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From: lam@handel.cs.colostate.edu (mark lam)
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: CAPTOR Mines, Stealth Ships, Army aviation
Message-ID: <1991Apr5.091616.7373@amd.com>
Date: 4 Apr 91 01:43:25 GMT
Sender: military@amd.com
Organization: Colorado State University
Lines: 25
Approved: military@amd.com



From: lam@handel.cs.colostate.edu (mark lam)

I just read an article asking about CAPTOR mines that, unfortunately, didn't
get saved. According to "Modern Naval Combat," the CAPTOR mine system is
under development (as of 1986.)  Its one drawback, however, is that it has
no IFF.  Therefore, any CAPTOR mine fields would have to be avoided by friendly
forces.  The book mentions that the mine might allow some targets to pass
before firing.  If anybody has any up-to-date information about CAPTOR, I
would be interested in finding out about it.

Also, taking up the theme of "Stealth Ships," what about the USN's trawlers
that trail towed sonar arrays?  I thought that they were supposed to Stealthy.

As far as Army aviation goes, I've read that the whole problem was the Army
arming their planes, not that they flew them.  The story is mentioned in
"U.S.A.F.E., A Primer of Modern Air Combat in Europe."  The story goes that 
the Air Force was allowed to have fixed wing armed aircraft, while the Army
got to do whatever they wanted to with helicopters.  This lead to the 
gunship concept (i.e.:Cheyenne, Apache, Cobra.)  I've heard various opinions
on whether or not the Army is going to get the A-10s, but no definitive
answers.

Mark Lam