A
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C
D
E
F
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I
J
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M
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A
- Acoustic Mechanism
- A hydrophone and processor mechanism which detects the sound of a ship, such as propeller and machinery noises, and converts it into electrical signals for analysis and processing. If the signal matches preprogrammed data for a valid ship target within the mines damage zone, a switch is closed which initiates a sequence causing the mine to detonate.
- Acoustic Minehunting
- The use of a sonar to detect mines or mine-like objects lying on the seabed or buried. The system may or may not be capable of classification of the contacts.
- Active Mine
- A mine whose influences await the proper ship's signature to justify the mine-firing mechanism and ship count requirements for mine detonation.
- Actuate
- To operate a mine-firing mechanism by an influence or a series of influences in such a way that all the requirements of the mechanism for firing, or for registering a ship count, are met.
- Actuation
- The response of a mine-firing mechanism by an influence or a series of influences in such a way that all the requirements of the mechanism for firing, or for registering a ship count, are met.
- Actuation Destruction Simulator (ADS)
- A device used for MCM training and fleet exercises to simulate in-service destructors. It contained the destructor firing mechanism and a single flare and smoke signal actuation.
- Actuation Level
- The level of intensity and the duration of time that the influence field must be applied to satisfy the firing circuit requirements of the mine.
- Actuation Mine
- A mine used for training the MCM forces in minesweeping. It has an inert loaded mine case, operable components, and a flare and smoke signal to indicate actuation. The mine may be delivered either by aircraft or surface craft.
- Actuation Mine Simulator(AMS)
- A device used for MCM training and fleet exercises to simulate in-service mines. It contained the service mine intelligence supplemented with components to control timing, detection functions, six flare and smoke signals, and an actuation recorder to indicate actuations.
- Actuation Probability
- The average probability of a mine of given type being actuated by one run of the sweep within the actuation width.
- Actuation Width
- The path width over which mines can be actuated by a single run of the sweep gear.
- Airborne Mine Countermeasures (AMCM)
- MCM operations conducted from an airborne platform. Includes spotting, watching, hunting sweeping and destroying.
- Anchor
- A heavy weight to which a bouyant mine is moored. It houses the mooring cable chain, delay rising device, and the depth-setting mechanism.
- Antenna Mine
- A contact mine fitted with an antenna that, when touched by a steel ship, sets up galvanic action to fire the mine. The antenna generally takes the form of a special section in the mooring cable and/or a wire suspended above the mine by a float.
- Antenna Sweep
- A shallow wire sweep configuration that actuates the mine by contact with the antenna.
- Antirecovery Device
- Any device in a mine designed to prevent the enemy from discovering details of the working of the mine mechanism. Also called an antitamper device. See also PREVENTION OF STRIPPING EQUIPMENT.
- Antisubmarine Minefield
- A field laid specifically against submarines. It may be safe for all craft or laid deep and thus safe for surface ships to cross.
- Antisweep Device
- Any device incorporated in the mooring of a mine or obstructor, or in the mine circuits, to make sweeping the device more difficult.
- Antisweeper Mine
- A mine that is laid or whose mechanism is designed or adjusted with the specific objective of damaging MCM vehicles.
- Antiwatching Device
- A device fitted in a moored mine that causes it to sink should it watch (surface), to prevent disclosure of the position of the mine (or minefield).
- Armed (Sweep)
- A sweep wire is said to be armed when it has been fitted with cutters or other devices to increase its ability to cut moorings.
- Armed (Mine)
- A mine is said to be armed when all safety devices have been withdrawn and, after planting, all automatic safety features and/or arming delays have operated. Such a mine is ready to receive a target signal, influence, or contact.
- Arming Delay Device
- A device fitted in a mine to prevent its being actuated for a preset time after planting. Arming delay is expressed in minutes, hours, and /or days.
- Attenuation
- The reduction in intensity of an influence as distance from the source increases.
- Attrition Minefield
- A field intended primarily to cause damage to enemy ships.
- Attrition Sweeping
- Sweeping appropriate for minefields that are being continually replenished. Its ultimate aim is to keep the risk to all ships from mines as low as possible.
- Audio Frequency (AF)
- Frequencies between 30 Hz and 15,000 Hz.
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B
- Battery
- Furnish eletrical power for the operation of the mine.
- Beach Field
- A minefield in the shallow-water approaches to a possible amphibious-landing beach.
- Bomblet
- Explosive charge for mine neutralization.
- Booster
- An explosive device used to initiate the main explosive charge of a mine. Also known as the intermediate charge.
- Bottom Mine
- See GROUND MINE.
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C
- Channel, Search Channel, or Swept Channel
- The whole or part of a route or a path that has been searched, swept, or hunted, with the width of the channel being specified.
- Check Sweeping
- Sweeping to ensure as far as possible to determine that no mines are left after a previous clearing operation.
- Chemical Horn
- A horn containing an electric battery, the electrolyte for which is in a glass tube protected by a thin metal sheet (also called Hertz horn) used as an actuation device on contact mines. When the horn is bent or broken, the electrolyte is released to make contact with the anode and cathode, forming a battery to supply energy for detonation.
- Classification
- The evaluation of an underwater object as minelike or non-minelike.
- Classification Range
- The range (distance) at which a contact is classified.
- Clearance Diving
- The use of divers for the location, identification, and disposal of mines.
- Clearance Rate
- The area that would be cleared per unit time with a stated minimum percentage clearance, using specific minehunting and/or minesweeping procedures.
- Clearing Operations
- The process of sweeping or hunting in a mined area with the aim of clearing all mines. A specified percentage of clearance is usually specified.
- Clock-delay mechanism
- Delays arming of the mine until a preset time after planting, allowing the submarine or vessel which delivered the mine to move out of the mines detector range.
- Closed Loop Sweep
- A magnetic sweep in which the sweep current is carried entirely by the insulated electrical conductors and does not depend on seawater to complete the electrical circuit.
- Closure Minefield
- A minefield planned to present such a threat that the ultimate loss rate or immobilization of waterborne traffic is unacceptable to the enemy. In this situation, the enemy would be expected to cease moving shipping.
- Coastal Route
- A navigation route, normally following the coastline, that joins adjacent approach routes.
- Combination Influence Mine
- A mine whose firing circuit requires actuation by two or more influences, either simultaneously or at a predetermined interval, before the firing circuit is satisfied. In this connection, acoustic systems working on different frequency ranges may be considered separate influences.
- Component
- An item required to enable a peice of equipment to fulfil its assigned function.
- Contac
- Any indication on the search device display equipment of the presence of an underwater object; also, the object or phenomenon causing such an indication.
- Contact Mine
- A mine fired by physical contact between the target ship and the mine case or its appendages.
- Controlled Mine
- A mine that, after laying, can be controlled by the user. The degree of control is generally the ability to make the mine safe or live, or to fire the mine.
- Countermine
- Exploding the main charge in a mine by shock of a nearby explosion of another mine or an independent explosive charge. The explosion maybe caused either by sympathetic detonation of the main charge or through hte explosive train by the firing mechanism of the mine.
- Creeping Mine
- A bouyant mine held below the surface by a weight (usually in the form of a chain) and free to creep along the seabed under the influence of stream or current (e.g. into an estuary off which it was laid).
- Cutter
- A device attached to a sweepwire to cut or part the moorings of mines or obstructors; it may also be fitted on a mine or obstructor mooring cable to part a sweep.
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D
- Damage Radius
- The average distance from a ship within which a mine containing a given weight and type of explosive must detonate if it is to inflict a specified amount of damage to the ship. The actual distance will not be the same in all directions because the explosive effect of a mine varies with depth and other factors, and the damage likely to be sustained will vary with the relative position of the explosion with respect to the ship target.
- Damage Threat
- The probability that a target ship passing once through a minefield will explode one or more mines and sustain at least a specified amount of damage.
- Dan Bouy
- A bouy used to mark positions or objects in relatively shallow water. Dan bouys are carried by mine countermeasures ships to support navigation and mark mine fields.
- Danger Area
- The part of the firing area inside the damage envelope, with respect to a given mine.
- Dangerous Area
- See MINED AREA.
- Dan Runner
- A ship guiding on or running a line of dans whether it is sweeping or being usued for reference by a minesweeping formation.
- Dead Mines
- Mines that have been neutralized, sterilized, or rendered safe.
- Deep Minefield
- An antisubmarine minefield that is safe for surface ships to cross.
- Defensive MCM
- Countermeasures intended to reduce the effect of enemy minelaying once the mines are in the water.
- Defensive Minefield
- A minefield laid in international waters or international straits with the declared intention of controlling shipping in the defense of sea communications.
- Degaussing
- The reduction of a ship's magnetic field by the use of electromagnetic coils, permanent magnets, or other means.
- Delay Release Anchor
- An anchor that holds a moored mine on the seabed for a predetermined time after laying.
- Depressor (NATO Kite)
- Hydrodynamic planing device used to obtain depth in a mechanical sweep.
- Destructor Mine
- A mine developed for use in Vietnam against junks and sampans. It uses the Mk 80 series general-purpose low-drag bomb as its warhead. The destructor mine can be used either on land or in water.
- Detecting Circuit
- That part of a mine circuit that responds to a change in the physical conditions with respect to the mine.
- Detection
- The determination of the presence of underwater objects.
- Detection Probability (Pd)
- The ratio of the number of mines detected on a single run to the number of detectable mines within the characteristic detection width.
- Detection Width
- The width of the path over which mines can be detected on a single run at a given Pd.
- Dip
- The distance a moored mine is carried beneath its set depth by a current or tidal stream acting on the mine case and mooring cable.
- Discriminating Circuit
- a part of the operating circuit that distinguishes between the response of the detecting circuit to the passage of a ship and the response to some other disturbances (e.g. influence sweep, countermining).
- Diversion
- A diversion is a route or channel avoiding a dangerous area. A diversion may connect one channel to another, or it may branch from a channel or rejoin it on the other side of the danger.
- Diversion
- A diversion is a route or channel avoiding a dangerous area. A diversion may connect one channel to another, or it may branch from a channel or rejoin it on the other side of the danger.
- Dormant
- A state in which a time delay feature in a mine prevents it from being actuated.
- Drifting Mine
- A bouyant or neutrally bouyant mine, free to move under the influence of wind and current. It could resemble timber or some other innocent looking object.
- Drill Mine
- An inert-filled mine. or mine-like body, used in loading, laying, or discharge practice and trials. See ACTUATION MINE.
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E
- Electrode Sweep
- A magnetic cable sweep in which the water forms part of the electric circuit (as opposed to a closed-loop sweep where the electric current is carried entirely by electric conductor cables.
- Exercise and Training Mines
- A mine suitable for use in mine warfare exercises. A visible or audible indicating device to show when it would normally fire may be fitted. A device to assist in mine recovery may also be fitted.
- Explode
- A mine being fired or detonated by causes known or unknown.
- Exploratory Hunting
- This is a parallel operation to exploratory or searching sweeping, in which a sample of the route or area is subjected to minehunting procedures to determine the presence or absence of mines.
- Exploratory Sweeping
- Minesweeping accomplished to determine whether mines are present and, if possible, the limits of the mined area. Normally accomplished on a routine basis, it is much less intensive than clearance sweeping.
- Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD)
- EOD divers are a primary means of neutralizing mines detected by minehunting sonars.
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F
- Fire
- Detonation of the main charge by means of the mine's firing mechanism.
- Firing Area
- The firing area of a sweeper-sweep combination is the horizontal area at the depth of the particular mine in which the mine will detonate due to the influence of the sweeper/sweep.
- Firing Circuit (Mechanism)
- That part of a mine circuit that either completes the detonator circuit or operates a ship counter.
- Floating Mine
- A mine visible on the surface. Whenever possible, it should be more exactly defined by the terms watching mine or free mine.
- Flooder
- A device fitted to a bouynt mine case that, after a preset time, floods the mine case and causes it to sink to the bottom.
- Free Mine
- A moored mine whose mooring has parted or been cut. Also known as a floater or drifter.
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G
- Glass-Reinforced Plastic (GRP)
- Fiberglass which may be used for mine cases or minesweeper/hunter construction.
- Global Positioning System (GPS)
- A worldwide satellite-based navigation system capable of providing precise navigation data adequate for AMCM and MCM forces.
- Gradient Circuit
- A circuit that is actuated when the rate of change, with time, of the magnitude of the influence is within predetermined limits.
- Grapnel
- A device fitted to a mine mooring designed to entangle the sweep wire when the mooring is cut.
- Ground Mine
- A mine with negative bouyancy that remains on the seabed. Also known as a bottom mine.
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H
- Hague Convention (1907)
- A series of rules governing the use of sea mines was reached at the Hague Conferences in the early 1900's. These rules represent the only international law or agreement that covers naval mines and mining.
- High Frequency
- Frequencies above 15,000Hz.
- Holiday
- An unswept, unsearched, or unclear gap left unintentionally during sweeping or minehunting, due to errors in navigation, stationkeeping, dan-laying, breakdowns, or other causes.
- Homing Mine
- a mine with propulsion equipment that homes to a target. The mine normally rests on the seabed and is secured to an anchor and is set in motion by a ship's influence.
- Horizontal and Vertical Component
- The general direction of the magnetic field by which the magnetic mine circuit is intended to be actuated.
- Horn
- A projection from the mine case of a contact mine that, when broken or bent by contact, causes the mine to fire.
- Hydrostatic arming device
- A device which withholds the detonator from the explosive components until the mine has reached a preselected depth.
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I
- Identification
- The determination of the exact nature of detected and classified underwater objects.
- Independent Mine
- A mine not controlled by the user after laying. (Formerly called automatic.)
- Induction Circuit
- A circuit actuated by the rate of change of magnetic field caused by the movement of the ship or the changing current in the sweep.
- Influence Field
- The distribution in space of the influence of a ship or sweep (i.e. magnetic, acoustic, pressure).
- Influence Mine
- A mine actuated by the influence field of the ship or by the effect of the ship on an influence emanating from the mine.
- Influence Release Anchor
- An anchor thats holds a moored or rising mine at the seabed and releases it when actuated by a suitable ship influence.
- Influence Sweep
- A sweep designed to produce an influence similar to that of a ship and, thus, to actuate mines.
- Initial Path Sweeping
- Sweeping to clear a path through a mined area to reduce danger to the following sweepers. It may be accomplished by helicopters, drones, or small craft.
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J
- Jettisoned Mines
- Mines laid as quickly as possible to empty the minelayer of mines. Jettisoned Mines are normally released in a safe mode (without pulling the arming wires). The wire may, however, withdraw at water entry, arming the mine.
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K
- Kite
- NATO term for the depressor in a mechanical sweep. A towed planing device that causes the inboard end of the sweep to a determined depth.
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L
- Locate
- Establishing the position of an underwater object relative to a ship or a specific naviagtional reference position.
- Look
- One of the sequences of internal events that is required for the actuation of a mine. What constitutes a look is prescribed for each particular mine assembly. The occurrence of the event is called a look regardless of its cause and whether it occurrs in the sequence required for actuation of the mine.
- Loop Sweep
- A magnetic cable sweep in which the current-carrying conductors are insulated from the water throughout. Also called a closed loop sweep.
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M
- Magnetic mechanism
- A search coil or magnetometer which senses a change in the earth's magnetic field caused by the presence of a moving ship. Magnetic inputs to the firing mechanism are converted into small eletrical pulses which are amplified and analyzed by the firing mechanism's preprogrammed circuitry. When the inputs are determined to be from a valid target in the mine's damage zone a switch is closed which initiates a sequence causing the mine to detonate.
- Magnetic Mine (Circuit)
- A mine circuit that responds to the magnetic field of a ship or sweep.
- Mark(Mk)/Mod
- Nomenclature designed for use when there is a need to clearly establish the unique characteristics of an item to differentiate it from any other item. Mk/Mod is to accompanied by a noun.
- Mechanical Sweep
- Any sweep used with the objective of physically contacting the mine or its appendages.
- Mine
- An explosive device laid in the water with the intention of damaging or sinking ships or of deterring ships from entering an area. The term does not include devices attached to the bottoms of ships or to harbor installions by personnel operating underwater (Limpet mines).
- Mine Countermeasures (MCM)
- This term includes all measures for countering a mine, including the prevention of enemy minelaying.
- Minefield
- A number of mines laid, or declared to be laid, in a maratime area for any purpose.
- Minehunting
- The location of individual mines by ship and/or airborne equipment and/or divers and the subsequent disposal. One method of measuring the effectivenes of a minefield.
- Mine Spotting
- Visual observation of a mine or minefield. Normally, best accomplished from a helicopter.
- Minesweeping
- Clearing mines by minesweepers using mechanical or explosive gear, which physically removes or destroys the mine, or by producing in the area the influence field necessary to actuate them. Minesweeping affects all mines covered by the sweep employed, not just one at a time.
- Mine Warfare
- The field of designing, producing, and laying mines and parallel effort of designing, producing, and operating all forms of mine countermeasures to combat the enemy's mining campaign.
- Mobile Mine
- A self-propelled mine that can be launched from a stand-off position and propel itself to a planed position, like a torpedo. At the end of the run, it operates like a mine.
- Moored Mine
- A contact or influence-operated mine of positive bouyancy, held below the surface by a mooring attached to an anchor on the sea bottom.
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N
- Neutralization
- A mine is neutralized when it has been rendered, by external means, incapable of firing on pasage of a ship or sweep. The explosive may remain dangerous to striking or severe handling, and the mine case may remain virtually intact.
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O
- Open Loop Sweep
- A magnetic sweep in which the seawater is used to complete the electric circuit. A loop sweep generates magnetic field in all directions on each portion of the bottom under the sweep, thus making it effective against horizontal and vertical component mines in all orientations. Open loop sweeps can be used only when the salinity of the water is suitable.
- Otter
- A towed hydrodynamic planing device which displaces itself sideways when towed through the water.
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P
- Parachute (aircraft-laid mines)
- Reduce velocity of mine following release from the aircraft to lessen impact shock as it strikes the water.
- Pass
- Old term for "run."
- Passive
- A mine is said to be passive when its anticountermining device has been operated, preventing the firing mechanism from being actuated.nbsp; The mine will usually remian passive for a comparatively short time.nbsp; This term can also be used to describe all mines that do not emit a signal to detect ships or other objects ia reflections of the emitted signals.
- Percentage Clearance
- The estimated percentage of mines of specified characteristics cleared from an area or channel.
- Precursor Sweeping
- The sweeping of an area by relatively safe means to reduce the risk to MCM vessels in subsequent operations.nbsp; A small boat sweep, a drone sweep, or a helicopter sweep might precede large sweepers.
- Pressure mechanism
- An electro-hydraulic pressure sensor and processor mechanism which detects the decrease in pressure caused by a moving ship as it displaces a given volume of water beneath its hull. If the signal matches preprogrammed data for strength and duration of a valid ship target within the mines damage zone, a switch is closed which initiates a sequence causing the mine to detonate. These mechanism are usually used in combination with magnetic and acoustic mechanisms, increasing the mines detection capability and making it more difficult for the mine to be swept.
- Pressure Mine (Circuit)
- A mine or mine circuit that responds to the hydrodynamic pressure variation caused by a passing ship.
- Pulsing
- A method of operating magnetic and acoustic sweeps in which the sweep is energized by current that varies, or is intermittent, in accordance with a predetermined schedule.nbsp; The intent is to simulate the increase and decline in the influence as would be the case with a passing ship target.
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Q
- Quickstrike Mine
- An aircraft-delivered family of bottom mines that are an improved follow-on to the Destructor Mk 36 and Mk 40.
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R
- Recovery
- Salvage of a mine as nearly intact as possible to permit further investigation for intelligence and/or evaluation purposes.nbsp; Normally an EOD function.
- Release Delay
- A device fitted to moored mines, or anchor, to delay the rising of the mine case, either for a preset interval or until the influence of a passing ship or sweep is received.
- Render Safe
- Action to make a mine inoperative by direct interference with its firing system or explosive train. May be done underwater or after recovery.
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S
- Seismic Circuit
- One that responds to the acoustic energy transmitted through the ocean bottom rather than through the water.
- Self-Destruct Circuit
- A timing circuit in a mine that causes the mine to detonate after a set period.
- Service Mine
- An explosive loaded mine capable of detecting, classifying, and/or detonating/counting a ship in response to a ship or submarine that is within the mine's operational envelope (as opposed to an exercise mine).
- Ship Counter
- A mine device that delays detonation of the mine until the firing mechanism has cycled a predetermined number of times, making the mines more difficult to sweep.
- Ship Influence
- Physical effect, detectable at a point (such as a mine on the sea bed) due to the presence or passage of a ship (e.g. - magnetism, sound, pressure).
- Signature
- The graphical representation of the variation in the influence field produced at a mine by the passage of a ship or sweep.
- Sinker
- A moored mine that failed to separate from its anchor.nbsp; The mine and anchor sink o the bottom and become a dud.nbsp; Also a NATO term for mine anchor.
- Sterilize
- To permanently render a mine incapable of firing, by means of a device (e.g. - sterilizer) within the mine that physically interrupts the firing chain sequence.
- Sterilizer
- Deactivates the firing mechanism of a mine after a preset time, rendering the mine inert.
- Sweep
- The equipment used to sweep mines - mechanical, acoustic, magnetic, etc.
- Sweeper
- The vehicle that tows or carries minesweeping equipment in a minesweeping operation.
- Switch Horn
- A switch operated by a projecting spike used as an actuating device for contact mines.
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T
- Threat
- The probability that a target ship passing once through a minefield will explode at least one mine.
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U V
- Versatile Exercise Mine System (VEMS)
- An exercise mine system which can be programmed to represent a variety of mines for sweep evaluation and training purposes.
- Visual Mine Firing Indicator (VMFI)
- A device used with exercise mines to indicate that the mine would have detonated if it had been a service mine (i.e. smoke, flare, buoy).
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W X Y Z
- Watching Mine
- A mine secured to its mooring but showing on the surface, possibly only in certain tidal conditions.
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