Minesweeper (ship)
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USS Pivot (AM-276), United States Navy World War II Admirable-class minesweeper shown in the Gulf of Mexico on sea trials 12 July 1944. |
A
minesweeper is a
military ship designed to neutralize
naval mines placed in the sea by enemies. The same ships are sometimes used for mine laying.
Minesweepers are equipped with mechanical or influence sweeps to detonate mines. The minesweeper itself produces much less noise than other ships, and are often constructed with
hulls of
wood,
plastic or low-magnetic
steel.
Mechanical sweeps are towed devices designed to cut the anchors of moored mines, and preferably attach a tag to help the subsequent localization and neutralization. Influence sweeps are towed equipment that emulates ship signatures, and thereby fools the mines to actuate. Most sweeps focus on the magnetic and acoustic signatures.
There are two modes of operating an influence sweep: MSM (mine setting mode) and TSM (target setting mode). MSM sweeping is founded on intelligence on a given type of mine, and produces the output required for detonation of this mine. If such intelligence is unavailable, the TSM sweeping instead reproduces the influence of the friendly ship that is about to transit through the area. TSM sweeping thus clears mines directed at this ship without knowledge on the mines. However, mines directed at other ships might remain.
The "minesweeper" is distinct from a "
minehunter" as the mines are neutralized without first detecting each mine. Minesweepers are in many cases complementary to minehunters, depending on the operation and the environment. A minesweeper is in particular better at clearing an area of a large number of relatively simple mines—for example towing a wire sweep to cut loose floating contact mines or an electric loop with a powerful electric current to detonate magnetic mines. A minehunter is a ship that is equipped to detect and destroy individual mines, usually utilizing active sonars. Both kinds of ships are collectively called MCMVs - Mine Counter Measure Vessels.
The minesweepers weaponry is mostly designed for the destruction of mines (specialized mortars and short-range
torpedoes), but as they are military ships,
anti-aircraft,
anti-submarine, and other combative weapons are usually present.
Helicopters towing underwater cables are sometimes used for minesweeping.
*
HNLMS Abraham Crijnssen — famous for her escape from
Surabaya, in
1942, disguised as a tropical island.
*
HMS Bronington (M1115) — formerly commanded by
Charles, Prince of Wales.
*
Calypso — research vessel of
Jacques-Yves Cousteau; the ex-Royal Navy HMS
J-826.
*
USS Hazard (AM-240) — museum ship at
Omaha, Nebraska.
*
Minehunter*
Naval mine*
Commander Mine Squadron SEVEN*
List of mine warfare vessels of the United States Navy
