A question about real-life mines

[maillemaker]

So what happened to all those mines that got planted? I are they all still anchored at sea, hanging around?

If they broke loose, and floated ashore, would they explode when they hit ground?

[Platapus]

Well it depends on what mines you are talking about. There was a considerable difference in mine technology.

During WWII, the British had moored mines, meaning that the mine itself floated at the end of a weighted base. These included the Mark XVII through the Mark XXVII. These had contact initiators called the Hertz Horn.

When a moored mine breaks free, the mine itself floats to the surface and can drift ashore. If one of the horns is struck, it can initiate.

Also during the war there were magnetic ground mines. These mines were heavier than water and were set at the bottom of a channel, sea ledge, harbour. These mines just sit there until initiated or until they leak and flood out.

There were some acoustic mines (both moored and bottom laying) but they were not very effective.

The Germans had pretty good success during WWI with their naval mines and during WWII they developed some very nice ones. These were also either moored or bottom resting with magnetic mines being in both models.

A good reference would be navweaps.com

Hope this helped.

[Platapus]

Check this out http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/8323458.stm

[timmy41]

Pretty much all of the mines were 'cleaned up' after the war with minesweeping operations (either with aircraft or ships). I doubt more than a few dozen are left, and those that are left are there because they failed to detonate, and thus probably never will.
Landmines however, are still a problem in some countries like those of northern africa, just as dud-bombs are still being found in Germany.

[pickinthebanjo]

I would imagine that whenever the British navy would lay mines they would note it down that area has mines, and when they cleaned them up it for the most part would be as simple to find as looking at a map.

Just a thought though

[Platapus]

Originally Posted by pickinthebanjo

I would imagine that whenever the British navy would lay mines they would note it down that area has mines, and when they cleaned them up it for the most part would be as simple to find as looking at a map.

If only countries would take the time to do so. That is one of the sticky points about the various mine conventions/treaties - getting the people to put them there to pick them up again.

[Jankowski]

look what happened to the soviets in afghanistan, they didnt have time to clean up thier mines and now people all over the place are getting blown up. same in vietnam.

[Stiebler]

Naval mines almost always have timers attached when they are dropped/laid. If they are defensive mines, you want your own ships to be able to move through the area at some later date. If they are offensive mines, laid around an enemy harbour (for example), you want your own ships or submarines to be able to return safely to drop more mines, after the enemy has discovered the first minefield.

When the timer expires, the mine *should* become safe. But sometimes it doesn't, that is why naval minefields have to be swept even after they are time-expired.

Mines that float free can cause a danger to shipping. Those that broke free from the giant British East-coast minefields laid in 1940-1942 drifted off into the North Sea, in the prevailing currents.

U-boat control sent out orders to U-boats in passage around Norway to Iceland: if you see a floating mine, it is probably harmless. In any case, your bow wave will almost certainly push it to one side. But try to destroy it with machine-gun fire (sic) anyway.

Stiebler.