Bottom mine

Bottom Mine is a type of underwater mine primarily used in naval warfare for the purpose of damaging or sinking enemy vessels. These mines are designed to rest on the sea floor until a ship passes over them, at which point they are triggered to explode.

History

The concept of the bottom mine dates back to the late 19th century, with the first recorded use in warfare occurring during the Russo-Japanese War. Since then, bottom mines have been used in numerous conflicts, including both World Wars and the Korean War.

Design and Operation

Bottom mines are typically cylindrical in shape, with a number of sensitive hydrostatic fuses or magnetic fuses that trigger the mine when a ship passes overhead. The mine's explosive charge is often made of TNT or a similar high explosive.

The mine is usually anchored to the sea floor with a heavy weight, and may be laid by a variety of methods, including being dropped from a mine-laying submarine or a minesweeper, or being placed by divers.

Detection and Countermeasures

Detecting and neutralizing bottom mines is a key task for naval mine warfare. This can be achieved through the use of mine countermeasures vessels, unmanned underwater vehicles, and naval mine detection systems.

Countermeasures may include the use of mine-hunting sonar to locate the mines, and mine disposal systems to safely detonate them.

See Also

• Naval mine
• Mine countermeasures
• Naval warfare