Submarine Launched Mobile Mines
Submarine Launched Mobile Mines | |
---|---|
Type | Naval mine |
Place of origin | United States |
Service history | |
In service | 1979–present |
Used by | United States Navy |
Production history | |
Produced | 1979[1] |
Specifications | |
Mass | 1,765 pounds (800 kg)[2] |
Length | 13 feet (4 m)[2] |
Warhead | Conventional high explosive |
Warhead weight | 330 pounds (150 kg)[2] |
Detonation mechanism | Magnetic/seismic/pressure target detection[2][1] |
Engine | Electric motor[1] |
Operational range | Approx. 8 miles (13 km)[3] |
Launch platform | Submarine |
Submarine Launched Mobile Mines (SLMM) are a modern type of naval mine designed to be deployed by submarines. The chief example is the Mark 67 SLMM, currently used by the United States Navy. These mines offer a strategic advantage by allowing for clandestine deployment in hostile or denied areas, such as ports or shipping lanes, making them difficult to detect and counter[2].
Development and Design
The Mk 67 SLMM was first deployed in 1979[1], based on the design of the Mk 37 torpedo[3]. The SLMMs are designed to be launched from standard submarine torpedo tubes and are capable of traveling several thousand yards to their target location[2]. Their propulsion system allows for precise placement in areas inaccessible to other types of mines[2].
The Mk 67 is 13 feet long, weighs 1,765 pounds, and carries a 330-pound high-explosive charge[2]. The mine is detonated by a combination of magnetic, seismic, and pressure sensors, making it effective against both surface vessels and submarines[2]. The depth range for the SLMMs is up to 600 feet[2].
Operational Use
SLMMs have been a part of the U.S. Navy’s mine warfare arsenal since the 1980s[1]. These mines can be deployed in shallow waters, which makes them effective for denying access to strategic locations such as ports and harbors[1]. One of the key advantages of submarine-launched mines is the ability to deploy them covertly, significantly reducing the risk of detection compared to surface or air-launched mines[2].
In recent years, the U.S. Navy has conducted several exercises to test and refine SLMM capabilities. For example, in June 2021, the USS Montpelier, a Los Angeles-class attack submarine, conducted mine-loading exercises with dummy Mk 67 SLMMs in Souda Bay, Greece[2]. These exercises reflected the importance of SLMMs in the Mediterranean region, where naval tensions are high due to the presence of Russian submarines and other regional powers[2].
As of 2023, only 688i ("improved") Los Angeles-class submarines in the U.S. Navy are capable of deploying the Mk 67 SLMM.[3] The limited number of suitable launch platforms and mine inventories restricts the scale of potential SLMM operations.
References
- ^ a b c d e f Truver, Scott; O'Rourke, Brian; Millard, Commander Brooke. "Torpedoes!" Proceedings of the U.S. Naval Institute, May 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Tingley, Brett. "Navy Offers Glimpse Of Its Submarine-Launched Mine Capabilities In The Mediterranean." The War Zone, June 28, 2021. Cite error: The named reference "Tingley 2021" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
- ^ a b c Winnefeld, James A. "Warfare Could Be Key." Proceedings of the U.S. Naval Institute, December 2023.