvesselsanddamagedmanymore.Bycomparison,onlynineFederalvesselsweresunkbygunfire.ManydifferentkindsofmineswereusedbytheConfederates,withoneofthemosteffectivebeingtheframetorpedo,whichwasalargenosefuzedartilleryshellthatwasmountedonawoodenframeandlocatedwhereashipmightstrikeit.

Notuntillateinthe19thcenturydidtheNavystarttotakeanyinterestintheseweapons,butnonewereusedduringtheSpanishAmericanWarof1898anditwasnotuntiltheRussoJapaneseWarof1905thatthisinterestbecameserious.Duringthatwar,bothImperialRussiaandJapanhadsomesuccesswiththeirnavalmines,whichpromptedtheUSNavytoaskCongressforfundsforaminedepotship.TheoldcruiserUSSSanFrancisco(C5)wasconvertedin1912andshebecamethefirstminewarfareshipintheUSNavy.

ThefirstminesprocuredbytheNavywereoriginallycalled"NavalDefenseMines"andwereeitherpurchasedfromEuropeanpowersorwerecopiesofEuropeandesigns.ProgressonmineswasconsideredsatisfactorypriortothestartofWorldWarI,butwiththeUSentryintothewaritwasdiscoveredthatBritishminesofthesamegeneraltypeshadprovedunreliable.BureauofOrdnancereportsof1917declaredthatthestatusofminingintheUSNwiththeseNavalDefenseMineswas"veryunsatisfactory"andrecommendeddevelopmentofnewtypes,whichledtotheMark5contactmineandtheMark6antennamine.

TheseNavalDefenseMineswerealldeclaredobsoletein1930andremovedfrominventory.Noneofthesedesignswereverysuccessful,soperhapsitissurprisingthatittooksolongtotakethemoutofservice.

TriggeringandFuzes

ThefirstUSAdesignedmine,theMark5,wasofthe"Horned"type.Hornsweremadeofsoftmetalsuchasleadandheldaglassampoulecontainingbatteryacid,usuallypotassiumbichromate.Thelowerendofthehorncontainedanelectricbatteryminustheelectrolyte.Contactwiththehornbrokeopentheacidcontainer,energizingthebatterywhichthenheatedaplatinumwireinamercuryfulminatedetonator,thusexplodingthemine.Bydefinition,thiswasaweaponwithlimitedrangeandfieldsneededtobedenselypackedinorderforittobeeffectiveagainstshipping.However,suchcloselaidfieldsrantheriskofoneminesettingoffadjacentminesasfraternalkills.

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The"Kpistol"oftheMark6usedacopperantennawhichextendedupwardstojustbelowthesurface.Thiswasconnectedbyarelaytoacopperplateontheoutsideofthemine.Seawateractedastheelectrolyteofabatterywhichwouldbeformedwhenashipwithasteelhullapproachedandtouchedtheantenna.Thecurrentrunningdowntheantennaoperatedtherelayandexplodedthemine.Thismethodallowedeachminetocoverawiderarea,meaningthatfewerminescouldbeusedtocoveragivenareathanwiththehorntype.Inmodernterms,the"K"deviceexploitedtheUnderwaterElectricPotential(UEP)effect.

Magnetictriggerswereoriginallyonlyusedonground(bottom)mines.Thisisbecause,iftheyweremoored,thechangingofthemagneticfieldastheyroseandfellwiththetidewouldsetthemoff.NeartheendofWorldWarII,atriggerthatmeasuredthetotalfieldaroundtheminewasdeveloped.Thisdeviceaddedupthefieldsinsuchawaythatthetidesdidnotaffectit.

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Acousticminesmeasuresoundofcertainfrequencies,usuallythoseofpropeller,engineandsonarnoises.

Pressuredetectorfuzesmeasurethepressurewavecreatedbyashipmovingthroughthewater.TheseweresimultaneouslydevelopedbybothGermanyandtheUSAduringWorldWarII,butbothheldoffdeployingthemforfearthatthetechnologywouldbecapturedbytheotherside.TheywerefirstusedincombatofftheNormandybeachesandwereheavilyusedagainsttheJapanesehomeislandsneartheendofthewar.

MinelayersofWorldWarII

Mineoutfitsasgivenin"USWarshipsofWorldWarII"byPaulSilverman.Othersourcesdiffer,butIbelievethatthesearethe"official"numbers.

USSTerrorCM5carried800minesUSSGambleDM15class(exflushdeckers)carried80minesUSSRobertH.SmithDM23class(exAllenSumners)carried100minesUSSArgonautSS166carried80mines

TherewerealsosomeexmercantilesandformerArmy"mineplanters"listed,butnomineoutfitnumbersaregivenfortheseships.However,USSSalemCM11isrecordedashavinglaid202minesoffCasablancaon27and28December1942.USSArgonautSS166wasconvertedtoatransportsubmarineimmediatelyfollowingtheattackonPearlHarborandapparentlyneverlaidamineundercombatconditions.

Thewidelyusedandlonglived(1917toca.1985)Mark6"Kpistol"minewasrelativelyeasytodeployanddidnotrequirespecializedminelayers.SeethepicturebelowofUSSUteATF6(atug)beingusedtolaunchoneofthesemines.ThiseaseofusebynonspecializedmineshipsisoneofthereasonsthatthereweresofewdedicatedminelayersintheUSNandwhymanyofthesmallercoastalminelayerswereconvertedforotherduties.

Conventionalsubmarineswerealsousedasminelayers.In1943,theycouldcarryelevenMark10orMark12minesinplaceofthreetorpedoesandmanyminiminefieldswerelaidasaresult,somequiteeffectively.ButthemostcommonminelayersduringWorldWarIIwereaircraft.

AfterWorldWarII,aircrafthavebeenthepredominantUSminelayers,asshowninthetablesbelow.Thereareafewsubmarinelaunchedminesintheinventory,withatleastonenewone,ISLMM(seebelow)currentlyunderdevelopment.

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MiningduringWorldWarIandWorldWarII.

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USMinelayersintheNorthSeain1918U.S.NavalHistoricalCenterPhotograph#NH41736

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MapoftheNorthSeaMineBarrageFrom"TheVictoryatSea"byW.S.Sims

MiningduringWorldWarI

UnitedStatesshipsplanted56,611minesandtheBritishlaidanadditional16,300aspartoftheNorthSeaMineBarrage.ThesesankatleastsixUboatsanddamagedanotherhalfdozenseriouslyenoughthattheywereforcedtoreturntobase.Ithasbeensuggestedthatthecost/benefitratiooftheBarragewasgrosslyinfavoroftheGermans.

MiningduringWorldWarII

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On7December1941thetotalsupplyofminesinstockwasapproximatelyasfollows:

ArmyControlledMineforHarborDefenseMoored:5,000NavyMark5MooredHertzHorn:2,000NavyMark6MooredAntenna:59,000NavyMark10MooredHertzHorn(plantedfrom21inchtorpedotube):1,200NavyMark11MooredAntenna(plantedfrom40inchtubeUSSArgonaut):200NavyMark12GroundMagnetic(plantedfrom21inchtube):600NavyMark12GroundMagnetic(plantedbyaircraft):200

Asfarasisknown,noenemyshipwassunkbytheapproximately20,000minesusedindefensiveminefieldsplacedinUSwaters.

USsubmarinesplantedatotalof576Mark12minesand82Mark10minesin36fields.Ofthese,421minesplantedin21ofthefieldssank27shipsofabout63,000tonsanddamaged27moreofapproximately120,000tons.SeeUSSubmarineMiningSuccessforotherinformation.

AvengerandVenturaaircraftcouldcarryasinglemineandin1944AvengersclosedPalauharborbyminingtheentrances.Theythensankall32shipsintheharborwithconventionalbombsandtorpedoes.Atotalofapproximately100shipsweresunkorbadlydamagedinthePacificduringthewarbymineslaidbyNavyaircraft.

By1945,theArmyAirForcewasdevotingconsiderableresourcestotheminingrole,with80to100B29sbasedatTinianbeingusedtominethehomewatersaroundJapan.TheseB29scouldcarryseven2,000lbs.(907kg).ortwelve1,000lbs.(454kg)mines.StartinginMarch1945andcontinuinguntilearlyAugust,4,900magnetic,3,500acoustic,2,900pressureand700lowfrequencymineswerelaid.Theseminessank294shipsoutright,damagedanother137beyondrepairanddamagedafurther239thatcouldberepaired.Incargotonnage,thetotalwas1.4milliontonswhichwasabout75%oftheshippingavailableinMarch1945.

BetweenJanuaryandMarch1945,B29salsoclosedtheapproachestoSingapore,SaigonandCamranhBayharborsbymagneticmining.

ThefollowingtableshowsthequantitiesofminesplantedunderUSCommandduringWorldWarII.

PlantingCraft MakeofMine TypeofMine

UnitedStates British Contact Magnetic Acoustic PressureMagnetic Total

Army,US 7,320 3,569 3,751 7,320USNavy,Defensive 18,884 18,884 18,884USNavy,Offensive 2,871 2,859 12 2,871USNavy,Aircraft 662 575 54 33 662USArmy,OuterZone 1,665 182 268 1,397 182 1,847RAAF 1,944 554 2,129 369 2,498RAF 2,228 1,007 3,235 3,235RNAAF 3 3 3AAF,InnerZone 12,135 4,921 4,255 2,959 12,135

Total 47,712 1,743 25,580 16,011 4,872 2,992 49,455.

PreWorldWarI.

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ThesemaybeNavalBlockadeMinesonanunidentifiedUSwarshipabout1909Captionreads"MinesReadyforDrill"

U.S.NavalHistoricalCenterPhotograph#NHNH101471NavalBlockadeMine(NoMarkNumber)Designationassigned1905.Sphericalmooredmine43inches(109cm)indiameter.Usedaninertialexploderofthependulumtype.Totalweight1,265lbs.(574kg)withachargeof250lbs.(113kg)ofwetguncotton.Mark1Sphericalmine34inches(86cm)indiameter.Usedaninertialpistol.

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Mark2MineMark2DesignedbytheFrenchfirmSauterHarle.Sphericalminewithachargeofabout175lbs.(79kg)ofwetguncotton.Usedcontactinertialexploder.Inserviceabout1909.

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Mark3MineMark3BritishVickersdesign.Sphericalmineabout30inches(76cm)indiameterwitha120lbs.(54kg)TNTburster.Usedaprotrudingfloatmadeofcork,3feet(0.91m)long,forinertiaignitioncontactwithashipmadetheminerotaterelativetothefloat.Launchedfromtrolleyrails.Productionstartedaround1915andby1917thePortsmouthNavyYardwasmanufacturing140oftheseperweekwithplanstorampupproductionto500perweek.Mark4SimilartotheMark3butlarger,33inches(84cm)indiameterwitha250lbs.(113kg)TNTburster.

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WorldWarI.

Mark5FirstUSAdesignedmine.MooredtypewithHertzhorns.StillinuseduringWorldWarII.1,700lbs.(771kg)totalweight,chargeof500lbs.(227kg)TNT.

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Mark6Mine

Mark6mineaboardUSSBaltimoreCM1about1920U.S.NavalHistoricalCenterPhotograph#NH56330

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Mark6mineShownbeinglaunchedfromUSSUteATF76inPhilippinewatersin1978

Mark6SphericalantennatypeusingaKtypepistol,34inches(87cm)indiameter.ThisminewasdesignedspecificallyfortheNorthSeaMineBarrageofWorldWarI.However,asshownabove,itwasstillbeingusedoperationallyaslateas1978.On17October1917,theSecretaryoftheNavyauthorizedtheconstructionof100,000minesofthistypeatacostof$40,000,000(40milliondollars).Bytheearlysummer,thesewerebeingproducedatarateof1,000adaywithapeakof1,500beingproducedinone24hourperiod.Inordertosupportthisrateofmanufacture,theNavybuiltitsownTNTfactoryatSt.Julien'sCreek,Virginia,capableofproducing300,000lbs.(136,000kg)ofTNTperday.

TheMark6wasverysuccessfulandremainedinUSinventoriesuntilabout1985,makingittheUSA'slongestlivedmine.1,400lbs.(635kg)total,chargeof300lbs.(136kg)TNT.Couldbemooredinwatersupto3,000feet(914m)deep.Threesafetydeviceswereemployed,oneatimedelay,oneahydrostaticwhichheldaswitchopenuntiltheminehadsunkseveralfeetunderwaterandthethirdtokeeptheexplosivestepsopenuntiltheminehadreachedaconsiderabledepth.Mod2wasarisingtype,Mod3hadaMark9casewitha100foot(30m)lowerantenna.Mod4hadaMark6casewitha50foot(15m)lowerantenna.AllofthesehadafewHertz(acid)hornsasabackupfiringmechanism.EarlyunitsusedintheNorthSeaBarragehadreliabilityproblems,with4to8percentfiringshortlyafterbeingplanted.Mark7Originally,thisdesignationwasassignedtoamooredmagneticminewhichwasnotdeveloped.Later,itwasassignedtoDriftingMineMark7,whichwasbasedontheKtypepistoloftheMark6.943lbs.(427kg)total,chargeof525lbs.(238kg)TNT.Mod1wasanoscillatingmine.Mark8Surfaceshiplaunchedacousticmine,notinservice.Mark9SimilartoMark6withaverysensitivedetonator.Notinservice.

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BetweentheWars.

Mark10Mooredcontactmineforfiringfrom21inch(53.3cm)torpedotubes.Thisprojectwasstartedin1921,haltedforatime,andthenresumed.1,760lbs.(798kg)total,chargeof300lbs.(136kg).Mod1wascontactfired,Mod2wascancelled,Mod3wasmagneticandweighed1,800lbs.(816kg)withachargeof420lbs.(190kg)ofTNT.Mod5wasanaircraftdroppedversionofMod2,cancelled.Mod6and8wereparachuteversionsofMod3andwerereplacedbyMod9,alloftheseweighed1,850lbs.(839kg)withachargeof420lbs.(190kg)ofTNT.Mod7wasMod3modified

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forPTboatlaunch.Mod11wasamooredcontactminespecificallydevelopedfortheUSSArgonautSS475andweighed1,900lbs.(862kg)withachargeof500lbs.(227kg)TNT.

Mark11MineMark11KtypepistolminespecificallydevelopedfortheUSSArgonautSS475andweighed1,875lbs.(850kg)withachargeof500lbs.(227kg)TNT.Argonauthadspecial40inch(102cm)tubesforlaunchingtheseminesandcouldcarry65to70.However,sheneverlaidanyoftheseduringthewar,asshewasredesignedearlyin1942asacargocarrierandwassunkin1943bytheJapanese.Mark12Submarinelaunchedmine.Cylindricalwithanaluminumcase,thisminewasdevelopedinthe1920sfromGermanStypemines.Dimensionswere20.8Dx94.25Linches(52.8x239.4cm).Weighed1,445lbs.(655kg)witha1,100lbs.(499kg)TNTchargeor1,595lbs.(723kg)witha1,250lbs.(567kg)Torpexcharge.Mod1wasparachutemine,Mod3wasasubmarinetypeandMod4wasareplacementforMod1.SomeoftheseminesweredeliveredtoManilajustbeforethestartofWorldWarII.Theyweredroppedintodeepwatertopreventcapture.

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WorldWarII.

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AircraftMinesMark13andMark19Mark13Airdroppedminewithmagneticpistol.Didnotuseaparachuteandcouldbeusedasabomb.1,048lbs.(475kg)totalwithachargeof640lbs.(290kg)TNTor1,118lbs.(507kg)totalwithachargeof710lbs.(322kg)Torpex.Mark14AirdroppedminewithKpistol.Notinservice.Mark15Airdroppedgroundminewithacousticpistol.900lbs.(408kg)totalwithachargeof500lbs.(227kg)TNT.19x80inches(48x203cm).Productionstoppedin1944.Mark16NewantennamineintendedtoreplacetheMark6.Total2,040lbs.(925kg)withachargeof600lbs.(272kg)Torpex.Mod2wasanacousticmine.Mark17Submarinelaidgroundminewithmagnetictriggering.Notclearifthiswasactuallyinserviceduringthewar.Total1,825lbs.(828kg)withachargeof1,375lbs.(624kg)Torpex.Mod1becametheMark25.Mark18Asensitivemagneticfuzedgroundminelaidbysurfaceships.Total2,040lbs.(925kg)withachargeof1,350lbs.(612kg)Torpex.Mark19Drifting,oscillatingminelaidbyArmyaircraftwithaC4mechanism.Mod2wasforNavyuse.Total550lbs.(249kg)withachargeof190lbs.(86kg)Torpex.Mark20Controlledmine(triggeredfromshore,coastaldefensetype).Total435lbs.(197kg)withachargeof300lbs.(136kg)TNT(?).Mark21Anassemblyofsealedmechanismsforusewithvariousexplosivecharges.Magneticfuzed,totalweightof27lbs.(12kg).Mark22DefensivegroundmagneticminerequestedbytheMarinesforislanddefense.AbandonedduetochangingcircumstancesandstoppedbytheCNOin1944.UsedanM8mechanism.Total425lbs.(193kg)withachargeof160lbs.(73kg)TNT.

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Mark23Antisweepmine.Anchoredwithamooredfloatandasmallexplosivecharge.Total1,125lbs.(510kg)witha2lbs.(0.9kg)charge(notamisprint).Inservice1944.

Note:Antisweepminesareusuallyscatteredinaminefieldalongwithnormalmooredmines.Antisweepminesaredesignedtohaveaverysmallpositivebuoyancy.Whenthewireofaminesweeperhitsthemooringwireoftheantisweepmine,theantisweepminewillsinkdownuntilithitsthesweepwire.Theantisweepminewillthendetonateandcutthesweepingwire,thusendingthesweepingoperation.Mark24HomingASWtorpedoalsoknownas"Fido."SeetheMark24underUSAWorldWarIITorpedoesfordetails.

Mark25Mod2minesAD2SkyraideratPatuxentRiverin1949

Mark25Aircraftlaidmagneticmine.Mod1hadA5acoustictrigger,Mod2hadA6pressuretriggerandMod3alsohadanacoustictrigger.Dependingupontheflightgear,thesewere22.4Dx87.293Linches(56.9Dx221.5236Lcm)andweighed1,9502,000lbs.(885907kg)withachargeof1,274lbs.(578kg)Torpex,HBXorTNT.Mark26Aircraftlaidmagneticmine.Itisnotclearhowmuchthesewereusedduringthewar.Total1,0001,072lbs.(454486kg)withachargeof465lbs.(211kg)TNTor520lbs.(236kg)Torpex.Mark27Submarinelaunchedmobilegroundmine.21Dx246Linches(53Dx625cm).Range4,500yards(4,100m)at10.5knots.Chargeof877lbs.(398kg)Torpex.Mark28Sabotagemine.Designnotfinished.Total10lbs.(4.5kg)withachargeof5lbs.(2.2kg).Mark29Anexplosivefilledtowedhoseintendedformerchantvessels.About400feet(122m)long.Mark30SimilartoMark24butlaunchedbysurfaceships.Projectcancelled.Mark31Mooredminecontainingatorpedo.SimilartotheMark28Torpedo(seedetailsintheUSAPostWorldWarIITorpedosection).

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Mark32BecameMark32Torpedo.SeedetailsintheUSAPostWorldWarIITorpedosection.Mark33BecameMark33Torpedo.SeedetailsintheUSAPostWorldWarIITorpedosection.Mark34AnavalizedversionoftheUSArmyBangaloreTorpedo.Wasamooredminelaunchedbysmallcraft.Usedacontactexploder.Total22lbs.(10kg)witha9lbs.(4kg)amatolcharge.Failedacceptancetestingandwasnotadoptedforserviceuse.Mark35Landmineforrailroadsabotage.Apparentlydevelopedforspecialoperationsusein1945thesubmarineUSSBarbSS220landedsaboteurswhoblewupaJapanesetrain.

Mark36MineMountedonanA7in1966

Mark36AnimprovedMark26Mod1withalargerexplosivechargeandaslantednoseforimprovedunderwatertrajectories.Total1,024lbs.(464.5kg)withTNTchargeof570lbs.(258.5kg)or1,082lbs.(490.8kg)withTorpexchargeof638lbs.(289.4kg).MagneticfuzedusingaMM2exploder.Basicversionwasacoustic,Mods2wasalowfrequencyacousticandMod3waspressureactivated.Mark37SimilartotheMark20butusedaMark7Mod0depthchargecasing.Shorecontrolleddefensivemine.Total738lbs.(335kg)witha600lbs.(272kg)TNTcharge.InserviceSeptember1944.Mark38UniversalASWtorpedo.Nodetailsavailable.Mark39Anaircraftlaunchedmagneticmine.Couldbedroppedfromahighaltitudewithoutaparachute.Totalweightof2,000lbs.(907kg)witha800lbs.(363kg)TNTcharge.Maynothavebeeninserviceuntilafterthewar.Mark40PracticemineforMark25.Constructedfromempty100lbs.(45kg)practicebombs.Mark41Practicemineforairlaunch.Simulatinga1,000lbs.(454kg)minewithparachutesuchastheMark26.Marks42and43Cancelled,nodataavailable.Mark44BecametheMark34Torpedo.SeedetailsintheUSAPostWorldWarIITorpedosection.Mark45Nodataavailable.Mark46Oscillatingcontactmine,similartotheMark19.Nodataavailable.Mark47Smallmooredordriftingcontactminelaunchedbysmallboats.CancelledApril1945.Mark48Mark27typesubmarinelaunchedbottommine.Couldbeusedasatorpedo.

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PostWorldWarII.

VariousPostWorldWarIIMinesMark49Submarinelaunched2,000lbs.(907kg)mine.21Dx120Linches(53.3Dx305Lcm).Couldalsobeairlaunched.

Mark50Mine

Mark50Aircraftlaunchedacousticgroundmine.SizeofMark82500lbs.(227kg)bomb.Mark51Controlledmineforharbordefense.

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Mark52MineMark521,000lbs.(454kg)groundmineofnewdesignseries.Mod1acousticfuzed,Mod2magnetic,Mod3combinedpressureandmagnetic,Mod4wasnotissued,Mod5combinedacousticandmagnetic,Mod6combinedacoustic,magneticandpressure.Allvariantsare18.8Dx70.2Linches(48x178cm).Weightsarerespectively1,130lbs.(513kg),1,170lbs.(531kg),1,190lbs.(540kg),1,200lbs.(544kg)and1,235lbs.(560kg).Chargeforallwas625lbs.(284kg)HBX1.AllModsuseidenticalminecasesandremovableinstrumentrackssothatthefiringassembliescanbestoredapartfromtheexplosives.

Mark53MineMark53500lbs.(227kg)sweepobstructor.Mark54Noinformationavailable.

Mark55Mine

Mark55MinesonanA7aboardtheUSSCoralSeaCVA43TheseminesweredroppedaspartoftheHaiphongHarborminingof1972

Mark55Airlaunched2,000lbs.(907kg)classbottommine.23.4Dx89.9Linches(59Dx228Lcm).Mods1through6correspondtoMark52Mods1through6exceptfortheweight.Mod7isuniquetotheMark55andusedanimproveddualchannelmagneticfiringmechanism.Weightswererespectively2,039lbs.(925kg),2,110lbs.(957kg),2,120lbs.(962kg),2,119lbs.(961kg),2,128lbs.(965kg)and2,118lbs.(961kg).

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Mark56Mine

AttachingthewarheadtoaMark56MooredMinewhileotherSailorsinprotectivesuitsworkwiththechemicalsintheanchorsectionofthedevice

U.S.NavyPhotograph040324N7293M104Mark56Airlaunched2,000lbs.(907kg)classmooredmine.22.4Dx114.3Linches(56Dx290Lcm).Actualweight2,135lbs.(968kg)withachargeof360lbs.(163kg)HBX3.Firstdeployedin1966andstillactiveasof2001.SimilartothesubmarinelaunchedMark57.Usesa"TotalField"magneticexploder.Mark57Submarinelaunchedmagneticmooredmine.21Dx121.1Linches(53Dx308Lcm).Weight2,059lbs.(934kg)withachargeof340lbs.(154kg)ofHBX3.Canbeminedinwaterupto200fathomsdeep.Fiberglasscasewithasteelanchor.Mark58Airlaunchedbottommine.Apparentlynotapprovedforserviceuse.Evaluatedin1962.Mark59Mooredmine800lbs.(363kg)withachargeof70lbs.(32kg).Mod2was1,500lbs.(680kg)with100lbs.(45kg)charge.

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Mark60CAPTORMinewithMark46TorpedoPhotographcourtesyofGoodyearCorporation

Mark60CAPTORMinebeingreadiedforloadingontoaB52GinNovember1989U.S.A.F.PhotographNo.DFST9011649

Mark60CAPTOR(encapsulatedtorpedomine).UsesMark46Mod4torpedowithaluminumcase.Canbelaunchedbyaircraft,surfaceshipsorsubmarines.UsesReliableAcousticPath(RAP)soundpropagationmethodtodetecttargetshipsanddesignedtobeusedindeepwater.Firstdeployedin1979andstillactiveasof2001.

Dimensions:Aircraft/Shiplaid:21x145inches(53x368cm)(includeslengthofparachute)Submarinelaid:21inchesx132inches(53x335cm)

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Weight:Air/Shiplaid:2,370lbs.(1,077kg)Submarinelaid:2,056lbs.(935kg).EX61Advancedmodularwarhead500lbs.(227kg).SupersededDestructorEX41.

LoadingMark62minesaboardaP3COrionPatrolAircraftinJuly2004U.S.NavyPhotograph040705N1050K001

Mark62ConversionofMark82[500lbs.(227kg)]bomb.SupersededDestructorEX52.Marks62,63and64areknownasthe"Quickstrike"seriesandhaveavariableinfluencetargetdesignationsystemthatcanbeusedagainsteitherlandorseatargets.Quickstrikewasconceivedasanewseriesofgroundmines,replacingtheonesthathadbecomecompromisedasaresultoftheVietnamWar.Thesenewminesusethesamedesignconceptasdo"smart"bombs,thatis,theyaresimpleboltonadditionstoastandardairdroppedbomb.Quickstrike'sdesignemphasizeseaseofmaintenanceandeaseofminepreparationforuse.Forexample,theolderminesrequiredrefrigerationoftheirbatteriestoprolonglife,theQuickstrikesdonot.

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Mark63"Quickstrike"MineUSSJohnC.Stennis(CVN74)inNovember2003

U.S.NavyPhotograph031104N1573O036Mark63ConversionofMark83[1,000lbs.(454kg)]bomb.SupersededDestructorEX53.Mark64ConversionofMark84[2,000lbs.(907kg)]bomb.SupersededDestructorEX54.

Mark65QuickStrikeMinepriortofinalassemblyonGuaminMarch2004U.S.NavyPhotograph040323N7293M143

Mark65Thelatestinthe"Quickstrike"series,butthisweaponisnotabombconversionandwasfirstdeployedin1983.Magnetic/seismic/pressuretargetdetectiondevices(TDDs)areusedonvariousmodels.Dimensions:29inches(acrossthefins)x128inches(74x325cm)Weight:2,390pounds(1,086kg)Mark66PracticeversionofCAPTOR.

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Mark67SubmarineLaunchedMobileMine(SLMM)withmagnetic/seismicormagnetic/seismic/pressuretriggers.ConvertedfromMark37torpedo(seedetailsintheUSAPostWorldWarIITorpedosection).Introducedintoservicein1987.Dimensions:19x161inches(48.5x409cm)Weight:1,658lbs.(754kg)Explosives:510lbs.(230kg)ofhighexplosive.Mark68Proposedrocketpropelledmooredrisingmine(PRAM).1,765lbs.(801kg)totalweight.ProjectcancelledinSeptember1978.Mark69TrainingshapeforCaliforniaseallionsusedforordnancerecovery.Mark70ExerciseandtrainingmineusedforMineMark52.Mark71TrainingdeviceusedtoduplicatethetrajectoryofDestructorMark40(seebelow).Mark72TrainingdeviceforMineMark56.Mark73TrainingdeviceforMineMark53.Mark74USNdesignationforBritishVEMS(VersatileExerciseMineSystem).

USNImageISLMM(ImprovedSubmarineLaunchedMobileMine)ThisisajointeffortbetweentheUnitedStatesNavyandtheRoyalAustralianNavyintendedtoreplacetheobsolescentMark67SLMM(seeabove).TheprogramwouldconvertMark48torpedoesintodualwarheadmobilemines.EachdualwarheadwouldbeequippedwiththeTargetDetectionDevice(TDD)Mark71.TheTDDMark71providesadvancedminealgorithmsforshipdetection,classificationandlocalizationagainstsomeoftheemergingthreats(i.e.,quietdieselelectricsubmarines,minisubs,fastpatrolboats,aircushionedvehicles)thatarelikelytobeencounteredinfutureconflicts.TheISLMMwouldretainthepropulsionandwireguidanceoftheMark48,thusallowingthistorpedo/minetobelaunchedfromaremotelocationandthenguidedtoitsdestination.Eachwarheadmaybedroppedinaseparatelocation,allowingISLMMtoattacktwoseparatetargets.ISLMMfitsintoanystandard21inch(53.3cm)torpedotubeandmaybelaunchedfromanysubmarinesoequipped.

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DriftingMines.

NoteDriftingMineswereintendedtobelaunchedbysurfaceshipsorsubmarinesagainstapursuingenemyship.Mark1throughMark6weredesignedbetween1915and1925.Mark7wasdesignedin1942.

15/5/2015 USAMines


Mark1Totalweightof232lbs.(105kg).16x30.5inches(41x77cm).Couldfloatforonehourusingbuoysuspension.Twominescouldridethesamebridle.Mark2UsedKpistolandM1magneticdevice.UsedMark6casing.Mark3Mark6minesuspended35feet(10.7m)belowthesurface.Inservice1923.Mark4Firedfrom21inch(53.3cm)torpedotube.UsedK2pistol.About100weremade.Mark5Designedspecificallyforthe40inch(102cm)minetubesontheUSSArgonautSS475.UsedamodifiedMark5minecase.Inservice1924.Mark6Shapedlikeadepthchargeandcouldbelaunchedfromthoseracks.700lbs.(318kg)totalweightand362lbs.(164kg)TNTcharge.Mark7SimilartodriftingMark3.523lbs.(237kg)TNTcharge.Mod1oscillatedandwasreplacedbyMineMark19.Designationassignedin1942.

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VietnamWar"Destructor"Mines.

DestructorMinesDestructormines(DST)weredevelopedduringtheVietnamWar.ThesewereMark80seriesGPbombsconvertedtominesbytheadditionofminetypearming,detectionandfillingsystems.Theydifferfromconventionalseaminesinthattheycanbeusedagainstlandtargetsaswellasseatargets.TheMark36,40and41DestructorswererespectivelytheMark82[500lbs.(227kg)],Mark83[1,000lbs.(454kg)]andMark84[2,000lbs.(907kg)]bombs.Arming,detectionandfiringwerecommontoallthreetypes.

OtherDestructorMarknumberswereassignedtoselfdestructioncharges.TheDestructordesignationforthesebombconversionswereprobablyintendedasasecuritycoverforwhatwasasecretprogramduringthewar.

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Datafrom"NavalWeaponsofWorldWarTwo"byJohnCampbell

"America'sUseofSeaMines"byRobertC.Duncan,Ph.D."USNavalWeapons"and"TheNavalInstituteGuidetoWorldNavalWeaponSystems1991/92"bothbyNormanFriedman

"DamntheTorpedoes:AShortHistoryofU.S.NavalMineCountermeasures,17771991"byTamaraMosereMelia"USWarshipsofWorldWarII"byPaulSilverstone

USNavyFactFile

USNavyMineWarfareProgramsUSNavyMobileMineGroup

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15/5/2015 USAMines


CurrentU.S.NavalMineInventory

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30November2008Benchmark13January2013Added"USMineSuccess"pdf

18September2014AddedNorthSeaMap

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