[TEC] Sub launched mines a possibility?

[tater]

Idea:

Clone a torpedo.

Change 3D model to look like a 21" mine (whatever they roughly looked like).

Raise or lower warhead strength if needed (depending on how detonator works and what is realistic)

Drop propulsion to a range of <100 yards.

Set arming distance to a little less than the range it can move.

Make sure the weapon has no "lifetime" to disappear.

Make it not sink when propulsion finishes.

Ideally, disconnect it turning on the stopwatch.

We now have sub-launched mines. Set the "run depth" and the mine goes to that level and sits there.

If it must move to stay afloat at "run depth", we reduce mine speed to 0.001 knot and decrease the arming distance so that a sub at 1 knot will move ~100 yards away before it arms.

If you sat around, you might see it actually work. If it works after you leave station, assume the kill credit was via ULTRA or sigint.

Missions would be tricky since you get brief AFTER you reload in port. Dunno how to get around that...


Mark 10
Moored contact mine for firing from 21 inch (53.3 cm) torpedo tubes. This project was started in 1921, halted for a time, and then resumed. 1,760 lbs. (798 kg) total, charge of 300 lbs. (136 kg). Mod 1 was contact fired, Mod 2 was cancelled, Mod 3 was magnetic and weighed 1,800 lbs. (816 kg) with a charge of 420 lbs. (190 kg) of TNT. Mod 5 was an aircraft dropped version of Mod 2, cancelled. Mod 6 and 8 were parachute versions of Mod 3 and were replaced by Mod 9, all of these weighed 1,850 lbs. (839 kg) with a charge of 420 lbs. (190 kg) of TNT. Mod 7 was Mod 3 modified for PT boat launch. Mod 11 was a moored contact mine specifically developed for the USS Argonaut SS-475 and weighed 1,900 lbs. (862 kg) with a charge of 500 lbs. (227 kg) TNT.

Mark 12 (best choice, IMO):
Submarine launched mine. Cylindrical with an aluminum case, this mine was developed in the 1920s from German S-type mines. Dimensions were 20.8D x 94.25L inches (52.8 x 239.4 cm). Weighed 1,445 lbs. (655 kg) with a 1,100 lbs. (499 kg) TNT charge or 1,595 lbs. (723 kg) with a 1,250 lbs. (567 kg) Torpex charge. Mod 1 was parachute mine, Mod 3 was a submarine type and Mod 4 was a replacement for Mod 1. Some of these mines were delivered to Manila just before the start of World War II. They were dropped into deep water to prevent capture.

Less likely candidates:
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Mark 17
Submarine laid ground mine with magnetic triggering. Not clear if this was actually in service during the war. Total 1,825 lbs. (828 kg) with a charge of 1,375 lbs. (624 kg) Torpex. Mod 1 became the Mark 25.

Mark 27
Submarine launched mobile ground mine. 21D x 246L inches (53D x 625 cm). Range 4,500 yards (4,100 m) at 10.5 knots. Charge of 877 lbs. (398 kg) Torpex.


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Note that we could set these "torpedos" to have a influence trigger, with extremely short range, like a fraction of a meter. That gets "contact" in any direction in case "contact" requires a hit at the front of a torpedo.



tater