Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!wuarchive!cs.utexas.edu!rutgers!att!cbnews!military
From: Brian Ross (bxr307@coombs.anu.oz)
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: Re: Mines
Message-ID: <11698@cbnews.ATT.COM>
Date: 24 Nov 89 06:01:59 GMT
Sender: military@cbnews.ATT.COM
Lines: 50
Approved: military@att.att.com



From:  Brian Ross (bxr307@coombs.anu.oz)
          Whereas Steven Den Beste (denbeste@BBN.COM) believes 
that magentic mines don't work the Allied experience with the 
German ones in WWII indicates otherwise.  However both magnetic 
and acoustic influence detonated mines are generally only useful 
in shallow water (lying as they do on the floor in most cases, 
although I don't see why a tethered variant cannot be built, 
although a minesweeper would then be able to cut the tether), 
because they rely upon very weak forces to activate their fuses 
which attenuate with distance.
          There has been rather renaissance in mine warfare in 
the last ten years.  With the onset of considerably more computer 
power with the micro-chip the mine has also tended to become a 
more "smart weapon".  In addition the mine's reach has been 
increased with addition of a torpedo attach to it.  The mine lies 
on the seafloor (or tethered at depth, well below the surface) 
and contains a computer which can be activated remotely.  The 
computer controls various sensors such as magnetic, acoustic or 
pressure (a considerable change in pressure is associated with 
the wake of a passing ship) and when these detect a target the 
mine releases an acoustic or wire guided torpedo.  This is then 
guided to the target by computer.  Such a mine could be enplaced 
well before hostilities commence and could be activated when the 
time is right.  It is this sort of mine which bring shudders to 
the minds of naval planners.
          In reference to the use of Magnetic Pistols to fire 
torpedo warheads, the Germans were quite successful by building 
on their experience gained with the Magnetic influence mine.  On 
the otherhand the US Navy's efforts where as already related largely a 
failure until late in the war.  In addition the Germans actually 
fielded such things as Acoustic homing torpedoes (I think they 
were called "nixie" going by memory) and Acoustic influence 
mines (nicknamed "oyster" mines by the Allies).  Both of which 
caused considerable trouble in the last year of the war.

_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-
                                        |
Brian Ross                              |Snail Mail:- 
"Bill Bracket the self-made man who came|
in a a packet"                          |     Brian Ross
----------------------------------------|     Sociology Dept.R.S.S.S.
E-Mail Addresses:- bxr307@coombs.anu.oz |     Australian National University
                                        |     CANBERRA,A.C.T.,2601,
                   bxr307@csc.anu.oz    |     AUSTRALIA
                                        |
_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-