Mine Countermeasures: What the Operational Commander Must Know

Abstract

A great deal has been written concerning the need for more and improved mine countermeasures equipment. What seems lacking is adequate focus at the operational level regarding how to effectively and efficiently employ existing systems in support of current and future operations. In many situations, to achieve a military objective, it is essential the operational commander know the existing or potential mine threat, understand current mine countermeasure capabilities, determine the available courses of action, and select the course of action that will provide the highest probability of success in support of an assigned mission. This paper is intended to emphasize the importance of mine countermeasures to the operational commander. It draws upon the lessons of history to show that mine warfare has had a significant impact on naval and joint operations. while the paper addresses some technical and tactical aspects of mine countermeasures, the primary focus is on the operational considerations and options available to the operational commander. Mine threat, Offensive and defensive MCM, Capability, Operational considerations.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Feb 08, 1994
Accession Number
ADA279712

Entities

People

  • Kevin T. Holden

Organizations

  • Naval War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Amphibious Operations
  • Civil War
  • Contingency Operations (Military)
  • Detection
  • Explosive Ordnance Disposal
  • Landing Forces
  • Marine Corps
  • Military Operations
  • Military Strategy
  • Minefields
  • Naval Mines
  • Naval Warfare
  • Navy
  • Reconnaissance
  • United States
  • War
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Maritime Combat Support and Expeditionary Logistics.
  • Naval Mine Countermeasure Systems Development.
  • Strategic Security Studies