Underwater Mine

Underwater mines are explosive devices that are specifically designed to be deployed and detonated underwater. They are typically used for military purposes, such as defending coastlines, harbors, or naval bases, as well as for naval warfare.

Underwater mines can be either contact mines or influence mines. Contact mines are triggered by physical contact with a target, such as a ship or submarine, while influence mines are activated by detecting changes in the surrounding environment, such as the magnetic or acoustic signature of a vessel.

These mines are usually anchored to the seabed or suspended in the water column, and they can be deployed in various ways, including by aircraft, ships, or submarines. They are equipped with sensors or mechanisms that allow them to detect and engage targets, either by direct contact or by detonating when a target enters a specified range.

Underwater mines pose a significant threat to naval vessels and can cause severe damage or destruction. They are often used as a defensive measure to deny access to certain areas or to deter enemy forces from approaching sensitive locations.

It is important to note that the use of underwater mines is regulated by international treaties, such as the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction (also known as the Ottawa Treaty), which prohibits the use of anti-personnel mines, including those deployed underwater, by most countries.