Submarine Launched Mobile Mines
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Submarine Launched Mobile Mines | |
|---|---|
 A Mk 67 Submarine Launched Mobile Mine being loaded onto the USS Montpelier in Crete Naval Base, Greece, 2021 | |
| Type | Naval mine |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1979–present |
| Used by | United States Navy |
| Production history | |
| Produced | 1979[1] |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 1,765 pounds (800 kg)[2] |
| Length | 13 feet (4 m)[2] |
| Warhead | Conventional high explosive |
| Warhead weight | 330 pounds (150 kg)[2] |
Detonation mechanism | Magnetic/seismic/pressure target detection[2][1] |
| Engine | Electric motor[1] |
Operational range | Approx. 8 miles (13 km)[3] |
Launch platform | Submarine |
Submarine Launched Mobile Mines (SLMM) are a modern type of naval mine designed to be deployed by submarines. The chief example is the Mark 67 SLMM, currently used by the United States Navy and capable of deployment on 688i Los Angeles-class submarines. These mines offer a strategic advantage by allowing for clandestine deployment in hostile or denied areas, such as ports or shipping lanes, making them difficult to detect and counter.[2]
The Mk 67 SLMM was first deployed in 1979[1], based on the design of the Mk 37 torpedo.[3] The SLMMs are designed to be launched from standard submarine torpedo tubes and are capable of traveling several thousand yards to their target location.[2] Their propulsion system allows for precise placement in areas inaccessible to other types of mines.[2]
The Mk 67 is 13 feet long, weighs 1,765 pounds, and carries a 330-pound high-explosive charge.[2] The mine is detonated by a combination of magnetic, seismic, and pressure sensors, making it effective against both surface vessels and submarines.[2] The depth range for the SLMMs is up to 600 feet.[2]