Naval mine

A sea mine is a naval munition installed in the water to destroy enemy submarines, surface ships and ships, as well as to impede their navigation. It consists of a body, an explosive charge, a fuse and devices that ensure the installation and retention of mines under water in a certain position. Sea mines can be placed by surface ships, submarines and aircraft (airplanes and helicopters). Naval mines are subdivided according to purpose, method of retention in the place of setting, degree of mobility, according to the principle of operation of the fuse and controllability after setting. Sea mines are equipped with safety, anti-sweep devices and other means of protection.

There are the following types of sea mines.

Aviation naval mine- a mine, the setting of which is carried out from aircraft carriers. They can be bottom, anchor and floating. To ensure a stable position in the air section of the trajectory, aviation sea mines are equipped with stabilizers and parachutes. When falling on the shore or shallow water, they explode from self-liquidators.

Acoustic naval mine- non-contact mine with an acoustic fuse that is triggered when exposed to the acoustic field of the target. Hydrophones serve as receivers of acoustic fields. Used against submarines and surface ships.

Antenna naval mine- an anchor contact mine, the fuse of which is triggered when the ship's hull comes into contact with a metal cable antenna. They are usually used to destroy submarines.

Towed naval mine- a contact mine, in which the explosive charge and the fuse are placed in a streamlined housing, which ensures that the mine is towed by a ship at a given depth. They were used to destroy submarines in the First World War.

Galvanic shock naval mine - a contact mine with a galvanic impact fuse that is triggered when a ship hits a cap protruding from the mine body.

Hydrodynamic naval mine- non-contact mine with a hydrodynamic fuse triggered by a change in pressure in the water (hydrodynamic field) caused by the movement of the ship. Hydrodynamic field receivers are gas or liquid pressure switches.

Bottom naval mine- a non-contact mine with negative buoyancy and installed on the seabed. Usually the depth of laying a mine does not exceed 50-70 m. The fuses are triggered when their receiving devices are exposed to one or more physical fields of the ship. It is used to destroy surface ships and submarines.

Drifting naval mine- an anchor mine torn from the anchor by a storm or a slashing trawl, which floated to the surface of the water and moved under the influence of wind and current.

Induction naval mine- non-contact mine with an induction fuse, triggered by a change in the magnetic field strength of the ship. The fuse only works under a ship that has a move. An induction coil serves as the receiver of the ship's magnetic field.

Combined naval mine - non-contact mine with a combined fuse (magnetic-acoustic, magnetohydrodynamic, etc.), which is triggered only when it is exposed to two or more physical fields of the ship.

Contact naval mine- a mine with a contact fuse triggered by mechanical contact of the underwater part of the ship with the fuse itself or the mine body and its antenna devices.

Magnetic naval mine- a non-contact mine with a magnetic fuse that is triggered at the moment when the absolute value of the ship's magnetic field strength reaches a certain value. As a magnetic field receiver, a magnetic needle and other magnetically receiving elements are used.

Non-contact naval mine- a mine with a proximity fuse triggered by the effects of the physical fields of the ship. According to the principle of operation of the fuse, non-contact sea mines are divided into magnetic, induction, acoustic, hydrodynamic and combined.

Floating naval mine- an anchorless mine floating under water at a given recess with the help of a hydrostatic device and other devices; moves under the influence of deep sea currents.

Anti-submarine naval mine - mine to destroy submarines in a submerged position during their passage at various depths of immersion. They are equipped mainly with proximity fuses that respond to the physical fields inherent in submarines.

Rocket pop-up naval mine- an anchor mine that pops up from a depth under the action of a jet engine and hits the ship with an underwater charge explosion. The launch of the jet engine and the separation of the mine from the anchor occurs under the influence of the physical fields of the ship passing over the mine.

Self-propelled naval mine - Russian name for the first torpedoes used in the second half of the 19th century.

Shestovaya naval mine(source) - a contact mine used in the 60-80s. 19th century An explosive charge in a metal sheath with a fuse was attached to the outer end of a long pole, which was pulled forward in the bow of the mine boat before a mine attack.

Anchor naval mine- a mine that has positive buoyancy and is held at a given recess under water with the help of a minrep (rope) connecting the mine to an anchor lying on the ground.

This text is an introductory piece.

The world media has been discussing for weeks whether Iran is able to blockade the Persian Gulf and cause a global oil crisis. The command of the American Navy assures the public that they will not allow such a development of events. Military observers of all countries calculate the quantitative and qualitative ratio of ships and aircraft of potential enemies. At the same time, almost nothing is said about mine weapons, and in fact it can become a Persian trump card.

PROSPECTS FOR MINING THE STRAITS OF HORMUZ

Well, really, what is the prospect of using mine weapons in the Persian Gulf? Let's start with what this bay is. Its length is 926 km (according to other sources, 1000 km), its width is 180-320 km, the average depth is less than 50 m, and the maximum depth is 102 m.

The entire northeastern shore of the bay, that is, about 1180 km, is Persian. It is mountainous, steep, which facilitates the defense and deployment of rocket and artillery batteries. The most vulnerable point is the Strait of Hormuz. The length of the strait is 195 km. The strait is relatively shallow - the maximum depth is 229 m, and in the fairway the depth is up to 27.5 m.

Currently, the movement of ships in the Strait of Hormuz is carried out along two transport corridors, each 2.5 km wide. Tankers heading for the Gulf follow a corridor closer to the Iranian coast, while those coming from the Gulf go along another corridor. Between the corridors there is a buffer zone 5 km wide. This zone was created to prevent collision of oncoming vessels. As you can see, the Persian Gulf in general and the Strait of Hormuz in particular is an ideal testing ground for the use of all types of naval mines.

During the Iran-Iraq war of 1980-1988, both sides, starting in 1984, attacked neutral tankers en route to the Persian Gulf. In total, 340 ships were attacked during the "tanker war". Most of them were attacked by boats and aircraft, and in some cases were fired upon by coastal rockets or artillery.

Mine laying was extremely limited. Mines damaged two ships in 1984, eight in 1987 and two in 1988. I note that the restriction on the use of mines was not due to technical, but to political reasons, since both sides claimed that they only attack ships that call at enemy ports. It is clear that mines are not yet able to carry out such selection.

On May 16, 1987, the Soviet tanker Marshal Chuikov blew up on the way to Kuwait. The tanker received a hole in the underwater part with an area of ​​about 40 square meters. m. Due to the good condition of the watertight bulkheads, the ship did not die.

On April 14, 1988, 65 miles east of Bahrain, the American frigate URO Samuel Roberts with a displacement of 4100 tons was blown up on an old anchor mine of the 1908 model. During the five-hour struggle for damage, the crew managed to keep the ship afloat. Repair of the frigate cost US taxpayers $135 million.

Now, few doubt that in the event of a large-scale attack on Iran, its Navy will start an unlimited mine war throughout the Persian Gulf, including, of course, the Strait of Hormuz.

TERRIBLE WEAPON OF IRANIAN SAILORS

What models of mine weapons does the Iranian Navy have? I'm not sure that his list is in the Pentagon. Mines, unlike ships, tanks and aircraft, are easier to hide, including when delivered from third countries. There is reason to believe that Iran has the majority of post-war mines. He could buy them both in the USSR and in the newly formed republics. Recall how Iran received Shkval missiles from the Dastan plant in Kyrgyzstan. In addition, Iran could receive mines through Libya, Syria and a number of other countries.

What are modern mines? One of the most advanced classic mines created at NII-400 (since 1991 - Gidropribor) was the UDM-2(universal bottom mine), adopted in 1978. It is designed to deal with ships of all classes and submarines. Mine laying can be carried out from ships, as well as from military and transport aircraft. In this case, the setting from the aircraft is carried out without a parachute system, which provides greater secrecy and the possibility of setting mines from low altitudes. In case of contact with land or shallow water, the mine will self-destruct.

The UDM-2 mine is equipped with a three-channel proximity fuse with acoustic and hydrodynamic channels and has multiplicity and urgency devices. Mine length 3055/2900 mm (aviation / ship version), caliber 630 mm. Weight 1500/1470 kg. Charge weight 1350 kg. The minimum depth of the installation site is 15/8 m, and the maximum depth is 60/300 m. The service life is one year, as, indeed, with other domestic mines.

In 1955, it was adopted aviation floating mine APM. The mine was designed at NII-400 under the direction of F.M. Milyakova. It was a galvanic impact mine, automatically held on a given recess by a pneumatic navigation device. Mina had a two-stage parachute system, consisting of a stabilizing and main parachute.

The APM mine ensured the defeat of a surface ship when its hull hit one of the four galvanic impact mine fuses located in its upper part. The navigation device, which worked on compressed air, ensured that the mine was kept at a given recess with an accuracy of 1 m. The supply of compressed air ensured the mine's combat service life of up to 10 days. The mine was intended for use in areas with depths of more than 15 m. The minimum speed of the ship, which ensured reliable operation of the galvanic shock fuse, was 0.5 knots.

More perfect floating mine MNP-2 was established in 1979 at the Special Design Bureau of the Machine-Building Plant. Kuibyshev in Kazakhstan under the leadership of Yu.D. Monakov. MNP stands for Zero Buoyancy Mine. The adjective "floating" disappeared from the name, as floating mines were banned by international agreement.

MNP-2 is designed to destroy surface ships and submarines in harbors or anchored near the coast, as well as to destroy various types of hydraulic structures. The carriers of the mines are self-propelled special-purpose underwater vehicles operated by combat swimmers. The "means" themselves are delivered to the area of ​​combat use by ultra-small or conventional submarines.

Mine length 3760 mm, caliber 528 mm. Weight 680 kg. TNT weight 300 kg. The range of swimming depths is from 6 to 60 m. The time spent under water in a combat position is up to 1 year.

Back in 1951, the Decree of the Council of Ministers of the USSR No. 4482 was issued, according to which the work plan of NII-400 from 1952 included the development of the Kambala rocket-floating mine. By decision of the leadership, a group of design officers of NII-3 of the Navy, headed by B.K. Lyamin, was sent to the institute. In the course of work on this topic, Lyamin created the world's first bottom reactive-floating mine, called KRM. It was adopted by the Navy by Council of Ministers Resolution No. 152-83 of January 13, 1957.

A passive-active acoustic system was used as a separator in the KRM mine, which detected and classified the target, gave the command to separate the warhead and start the jet engine, which delivered the warhead from the combat charging compartment to the surface of the water in the area where the surface target was located.

The dimensions of the KRM mine were: length 3.4 m, width 0.9 m, height 1.1 m. The mine was placed from surface ships. Mines weight 1300 kg. Weight of explosive (TGAG-5) 300 kg. The mine could be installed to a depth of 100 m. The width of the fuse response zone was 20 m.

However, the width of the KRM response zone was recognized by the leadership of the Navy as insufficient. Later on the basis of the KRM mine was created anchor jet-floating aviation small-parachute mine RM-1. It was put into service in 1960 and became the first universal-purpose mine-rocket, ensuring the destruction of both surface ships and submerged submarines.

In 1963, it was adopted bottom anchor reactive pop-up mine PM-2. The mine was created at NII-400. Its diameter is 533 mm, length 3.9 m, weight 900 kg, explosive weight 200 kg. Mine laying depth 40 - 300 m. Active acoustic fuse. The mine was placed from submarine torpedo tubes.

Anti-submarine mine-rocket PMR-1 became the first domestic wide-band self-aiming mine-rocket. Initially, it was intended to destroy submarines in a submerged position, but it could also destroy surface targets. PMR-1 was created in 1970 at NII-400 under the leadership of L.P. Matveev.

The laying of a mine is carried out from the torpedo tubes of submarines or by dropping over the stern from the decks of surface ships. PMR-1 is an anchor mine, consisting of interconnected reactive-charging and instrument-mechanical compartments, as well as an anchor.

The reactive-charging compartment is a solid-propellant rocket, in the head part of which an explosive charge and electronic equipment of the combat channel are placed. In the instrument-mechanical compartment there is a control system, a power source, mechanisms for tilting the mine and setting it to a given recess, a drum with a cable, and more.

After dumping, the mine sinks under the action of negative buoyancy, and when it reaches a depth of 60 m, a temporary device is launched. After working out the specified time, the casing connecting both compartments is dropped, then the anchor is released, and the winding of the minrep begins. After a set time, the mine is brought into combat position.

When an enemy submarine enters the danger zone of a mine, a direction-finding system is activated, which works on the principle of sonar. Electronic acoustic equipment determines the direction to the boat and turns on the aiming system. The hydraulic tilt mechanism directs the reactive-charging compartment to the target, and then issues commands to start the jet engine. The explosion of the charge is carried out using a non-contact or contact fuse.

The high speed of the missile and the short travel time - from 3 to 5 s - exclude the possibility of using anti-submarine countermeasures or evasive maneuvers.

The total length of the PMR-1 mine is 7800 mm, diameter 534 mm, weight 1.7 tons, charge weight 200 kg. Depth of laying mines from 200 to 1200 m. Service life 1 year.
In the late 1960s, several modifications of the PMR-1 mine were created at NII-400: MPR-2, PMR-2M, PMR-2MU.

Of the American mines, the most interesting self-burrowing mine "Hunter". It can be deployed from aircraft, surface ships and submarines. After being placed on the bottom, the mine is buried in it with the help of special devices, and only the antenna remains outside. Mina can be in a "sedated" state for up to two years. But at any time it can be activated by a special signal.

The body of the mine "Hunter" is made of plastic. When activated, the dual-channel fuse detects an enemy ship and fires a homing Mk-46 or Stigray torpedo at it.

I note that the design and mass production of a simplified Hunter model, even without a homing torpedo, is within the power of any country, especially Iran. Well, the bottom of most of the Persian Gulf is muddy, which makes it easier to bury torpedoes. Visually, it cannot be detected either by a diver or by a special unmanned vehicle - a mine finder.

The setting of any types of the above-mentioned mines can be carried out by Iranian aircraft, helicopters, various boats and ships. With the interaction of mine weapons with artillery and missiles of coastal installations and ships, as well as aviation, Iran has every chance of completely blocking navigation in the Persian Gulf. Technically, this is quite achievable, all that is needed is political will.

German aircraft mines series BM 1000 "Monica"
(Bombenmine 1000 (BM 1000) "Monika")

(Information on the mystery of the death of the battleship "Novorossiysk")

Part 1

Preface.

On October 29, 1955, at 01:30, an explosion occurred in the roadstead of Sevastopol, as a result of which the flagship of the Black Sea Fleet, the battleship Novorossiysk (the former Italian Giulio Cesare), received a hole in the bow. At 4 hours 15 minutes, the battleship, due to the unstoppable flow of water into the hull, capsized and sank. The true cause of the explosion and what exactly exploded, despite the investigation and subsequent years of research, have not been clarified.
It has been reliably established that the explosion was an external dual one (two charges that exploded with a time difference of tenths of a second), i.e. occurred not inside the ship's hull, but outside it, and it occurred under the bottom in the bow between the 31st and 50th frames to the right of the keel. It is in this place that there is a hole with an area of ​​\u200b\u200babout 150 square meters. meters, passing from the bottom up through all decks and going to the upper deck.
All other parameters of the explosion were obtained by various researchers by calculation, based on the size and nature of the damage, the size and shape of the crater from the explosion on the ground.

Ultimately, both the government commission and subsequent researchers put forward two versions regarding which explosive device exploded under the battleship. Moreover, the government commission considers the first version to be the main one, while all other researchers tend to the second one.

These are the versions:

1. A bunch of two German non-contact sea bottom mines, set by the Germans during the war between 22/6/1941 and 9/5/1944, exploded under the battleship. Those. it was an echo of the last war, a kind of accident.

2. A powerful explosive charge was installed under the battleship by foreign (Italian or English) combat swimmers, which was activated using a timer fuse or by wire. Those. it was a diversion. In fact, an act of aggression by NATO countries.

The author, through a review of the parameters, devices and principles of operation of German sea bottom non-contact mines, intends to give researchers the opportunity to significantly narrow this version. Narrow, not eliminate. The fact is that, in principle, a mine could not necessarily be of a German type. It could be Italian, and Soviet, and any state in one way or another affected by the war. However, after the liberation of Sevastopol and in the post-war years, only German bottom sea mines were found in the waters. Min designs of other states were not found.

Researchers excluding the mine version usually proceed from the fact that by October 1955, the bottom mine batteries were already inoperable and none of them could work. In general, this is true. In those days, there were no batteries capable of maintaining performance for such a long time.

However, supporters of the mine version sometimes argue that the mine could have been disturbed by the battleship's anchor chain exactly on the evening of October 28, 1955 at about 18:00 at the time the ship was placed on barrels. This event started the clockwork that stopped many years ago, which led after some time to the explosion of the mine (obviously referring to some kind of clockwork mechanical fuse that does not require power). Like, the mine self-destruction device just worked, which should have worked in a timely manner, but for some reason the clock mechanism stalled. But many years later, when the battleship disturbed the mine with its anchor chain, the clock mechanism started again. And under the bottom of the ship, a mine at the time of self-destruction turned out to be purely by accident.
True, usually those who refer to this version do not indicate the brand of mine or fuse that could work in this way ..

The author in the article deliberately distances himself from considering the issue of the safety of mine power sources and the issue of the point of explosion (at the bottom of the bay or under the bottom of the battleship). I'm trying to approach the mine version from the other side and consider the question -

"Could the operable explosive devices of the German sea bottom mine of the BM 1000 series with a non-contact target sensor lead to an explosion at 1.30 am on October 29, 1955?"

Let's remember this situation. Night, the battleship stands on barrels No. 3 (moored to the bow and stern barrels and additionally given the left anchor), i.e. completely motionless, its propellers motionless, main engines not working. The water depth at this point to a layer of dense silt is 17.3 meters, to the true bottom 38 meters, the draft of the ship is 10.05 m. Mooring was carried out at 17.22 on 10.28.55. Around 0:00 on October 29, a food barge with a tug departed from the battleship and a motor boat arrived. From that moment on, there was no vessel traffic in the bay.

From the author. However, the author would like to receive an answer from knowledgeable people to such a question - can a ship standing on two barrels and one anchor, i.e. fixed at three points, move in any direction (drift) more than 35 meters and return back? The fact is that the magnetic explosive devices of the VM 1000 mines worked when the enemy ship was closer than 35 meters from the mine. If at the same time the multiplicity device clicked off for one pass, then it was required that it move more than 35 meters and return back (well, or another ship approached the mine). If the ship has become above the mine, then it can stand above the mine indefinitely. The multiplicity device will wait for it to leave. Then he will wait for the next passage of the ship over the mine.

Actually, it is necessary to consider only the explosive devices of German non-contact explosive devices directly, but in order not to lose sight of all the circumstances associated with German bottom mines, the author intends to consider in detail the devices of these mines.

In this article, the author examines in detail the device of mines of one of the series (VM series) and the order, options for their operation. In subsequent articles, German sea bottom non-contact mines of other series will be considered. I should also say that the name "Monika" is an unofficial slang name for mine. But she is better known among sailors under this name, and therefore I took the liberty of including it in the title.

General.

German bottom non-contact mines were divided into two large groups - naval (Mine der Marine) and aviation (Mine der Luftwaffe). The first were designed by firms on the instructions of the navy and were intended for installation from ships. The second on the orders of the air force and were intended for installation from aircraft.

Actually, the difference between naval and aircraft mines is structurally small and this difference is dictated only by the peculiarities of delivery to the target. For example, aircraft mines are equipped with yokes for hanging from an aircraft, stabilizing or braking parachutes or tail stabilizers (similar to those used in aerial bombs). Just as small is the difference between fuses for both mines.

From the author. It is somehow difficult to call fuses (Zuender) very complex devices that initiate mine explosions under the influence of the physical fields of ships. In German, these devices are called Zuendergeraete. The most correct semantic translation of this term is "Explosive device", well, or "Explosive device". So we will name them below in the text.

All explosive devices of German bottom non-contact mines according to target sensors are divided into three main types:
1. Magnetic (Magnetik). They react to the distortion of the Earth's magnetic field at a given point, created by a passing ship.
2. Acoustic (Akustik). React to the noise of the propellers of the ship.
3. Hydrodynamic (Unterdruck or Druck). React to a slight decrease in water pressure.

The mines could use one of the three main devices or in combination with other main devices.

1.Magnetic-acoustic (Magnetik/Akustik),
2. Hydrodynamic-magnetic (Druck/Magnetik),
3. Acoustic-hydrodynamic (Akustik/Druck),
4. Hydrodynamic-acoustic (Druck/(Akustik).

These explosive devices, in addition to the main target sensors (magnetic, acoustic, hydrodynamic), could have additional sensitive devices added to the main ones and which were mainly intended to reduce the likelihood of false positives due to the fact that the target ship had to influence the explosive a device with its two or even three physical fields of a different nature (sound of normal or low frequency, infrasound, magnetic, hydrodynamic, induction).

There were the following additional sensitive devices that were not used independently, but only in combination in one of the first three main explosive devices:

1. Low frequency (Tiefton). Responds to low frequency sounds.

The following devices were in various stages of development and were intended to be used alone or in combination with the main explosive devices:

1. Infrasound (Seismik). Responds to fluctuations of infrasonic frequency (5-7 hertz).
2.Induction (J). Reacts to the close movement of metal masses.

Explosive devices that have, in addition to the main target sensor, additional ones are called combined.

In aviation naval mines of the VM series, 2 samples of explosive devices with a magnetic target sensor, 3 with an acoustic target sensor, 2 with magnetic-acoustic, 1 with acoustic-hydrodynamic and 1 with hydrodynamic-acoustic were used.
An explosive device with an acoustic-induction-hydrodynamic target sensor (AJD 101) was under development and testing. there is no information about installing it in mines.

BM series mines (Bombenminen).

In Germany, in 1940-1944, fifteen models of non-contact bottom mines were created or were in the process of being constructed, united by the general designation BM (Bombenminen), which were intended for installation from aircraft. These fifteen samples were combined into one group, since their design used the principle of high-explosive bomb design.

The following designations of mines of this series are known:
BM 1000 I,
BM 1000II,
BM 1000C,
BM 1000F,
BM 1000 H,
BM 1000 J-I,
BM 1000 J-II,
BM 1000 J-III,
BM 1000L,
BM 1000M,
BM 1000 T,
BM 500,
BM 250,
winterballoon,
wasserballoon.

Of all this diversity, only BM 1000 I, BM 1000 II, BM 1000 H, BM 1000 M and Wasserballoon mines were brought to the level of mass production and use.

Basically, all BM 1000 mines have the same device, with the exception of minor differences such as the size of the nodes, the size of the suspension yoke, the size of the hatches.

Although the Wasserballoon mine is classified as a BM 1000 series mine, it differs significantly in size, purpose and design. It is described at the end of this part of the article.

Weight and overall characteristics of all mines of the BM 1000 series:
- length (on the body) - 162.6 cm,
- diameter - 66.1 cm,
- total weight -870.9 kg.,
- charge weight - 680.4 kg.,
- type BB - a mixture of hexogen with TNT 50/50.

The hull of all BM 1000 mines consists of three separate parts welded together: an ogive nose, a cylindrical part, and a tail.
The nose is made of forged steel, while the other three parts are made of anti-magnetic 18% manganese steel.

On the body of the mine (1) are placed:
2. T-shaped yoke designed for hanging mines from the aircraft.
3. Bomb fuse (3) Rheinmetall Zuender 157/3 (RZ 157/3).
4. Protective cap of the explosive device. The explosive device itself is placed under this cap

The RZ 157/3 bomb fuse, located in the exact same place as the fuses for conventional bombs, plays a supporting role in this case. Its tasks are the following:
1. At the moment the mine is separated from the aircraft, blow up two squibs with which the nose cone is dropped (if the mine is equipped with one).
2. In the event that the mine, upon reaching zero height, hit hard ground, blow it up.
3. In the event that, after the mine reaches zero height, its deceleration is in the range of 20-200 gr. (fell into the water), close the main switch of the main explosive device.

Simply put, the task of the bomb fuse is to turn on the main switch of the mine in the event of a normal situation, and when it falls to the ground, to detonate the mine.
The fuse device is quite simple. First of all, until the mine is suspended from the aircraft and the fuse is connected to the aircraft's on-board electrical network, its electrical circuit, which does not have its own power sources, is inoperative and cannot perform any actions. This ensures complete safety of storage and transportation of mines. After hanging the mine and at the moment the fuse is connected to the aircraft's on-board network, two spring-loaded plunger contacts of the fuse are recessed down and open the fuse circuit. As a result, even after this, the fuse circuit remains not connected to the aircraft network. And only at the moment of separation of the mine from the aircraft, the fuse circuit is briefly connected to the aircraft's electrical circuit and the fuse capacitors are charged.

If the mine hits a hard surface, that is, there was a deceleration of more than 200 grams, then the inertial rod in the fuse closes the fuse circuit to its own detonator and the mine explodes.
When the mine touches the surface of the water, which gives a slowdown between 20 and 200 grams, two vibration contactors begin to vibrate, which close the fuse circuit to the main switch of the mine and the program for bringing the explosive device into combat position begins to work out. But more on that below.

The dimensions and shape of the protective cap of the explosive device depend on the explosive device installed in this mine and the configuration of the mine. There are 10 cap variants known, designated SH 1, SH 2, SH 3, SH 4, SH 5, SH 6, SH 7, SH 8, SH 9, SH 11

Let's consider the options for completing the mine, on which the modes of its dropping depend.

The first set.

Shown in the picture above. This is the mine itself with an explosive device, closed with a protective cap of any brand except SH 7, SH 8 or SH 9, and without any external additions such as a nose cone, brake disc, stabilizer and stabilizing parachute. In this regard, due to the high speed of the fall, there are certain restrictions on the use of mines - the drop height is 100-2000 meters, the aircraft speed is up to 459 km / h, the water depth at the drop site is 7-35 meters. The seabed at the site of the mine landing must be sufficiently dense so that the mine can lie on the bottom in a position close to horizontal. This is especially important for magnetic target sensors.

The second set.

This is the mine itself with an explosive device, closed by a protective cap of the SH 7, SH 8 or SH 9 brands. These protective caps differ from the caps of other brands in that they are equipped with ten brackets with lugs and studs. The soft fabric container of the stabilizing parachute LS 3 is placed on top of the protective cap.
Four straps are attached to the four brackets to keep the parachute container closed. In the center they are tied together with a 6-meter halyard. The second end of the halyard is fixed on the aircraft. The straps of the parachute itself are attached to the other six brackets.

When the mine is separated from the aircraft, the halyard releases the retaining tapes, the container, which has four petal valves, opens and releases the parachute out. The diameter of the parachute dome in the open state is 102 cm, the length of the lines is 2.44 meters. Dome in green rayon. White rayon slings.

The parachute stabilizes the position of the bomb nose down during descent and significantly reduces the rate of descent when dropped from high altitudes (of course, the rate of descent of a bomb on a parachute is many times greater than the rate of descent of a parachutist). The parachute allows you to drop mines from heights from 100 to 7000 meters at an aircraft speed of up to 644 km / h. The water depth should also be within 7-35 meters. Also, the parachute reduces the speed of the mine sinking in the water, which allows the mine to be used when the sea bottom is not dense enough.

From the author. However, this configuration unmasks the mine to a much greater extent both at the time of descent and under water. After all, heavy high-explosive bombs usually do not have parachutes, and if a mine of the first or third configuration can be mistaken by observers for ordinary air bombs, then the presence of a parachute clearly indicates that it was the mine that was dropped. And when searching for mines by divers or from boats, white slings and a rather large dome make it easier to detect mines, because after a mine falls, the parachute does not separate from it.

Third set

The mine is completed with a nose brake disc (Bugspiegles) (1), a nose cone (Bugverkleidung) (2) and a tail unit (Leitwerke) (3).

The nose brake disc is designed to reduce the speed of the fall of the mine due to the fact that the flat, blunt front surface of the mine has significant resistance. The nose brake disc is simply glued to the nose of the hull. There were two samples of the nose brake disc - BS 1, which was made from pressed cardboard, and BS 2. which was made from dinal (pressed cardboard impregnated with resin).

The nose cone was intended to reduce air resistance during the transport of mines by aircraft. It consisted of six aluminum segments, forming, when put together, an ogive-shaped dome. The front ends of the segments were held together by an aluminum cone and a small disk attached to a metal rod that was screwed into the nose of the mine. The rear ends of the segments were connected together with an aluminum ring that was put on the brake disc. This ring hugged the rear ends of the segments. The rod at its rear end had two squibs.

At the moment the mine was separated from the aircraft, the squibs exploded and interrupted the rod. This entire structure (a rod with a cone and a small disk, segments and a ring) scattered in the air and then the mine fell, having braking due to the brake disk. The stabilizer ensures the vertical position of the mine in the air.
There were two types of nose cones. At the BV 2 fairing, the squibs were blown up by an electrical impulse received from the RZ 157/3 fuse through a wire that passed from the fuse through the charge and went to the rod at its attachment point. At the BV 3 fairing, the squibs were mechanically blown up. To do this, two traction wires were pulled from the squibs, which passed through a hole in one of the segments and were attached to the aircraft.

The tail unit was a cone, put on the tail of the mine and secured with bolts. This cone had eight stabilizer feathers and a ring worn on the rear ends of the feathers. The tail unit was made of pressed cardboard impregnated with resin (dinal). There were twelve types of tails (LW 1, LW 2, LW 4, LW 5, LW 6, LW 8, LW 9, LW 11, LW 12, LW 14, LW 15, LW 17). They differed in their length, shape and number of feathers, the way they were attached to the mine. Feathers LW 1, LW 2, LW 4, LW 5, LW 6, LW 8, LW 9, LW 11, LW 12 were attached to the protective caps of explosive devices, and LW 14, LW 15, LW 17 directly to the rear of the mine.

As a rule, the nose brake discs and tails were destroyed when the mine hit the water.

The figure shows sections of two samples of mines of the third configuration. The upper one is a BM 1000 I mine with an AD 101 acoustic-barometric explosive device. The mine is equipped with a BS 1 or BS 2 nose brake disc (1), a BV 3 nose cone (2) and an LW 14 tail (3). From the bomb fuse RZ 157/3 (7) there is a cable (9) through the main switch to the explosive device AD ​​101. Two wire rods (12) are visible on the section that go to the surface of the nose fairing.

The lower mine BM 1000 M is equipped with a magnetic-acoustic explosive device MA 101, located in the tail section under a protective cap (6) SH 5. A cable (10) goes to the squibs (11) from the RZ 157/3 bomb fuse.

Both mines have a yoke (8) for suspension to the aircraft.

In this configuration, the restrictions on dropping are similar to the second configuration (mines can be dropped from heights from 100 to 7000 meters, the water depth should be within 5-35 meters). However, the speed of the aircraft should not exceed 459 km/h (against 644 for the second configuration).

The fourth set.

In this configuration, the mine does not have a nose fairing and a nose brake disc. The role of the braking device is performed by the braking parachute LS 1, which is attached to the tail. This is a small compact parachute attached to the end of the LW 17 empennage. The parachute (76.2 cm in diameter) is made of mesh rayon. It has 12 green camouflage rayon lines approximately 1.53 meters long. It is packaged in a light brown fabric bag, which is attached loosely to the tail of the mine and attached to the fin ring by four steel wires connected to four clips. 12 parachute lines, in turn, are attached to four wire rods, and the exhaust line is extended to the aircraft.

When the mine is separated from the aircraft, the exhaust halyard ensures the opening of the parachute.

The restrictions in this configuration are exactly the same as in the third configuration (mines can be dropped from heights from 100 to 7000 meters, water depth must be within 5-35 meters, aircraft speed is 459 km/h). But here the advantage over the second configuration is in a much smaller parachute size.

It should be noted that the tail unit, made of tarred pressed cardboard, was destroyed when the mines hit the water. Consequently, in the fourth configuration, the parachute, after splashing down the mine, could be at some distance from the mine, and in the presence of a current, it was carried away far from the mine. It was not possible in the second configuration

BM 1000 I mines could not be used in the first and second configurations, since the fastening of the explosive device was not strong enough. In the third configuration, this mine had to be used with a BV 3 nose cone, since there was no cable from the bomb fuse to the squibs inside the hull. Most often, this mine was used in the fourth configuration.

Mines BM 1000 II could be used in all configurations. In the third configuration, this mine had to be used with a BV 3 nose cone, since there was no cable from the bomb fuse to the squibs inside the hull.

Mines BM 1000 H. This version was created in 1940 for explosive devices MA 101 and MA 102, which required a larger hole for an explosive device than the BM 1000 I and BM 1000 II had. The explosive device mount and explosive device protective cover are arranged differently, and the mine body is slightly different in length. The BV 3 nose cone is also used with this mine.

BM 1000 M mines. In general, similar to the BM 1000 H mine, except that the BV 2 nose cone is used with this mine, since the electric control of the squibs is more reliable. This mine was the last of the VM 1000 series to enter service and be mass-produced.

This concludes the general description of the German aviation sea bottom non-contact mines of the BM 1000 series. It makes it possible to understand how the mines of this series were delivered to the installation site and how they reached the surface of the water and the bottom. It remains to be clarified which aircraft could be engaged in the installation of these mines.

1 mine of the BM 1000 series could be carried by Ju 87B, Ju 87 R, Ju 87C, Ju 87D, Me Bf 110, He 111, Me Bf 210 aircraft

2 mines of the BM 1000 series could be carried by Ju 88, FW 200C, Do 217E, Do 217K aircraft

4 mines of the BM 1000 series could be carried by Ju 88B aircraft.

The number of mines that could be suspended from an aircraft of a particular brand is determined not only by its carrying capacity, but also by the number and placement of suspension units.

Wasserpaloon. In the summer of 1944, the German Air Force was ordered to create and use mines that could destroy bridges on the Rhine and other major rivers. This mine was an attempt to fulfill this requirement. The Flam C 250 incendiary bomb was taken as the basis, which was equipped with an optical explosive device instead of a fuse.
The mine was loaded with explosive so as to give it a little positive buoyancy and allow it to float upright with its bow downstream. Several coils of detonating cord were attached to the inside of the tail section of the mine. As the mine swam under the bridge, the optical explosive device went off, detonating the detonating cord, which destroyed the tail of the mine and opened the buoyancy compartment. This led to the sinking of the mine. At the same time, a igniter was ignited, which burned for several seconds, allowing the mine to sink into the water. When the igniter burned out, the detonator exploded the explosive charge, and the column of water from the explosion destroyed the bridge.
Mine length 101.14 cm,
diameter 38.1 cm,
Charge weight 39.9 kg. hexonite.
With an LS 3 parachute, it can be dropped from a height of 99 - 990 meters at a water depth of 1.5 to 15 meters at an aircraft speed of up to 644 km / h.
There is no image of the mine, therefore, as an illustration, a drawing of the FLAM C 250 aerial bomb was used, which differs from the Wasserballon only in the presence of an air cavity in the upper half of the hull and another explosive device.

From the author. Some publications indicate that a bunch of two bottom mines could explode under the battleship. However, it is clear that the creation of a bunch of two aircraft mines that are dropped from an aircraft is impossible. This is excluded. both by the features of the suspension of mines to aircraft, and the impossibility of simultaneously dropping two mines. Even if two mines are connected to each other, each having its suspension unit, then due to the difference in the moment of separation, this connection will either break or a plane crash will occur.

And what, in general, what is the meaning of the meaning of the bundle, if the charge of a naval mine ensures the incapacitation of a ship of any class.

However, everything that has been said above only means that in 1941-44 the mines of the BM 1000 series could be delivered to Sevastopol by German aircraft and dropped into its waters. In order to figure out whether one of them could explode under the battleship Novorossiysk in 55, it is necessary to figure out which explosive devices could be installed in these mines. More on this in the second part of the article.

At the same time, it must be pointed out that in none of the books devoted to this tragedy the BM 1000 mines are mentioned. Most likely, the Germans did not use mines of this type in Sevastopol.

Also, it must be pointed out that the mines of the BM series were not equipped with clock mechanisms for bringing the mine into a combat position, timer devices for self-destruction or self-neutralization. In a word, not a single clockwork was installed in the mines of the BM series. After being dropped, the mine was immediately brought into combat position and the target ship began to wait

P.S. Huge thanks to the author to the people in Germany, who found and kindly provided documentary materials on the German naval mines of the Second World War to Yuri Martynenko, V. Fleischer, V. Tamm, V. Jordan for the article. Moreover, the help of Yu. Martynenko was so significant that it was just right consider him a co-author of the article.

Special thanks to E. Okunev from St. Petersburg for the compilation of information materials on the circumstances of the death of the battleship.

Sources and literature

1.OP1673A. German Underwater Ordnance Mines. Military Arms Research Service. Department of the Navy Department of Military Ballistics. Sant Jose. California June 14, 1946.
2.Wolfgang Thamm. Die Zuendgerate von See- und Bombenminen. Einsatzfahige deutsche Femzundgerate. Marine und Luftwaffe 1935-1945 Pro Literatur Verlag. 2005
3.Mine Disposal Handbook. Part IV. German Underwater Ordnance. Chapter 1. German Influence Mines. March 1, 1945.
4.Mine Disposal Handbook. Part IV. German Underwater Ordnance. Chapter 5. German Controlled Mines. March 1, 1945.
5.Uebersicht ueber deutsche und fremde Ankertayminen und Sperrschutzmittel. Herausgegeben 1946 der Deutschen Minenraeumdiensleiting. D.M.R.V. Nr 13.
6.O.P. Bar-Biryukov. Hour X for the battleship "Novorossiysk. Tsentrpoligraf. Moskva. 2006
7. B.A. Korzhavin. The mystery of the death of the battleship "Novorossiysk". Polytechnic. Moscow.
8. The death of the battleship "Novorossiysk". Documents and facts.
9.Army Technical Manual TM 9-1985-2/Air Force Technical Order TO 39B-1A-9. GERMAN EXPLOSIVE ORDNANCE (Bombs, Fuzes, Rockets, Land Mines, Grenades & Igniters). 0 1325 005 0002. Departments of the Army and Air Force. March 1953
10. Personal photo archive of Yu.G. Veremeev.
11. Personal photo archive of Martynenko Yu.I.
12.Aufsichts - und Dienstleistungsdirection (Koblenz, Germany).
13. Exposition of Dresdener Sprengshule (Dresden, Germany).
14. Exposition Das Militarhistorische Museum der Bundeswehr in Dresden, Germany.

The not quite usual combination of “aviation” and “sea” is perplexing for some, but upon closer examination it turns out to be quite logical and justified, since it most accurately expresses the purpose of the weapon and the means of its use. A sea mine has a rather long history of development and improvement and is usually defined as "an explosive charge enclosed in a sealed case, installed at some recess from the surface of the water or on the ground and designed to destroy surface ships and submarines."

It cannot be said that mines were treated with due respect in aviation, rather, on the contrary, they were frankly disliked. This is explained by the fact that the crew did not see the results of the use of weapons, and in general no one could tell with sufficient certainty where the mine ended up. In addition to everything, the mines, especially the first samples, were bulky, pretty much spoiled the already not very perfect aerodynamics of the aircraft, led to a significant increase in take-off weight and to changes in alignment. To this should be added a rather complicated procedure for preparing mines (delivery from the arsenals of the fleet, installation of fuses, urgency devices, multiplicity, power sources, etc.).

The sailors, having assessed the ability of aviation to quickly arrive at the designated area of ​​​​mine laying and quite covertly lay them, nevertheless, had complaints about accuracy, rightly hinting that the mines laid by aviation in some cases turn out to be dangerous not only for the enemy. However, the accuracy of laying mines depended not only on the crews, but also on the area, meteorological conditions, aiming method, the degree of perfection of the navigation equipment of our aircraft, etc.

Perhaps these reasons, as well as the low carrying capacity of aircraft, hampered the creation of aircraft mines. However, with the development of sea mines intended for setting from ships, the situation was no better, and various statements about the leading role of our country in the creation of such weapons, to put it mildly, do not quite correspond to the historical truth and the actual state of affairs.

Aircraft mines must meet some specific requirements:

- do not limit the flight characteristics of the aircraft;

– withstand relatively high impact loads during splashdown;

- their parachute system (if provided) should not unmask the setting;

- in case of hit on land, the deck of the ship and the depth of less than a given mine should be undermined;

- the safe landing of the aircraft with mines must be ensured.

There are other requirements, but they apply to all mines and therefore are not considered in the article.

The fulfillment of one of the basic requirements for mines led to the need to reduce their overloads at the time of splashdown. This is achieved both by taking measures to strengthen the structure, and by reducing the splashdown speed. Based on numerous studies, it was concluded that the simplest and cheapest braking device, applicable on mines, is a parachute.

A mine equipped with a large parachute splashes down with a vertical speed of about 15-60 m/s. The parachute method provides the possibility of laying mines in shallow water with small dynamic splashdown loads. However, the parachute method has significant drawbacks and, above all, low accuracy of setting, the impossibility of using bomber sights for aiming, the secrecy of setting is not ensured, since the dirty green parachutes of mines hang in the sky for a long time, there are difficulties with their flooding, and speed limits are great. mortars, parachute systems increase the dimensions of min.

These shortcomings necessitated the creation of mines, approaching in their ballistic characteristics to aerial bombs. Therefore, there was a desire to reduce the area of ​​parachutes of mines or, if possible, to get rid of them altogether, which, by the way, ensured an increase in the accuracy of setting (if it was carried out using aiming devices, and not by calculating the time from any reference point) and greater secrecy setting. Some consider it an advantage to reduce the probability of destroying a mine in the air section of the trajectory, without thinking about whether minelaying should be carried out in full view of the enemy. Of course, the equipment of parachute mines must have increased impact resistance, the hull must be equipped with a rigid stabilizer, and the depth of the place of application must be limited.

Domestic design organizations own the primacy of the idea of ​​​​creating non-parachute aircraft mines, although it was not without some overlays, since the MAH-1 and MAH-2 mines developed in 1930, intended for setting from low altitudes without parachutes, never entered service.

In the early 1930s, the first VOMIZA aircraft mine was put into service in our country. It was described in detail in No. 7/1999.

The development of mine weapons in the prewar and war years was influenced by the use of proximity fuses in mines, which were created on the basis of achievements in electrical engineering, electronics and other fields of science. The need for such fuses was caused by the fact that trawling contact mines was not difficult.

It is believed that the first proximity fuse in Russia was proposed in 1909 by Averin. It was a magnetic induction differential fuse designed for anchor mines. The differential circuit provided protection for the fuse from triggering when the mine rolled.

The use of proximity fuses made it possible to increase the interval between mines in the barrier, to carry out an explosion under the bottom of the ship, to use autonomous bottom mines, which have some advantages over anchor mines. However, by the end of the 1920s, only the first steps were taken towards the creation of such fuses.

The principle of operation of proximity fuses is based on the use of a signal from one or more physical fields created by a ship: magnetic (increase in the magnitude of the Earth's magnetic field due to the magnetic mass of the ship), induction (the phenomenon of electromagnetic induction), acoustic (conversion of acoustic vibrations into electrical), hydrodynamic (conversion pressure changes into mechanical impulse), combined. There are other types of proximity fuses based on factors of a different nature.

Aviation anchor mine AMG-1 (1939)

1 - ballistic tip, 2 - anchor, 3 - shock absorber, 4 - mine body, 5 - cruciform stabilizer, 6 - cables for attaching the stabilizer and fairing to the mine.

Setting mines AMG-1

A fuse triggered by an external field is called passive. If it has its own field and its operation is determined by the interaction of its own field and the target, then this type of fuse is active.

The development of domestic proximity fuses for mines and torpedoes began in the mid-20s in the department of the All-Union Energy Institute by a group of scientists led by B.C. Kulebyakin. Subsequently, the work was continued by other organizations.

The first non-contact mine was the REMIN river induction non-contact mine. Her fuse was adopted in 1932, he ensured the explosion of the mine after the primary relay was triggered. The receiving part of the fuse was a large coil of insulated copper wire, closed on the frame of a specially designed sensitive galvanometric relay. The mine was intended to be deployed from surface ships. Three years later, the mine was equipped with more reliable equipment, and in 1936, after strengthening the hull, under the name MIRAB (induction river aviation low-level mine) they began to be used from aircraft in two versions: as a parachute from medium altitudes and as a parachute from low-altitude flight ( according to the current documents of this period, flying at altitudes from 5 to 50 m was considered low. However, the mine was dropped from 100-150 m, which refers to low altitudes).

In 1935, they developed a new magnetic induction fuse and a small non-contact bottom mine MIRAB, which replaced the first sample. For the first time, a two-pulse functional circuit was used in a mine. The command to detonate the mine was received after the receiving device actuated twice during the program relay operation cycle. If the second pulse arrived after a period exceeding the relay cycle time, it was perceived as primary, and the mine was switched to standby mode. A two-pulse fuse provided more reliable mine protection from an explosion with a single impact on its receiving part and produced an explosion at a closer distance from the ship than a single-pulse one.

In 1941, MIRAB was once again finalized, the scheme was simplified, and the explosive charge was increased. This version of the mine was very limitedly used in World War II.

In 1932, a student of the Naval Academy. Voroshilova A.B. Geiro, in his graduation project, proposed a rather interesting technical solution for an aviation non-parachute anchor galvanic shock mine. He was offered to continue work on the implementation of the project at the Scientific Research Mine and Torpedo Institute. A group of specialists from the Central Design Bureau (TsKB-36) was also attracted to it. The work was completed successfully, and in 1940, the AMG-1 mine (Geyro aviation mine) was adopted by the naval aviation. Its author was awarded the title of laureate of the Stalin Prize. Mina allowed setting from heights from 100 to 6000 m at speeds of 180-215 km / h. Her TNT charge was 250 kg.

During the tests, mines were dropped onto the ice of the Gulf of Finland with a thickness of 70-80 cm, they confidently pierced it and were set to a given depth. Although by and large it had no practical significance, since the parachutes remained on the surface of the ice. The mine was tested on DB-3 and IL-4 aircraft.

Mina AMG-1 had a spherical body with five lead galvanic impact caps, inside of which there was a galvanic cell in the form of a glass ampoule with electrolyte, zinc and carbon electrodes. When the ship hit a mine, the cap was crushed, the ampoule was destroyed, the galvanic cell was triggered, the resulting electromotive force caused a current in the fuse circuit and an explosion. On sea mines, the lead cap was closed with a cast-iron safety cap, which was removed after the mine was laid. On the AMG-1 mine, the galvanic impact caps were recessed and pulled out of the sockets of the housing by springs after the mine was installed on a given recess.

The body of the mine was anchored in a streamlined shape with rubber and wooden cushioning. The mine was supplied with a stabilizer and a ballistic tip, which separated during splashdown. The mine was installed on a given recess in a loop way, floating up from the ground.

Work on mines MIRAB and REMIN, as well as experimental work on the creation of induction coils with cores made of materials with high magnetic permeability, carried out on the eve of the Great Patriotic War in Sevastopol, made it possible in difficult military conditions, despite the relocation of industry and some design organizations, to create incomparably more advanced samples of AMD-500 and AMD-1000 non-contact bottom mines, which entered service with the Navy in 1942 and were successfully used by aviation.

The team of designers (Matveev, Eigenbord, Budylin, Timakov), testers Skvortsov and Sukhorukov (Navy Research Institute of Mine-Torpedo) of these mines were awarded the title of Stalin Prize laureates.

Mina AMD-500 is equipped with an induction two-channel fuse. The sensitivity of the fuse ensured the operation of the mine under the influence of the residual magnetic field of the ship at depths of 30 m. The explosive charge of the mine provided quite significant destruction at distances up to 50 m.

In the same year, the APM-1 parachute aviation amphibious mine entered service with the mine-torpedo aviation units of the Navy. It was intended for setting on rivers at a setting depth of more than 1.5 m from a height of 500 m or more. Since APM-1 had a weight of only 100 kg, and explosives - 25 kg, it was quickly removed from service.

Until 1939, mine-torpedo weapons were equipped mainly with TNT, and more powerful explosive formulations were sought. In the Navy, work was carried out by several organizations. In 1938, a GG mixture was tested (a mixture of 60% TNT and 40% RDX). In terms of explosion power, the composition surpassed TNT by 25%. Field tests also showed positive results, and on this basis, at the end of 1939, a government decision was made to use the new GT substance for equipping torpedoes and mines. However, by this time it turned out that the introduction of aluminum powder into the composition increases the power of the explosion by 45-50% in comparison with TNT. This effect was explained by the fact that during the explosion, aluminum powder is converted into aluminum oxide with the release of heat. Laboratory tests have shown that the optimal formulation contains 60% TNT, 34% RDX and 16% aluminum powder. The mixture was named TGA.

All research work on the creation and implementation in our country of ammunition for equipping mine-torpedo weapons was carried out by a group of Navy specialists led by P.P. Saveliev.

During the war, combat charging compartments of torpedoes and non-contact induction mines were equipped only with a mixture of TGA. It was with this mixture that AMD mines were also equipped. To ensure an explosion under the most vital parts of the ship, the mines were equipped with a special device that delayed the explosion for 4 seconds from the moment the software relay began to operate. A six-cell mine battery powered the entire electrical circuit, had an output voltage of 4.5 or 9 volts, and its capacity was 6 ampere-hours.

Bottom mine AMD-500

Bottom mine AMD-500 suspended under IL-4

The IL-4 bomber is preparing for the "fly with the AMG-1 mine

The parachute system of the mine consisted of a main parachute with an area of ​​29 m², a brake (area of ​​2 m²) and a stabilizing one, a drop mechanism for attaching and separating the parachute from the mine, a KAP-3 device (a clockwork and an aneroid for separating the stabilizing parachute from the mine and opening parachutes at a given height).

In 1942, they developed a new version of the AMD-2-500 mine with a two-channel fuse. To save the capacity of power sources between the induction coil and the galvanometric relay, an amplifier was turned on, which came into operation only when a signal was received from the standby acoustic channel, indicating the appearance of a signal from the ship. Such a scheme excluded the possibility of triggering an induction fuse, which had a high sensitivity, under the influence of magnetic storms, since it was de-energized.

The AMD-2-500 mine was already equipped with urgency and multiplicity devices. The first was intended to bring the mine into a combat state after a certain time, and the second device made it possible to set up a mine to detonate after a certain number of targets were missed, or on the first target after the mine came into working condition. The urgency and multiplicity settings were made during the preparation of mines for use and could not be changed in the air.

Similar devices were used on mines A-IV and A-V coming from England. The main difference between the electrical circuit of the A-V mine and the A-IV mine was that it had a two-pulse operation of the circuit and the multiplicity device was replaced with an urgency device. The double-pulse nature of the circuit was ensured not by electromechanical means, but by introducing a double-pulse capacitor into the circuit. After 10-15 seconds, the mine became ready to fire from the second impulse. The expiration date of the mine was determined by the fact that the urgency device was periodically connected to the battery after 2-6 minutes. The shelf life of the mine was 6-12 months.

Devices of urgency and multiplicity significantly increased the anti-sweep resistance of mines, while protecting them from single explosions and a series. The protective channel, triggered by the shock experienced by the mine body during a close explosion, disconnected the acoustic and induction channels from the circuit, and the mine did not react.

The AMD-2 mine was tested in the Caspian Sea from December 1942 to July 1943, and after some modifications in January 1945, it was put into service in the AMD-2-500 and AMD-2-1000 variants. For some reasons, they were considered the best, but they were not used in the Patriotic War. For the development of mines, Skvortsov, Budylin and others were awarded State Prizes.

Work on the further improvement of non-contact mines continued, and they tried to use them with various combinations of fuses.

It is of undoubted interest to compare the developments of the US Navy of this period with domestic ones. The most famous are two samples of mines: Mk.KhSh and Mk.KhI mod. one.

The first mine is parachuteless, non-contact, induction, bottom. It has a body with an inseparable stabilizer. The weight of the mine is 455-480 kg, the explosive is 300-310 g. The case diameter is 0.5 m, the length is 1.75 m. The maximum drop height is up to 425 m, the permissible speed is 230 km / h. The fuse circuit is two-pulse with the possibility of increasing up to 9, the multiplicity is up to 8 cycles.

The unusual thing is that the mine can also be used as a bomb. In this case, there are no restrictions on the drop height. And one more original solution - the induction coil of the mine is amortized and not connected to its body. The circuit does not use capacitors. After two tablets melt in the splashed down mine, two hydrostats are activated (setting depth 4.6-27.5 m). The first one starts the clock of the safety device, and the second one sends the ignition cartridge into the ignition glass. After some time, the electrical circuit was powered and the mine was brought into combat condition.

Mina Mk.KhM was developed for submarines, and its modification Mk.KhI mod. 1 - for aircraft. Reference non-contact parachute mine 3.3 m long, 0.755 m in diameter, weighing 755 kg, explosive charge (TNT) - 515 kg, minimum height of use - 91.5 m. German developments were used to the maximum. Clock mechanisms are widely used in the design, in order to quickly initiate the explosive charge, the detonators were placed across it, the mine was provided with reliable rubber cushioning, which caused criticism due to the high consumption of rubber. The mine turned out to be extremely expensive to manufacture and cost $2,600 (Mk.XS cost $269). And one more important feature of the mine: it was universal and could be used both from submarines and from aircraft. This was achieved by the fact that the parachute was an independent part and was attached to the mine with bolts. The parachute of the mine is round, with an area of ​​28 m² with a pole hole, and was supplied with a pilot chute. It fit into a cylindrical box attached with a German-style parachute lock.

Section of an AMD-2M mine prepared for internal suspension under an aircraft

Section of the IGDM mine, prepared for internal suspension under the aircraft

1 - body; 2 - bowler hat; 3 - parachute casing; 4 - tightening belt; 5 - parachute system; 6 - induction coil; 7 - hydrodynamic receiver; 8 - battery pack; 9 - relay device; 10 - safety device; 11 - parachute lock; 12 - ignition glass; 13 - ignition cartridge; 14 - additional detonator-15 - parachute machine KAP-3; 16 - dehumidifiers; 17 - yokes; 18 - exhaust cable; 19 - cable "explosion-non-explosion"

After the end of the war, work on mine weapons continued, existing models were improved and new ones were created.

In May 1950, by order of the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy, ships and aircraft were armed with induction hydrodynamic mines AMD-4-500 and AMD-4-1000 (Chief Designer Zhavoronkov). They differed from their predecessors in increased anti-sweep resistance. Using the German captured hydrodynamic receiver in 1954, the design bureau of plant No. 215 developed the AMD-2M airborne parachute bottom mine, which was subsequently adopted for service, made in the dimensions of the FAB-1500 bomb (diameter - 0.63 m, length of the combat mine with internal suspension under the aircraft - 2.85 m, with the outside - 3.13 m, the weight of the mine is -1100-1150 g).

The AMD-2M mine, as the name implies, is an improvement of the AMD-2 mine. At the same time, the design of the hull, bowler hat and parachute system were completely changed. The shock-hydrostatic and hydrostatic devices were replaced with one universal safety device, the relay device was improved, the fuse circuit was supplemented with anti-sweep blocking. Mine fuse - two-channel, acoustic-induction. Explosion of a mine or testing of one multiplicity (on a mine, you can set the number of idle operations of a multiplicity device from 0 to 20) occurs only when the acoustic and magnetic fields of the ship act on the mine receivers.

The new parachute system allowed the use of mines at flight speeds up to 750 km / h and consisted of eight parachutes: a stabilizing one with an area of ​​2 m², a braking one - 4 m² and six main ones - 4 m² each. The speed of mine descent on a stabilizing parachute is 110-120 m/s, on the main parachutes - 30-35 m/s. The time of separation of the parachute system from the mine after splashdown is 30-120 minutes (time for the sugar to melt).

In 1955, the APM small-parachute floating mine, made in the dimensions of the FAB-1500 bomb, entered service. The mine is an improved version of the PLT-2 anti-submarine floating mine. This is a contact electric shock mine that automatically holds a given recess with the help of a pneumatic navigation device, designed for use in sea areas with depths over 15 m. . And if at least one of the fuses broke, then a mine was detonated. The mine was brought into combat position 3.5-4.0 s after separation from the aircraft and allowed installation on recesses from 2 to 7 m every meter. In the case of equipping a mine with an “explosion-sinking” hydrostat, the minimum depth was set at least 3 m. The safety of mine handling was ensured by three safety devices: inertial, temporary and hydrostatic. The parachute system consisted of two parachutes: stabilizing and main.

The principle of operation of the mine was as follows. After 3.5-4 seconds after separation from the aircraft, the mine was put on alert. The urgency device was unlocked, and the clockwork began to work out the set time. Inertial fuses were prepared to be triggered by a mine hitting the water at the time of splashdown. At the same time, a stabilizing parachute was extended, on which the mine was reduced to 1000 m above sea level. At this altitude, the KAP-3 was activated, the stabilizing parachute was separated and the main one was put into action, providing a descent at a speed of 70-80 m/s. If the setting height turned out to be less than 1000 m, then the main parachute was put into action 5 s after separation from the aircraft.

When a mine hit the water, the nose cone separated and sank, the inertial lock of the parachute casing was activated and sank along with the parachute, power was supplied to the navigation device from the battery pack.

The mine, due to the bow cut at an angle of 30 °, regardless of the height of the drop, went under water to a depth of 15 m. With a dive to a depth of 2.5-4 m, the hydrostatic switch was activated and connected the ignition device to the electrical circuit of the mine. Keeping the mine at a given recess was provided by a navigation device powered by compressed air and electricity. Compressed air was used for force impact, and the electric power of the battery pack was used to control the mechanisms that ensure swimming. Stocks of compressed air and sources of electricity provided the possibility of floating mines in a given recess for at least 10 days. After the expiration of the sailing period set by the urgency device, the mine self-destructed (depending on the installation, it was flooded or blown up).

Mina was supplied with slightly different parachute systems. Until 1957, parachutes reinforced with nylon pads were used. Subsequently, the gaskets were excluded, and the time for lowering the mine decreased somewhat.

In 1956-1957. Several more samples of aviation mines were adopted for service: IGDM, "Lira", "Series", IGDM-500, RM-1, UDM, MTPK-1, etc.

The special aviation mine IGDM (induction hydrodynamic mine) is made in the dimensions of the FAB-1500 bomb. It can be used from aircraft flying at speeds up to 750 km/h. The combined induction-hydrodynamic fuse, after the mine entered the combat position, was transferred to constant readiness to receive the ship's magnetic field pulse. The hydrodynamic channel was connected only after receiving a signal of a certain duration from the induction channel. It was believed that such a scheme gives the mine a high anti-sweep resistance.

Mina Serpey, prepared for suspension under the aircraft .. Tu-14T

Mina "Lyra"

Section of the aircraft anchor non-contact mine "Lira"

1 - anchor; 2 – drum with minrep; 3 - ballistic tip; 4 - clock mechanism; 5 - electric battery; 6 - non-contact fuse; 7 - parachute; 8 - contact fuse; 9 – protection channel receiver; 10 - combat channel receiver; 11 - standby channel receiver; 12 - self-destruction device; 13 - explosive charge; 14 - ignition device

Under the influence of the EMF induced in the induction coil of the mine when the ship passes over it, a current arises, and the electrical circuit prepares to receive the impulse of the ship's hydrodynamic field. If its impulse did not act within the estimated time, then at the end of the operation cycle, the mine circuit returns to its original combat position. If the mine received a hydrodynamic field impulse less than the estimated duration, then the circuit returned to its original position; if the impact was long enough, then an idle cycle was worked out or mines were blown up (depending on the settings). The mine was also equipped with an urgency device.

The action of the parachute system of a mine dropped from heights exceeding 500 m occurs in the following sequence. After separation from the aircraft, the check of the KAP-3 parachute machine is pulled out and a stabilizing parachute is pulled out, on which the mine descends at a vertical speed of 110-120 m / s to 500 m. At this height, the KAP-3 aneroid releases the clock mechanism, after 1-1.5 with a parachute with a casing, they are separated from the mine and at the same time a chamber with a brake and main parachutes is pushed out. The drag chute opens, the vertical rate of descent of the mine decreases, the clock mechanism comes into operation, the main parachutes are removed and opened from the covers. The rate of descent is reduced to 30-35 m/s.

When setting a mine from the minimum allowable height, the parachute casing is separated from the mine at a lower height, and the whole system works in the same way as when setting from high altitudes. Parachute systems mines IGDM and AMD-2M are similar in design.

Aviation anchor non-contact mine "Lira" entered service in 1956. It is made in the dimensions of the FAB-1500 bomb, equipped with a three-channel acoustic proximity fuse, as well as four contact fuses. The non-contact fuse had three receivers of acoustic vibrations. The duty receiver was intended for constant listening and, upon reaching a certain signal value, turned on the other two channels; protective and combative. A protective channel with an omnidirectional acoustic receiver blocked the triggering circuit of non-contact fuses. The acoustic receiver of the combat channel had a sharp characteristic directed towards the surface of the water. In the event that the level of the acoustic signal (in terms of current) exceeded the level of the protective channel, the relay closed the circuit of the ignition device, and an explosion occurred.

Proximity fuses of this type were later used in other samples of anchor and bottom mines.

The mine could be installed at depths from 2.5 to 25 m, to a given recess from 2 to 25 m, floating up from the ground (loop method).

The bottom non-contact mine "Serpey" (it owes such an unusual name to a typist's mistake when reprinting, the mine should have been called "Perseus") is also made in the dimensions of the FAB-1500 bomb and is intended for setting by aircraft and ships in sea areas with depths from 8 to 50 m The mine is equipped with an induction-acoustic fuse using the magnetic and acoustic fields of a moving ship.

The laying of a mine from an aircraft is carried out using a two-stage parachute system. The stabilizing parachute is pulled out immediately after separation from the aircraft, upon reaching a height of 1500 m, the KAP-Zt automatic device deploys a braking parachute. After splashdown and testing of safety devices, the fuse circuit enters the combat state.

Aviation mine IGDM-500

1 - hydrodynamic receiver; 2 - parachute system; 3 - collar; 4 - device for the destruction of aircraft mines; 5 - ballistic tip; 6 - ignition cup; 7 - capsule M; 8 - body; 9 - induction coil; 10 - rubber bandage

Aviation jet-floating mine RM-1

1,2 - anchor; 3 - jet engine; 4 - power supply; 5 – hydrostatic sensor; 6 - safety device; 7 - parachute casing; 8 - explosive charge; 9 - drum with minrep

As a result of the work carried out, it was possible to significantly increase the anti-sweep resistance of mines.

Chief mine designer F.N. Solovyov.

Mina IGDM-500 is bottom, non-contact, two-channel, induction-hydrodynamic, aviation and ship, in terms of charge size - small. The mine is placed from aircraft at depths of 8-30 m. It was developed in the dimensions of the FAB-500 bomb (diameter - 0.45 m, length - 2.9 m).

The laying of the IGDM-500 mine (chief designer of the mine S.P. Vainer) is carried out using a two-stage parachute system consisting of a stabilizing parachute of the VGP type (rotating cargo parachute) with an area of ​​0.2 m² and the same type of main parachute with an area of ​​0.75 m². On a stabilizing parachute, the mine is reduced to 750 m - the height of the KAP-3 device. The device is triggered and actuates the lever system of the parachute casing. The lever system releases the drogue chute case with the stabilizing chute attached, separates from the mine and removes the drogue chute case, on which it descends until splashdown. At the moment of splashdown, the braking parachute is torn off by a stream of water and sinks, and the mine sinks to the ground. The detached stabilizing parachute sank when it hit the water.

After the safety devices installed in the mine are triggered, the contacts close and all batteries are connected to the proximity fuse circuit. After 1-3 hours (depending on the depth of the place of setting), the mine comes into a dangerous state.

Increasing the sensitivity of proximity fuses with a limited explosive charge did not give much effect. Based on this, we came to the idea of ​​the need to bring the charge closer to the detected target in order to make the most of its capabilities. Thus, the idea arose of separating the mine from the anchor, on which it was in the waiting position, when a signal was received about the appearance of the target. In order to solve such a problem, it was necessary to ensure the ascent of the mine in the shortest possible time from the depth at which it is installed. For this, a solid-propellant rocket engine using NMF-2 nitroglycerin gunpowder, which was installed on the RAT-52 jet aircraft torpedo, was most suitable. With a weight of only 76 kg, it was almost instantly activated, worked for 6-7 s, developing a thrust of 2150 kgf / s in the water. True, at first there were doubts about the reliability of the engine at a depth of 150-200 m, until they were convinced of their groundlessness - the engine worked reliably.

The research, begun in 1947, was completed successfully, and the ship version of the KRM rocket-propelled mine entered service with the ships of the fleet. The work was continued and in 1960, the RM-1 anchored rocket-propelled mine was adopted by the Navy Aviation. Chief mine designer L.P. Matveev. The RM-1 mine was made in a large series.

The RM-1 mine is made in the dimensions of the FAB-1500 bomb, but its weight is 900 kg with a length of 2855 mm and a charge of 200 kg.

The start of the engine of the mine and its ascent were provided by the signal of the sonar non-contact separator when a surface ship or submarine passed over the mine. The mine is equipped with a two-stage parachute system, which ensures its use from a height of 500 m and above. After separation from the aircraft, a stabilizing rotating parachute with an area of ​​0.3 m 2 is opened, and the mine descends at a vertical speed of 180 m / s until the KAP-ZM-240 device is activated, which is installed at a height of 750 m. At this height, a braking rotating parachute with an area of 1.8 m 2 , reducing the rate of decline to 50-65 m/s.

When entering the water, the parachute system separates and sinks, and the hull connected to the anchor sinks. In this case, the mine can be set at depths from 40 to 300 m. If the sea depth in the setting area is less than 150 m, then the mine occupies a near-bottom position on a minrep 1-1.5 m long. If the sea depth is 150-300 m, then the mine is set at a distance of 150 m from the surface. Separation of Mina from the anchor at a sea depth of up to 150 m occurs with the help of a temporary mechanism, at great depths - when a membrane hydrostat is triggered.

After separation from the anchor and installation for deepening, the mine comes into working position for working out the urgency device, which makes it possible to install from 1 hour to 20 days. If it was set to zero, then the mine immediately came to a dangerous position. Acoustic transceiver, located in the upper part of the mine body, periodically sent ultrasonic pulses to the surface, forming a "danger spot" with a diameter of 20 m. The reflected single pulses returned to the receiving part. If any pulse arrived before the one reflected from the surface, paired pulses were returned to the receiving system at intervals equal to the difference in distances. After the arrival of three pairs of double pulses, the non-contact compartment device started the jet engine. The body of the mine was separated from the anchor, and under the action of the engine, it floated at an average vertical speed of 20-25 m/s. At this stage, the proximity fuse compared the measured distance with the actual deepening of the mine and, upon reaching the level of the target, undermined it.

Modern aviation bottom mines of the MDM family are equipped with a three-channel fuse, urgency and multiplicity devices, and are characterized by high anti-sweep resistance. They are modified according to the type of director.

Mine weapons of naval aviation, while remaining stable in terms of the main elements of the structure, continue to improve at the level of individual samples. This is achieved by modernizing and developing new models, taking into account the changed requirements for this type of weapon.

Alexander Shirokorad

floating mines

Until now, we have been talking about such mines that exactly “know” their place under water, their combat post and are motionless in this post. But there are also mines that move, float either under water or on the surface of the sea. The use of these mines has its own combat meaning. They do not have minreps, which means they cannot be trawled with conventional trawls. You can never know exactly where and from where such mines will appear; this is discovered at the last moment, when the mine has already exploded or appeared very close. Finally, such mines, set adrift, entrusted to the waves of the sea, can "meet" and hit enemy ships on the way far from the place of setting. If the enemy knows that floating mines have been placed in such and such an area, this hampers the movement of his ships, forces him to take special precautions in advance, and slows down the pace of his operations.

How is a floating mine arranged?

Any body floats on the surface of the sea if the weight of the volume of water displaced by it is greater than the weight of the body itself. Such a body is said to have positive buoyancy. If the weight of the volume of displaced water were less, the body would sink, its buoyancy would be negative. And finally, if the weight of a body is equal to the weight of the volume of water displaced by it, it will occupy an "indifferent" position at any sea level. This means that it itself will stay at any level of the sea and will neither rise up nor fall down, but only move at the same level with the current. In such cases, the body is said to have zero buoyancy.

A mine with zero buoyancy would have to stay at the depth to which it was loaded when dropped. But such reasoning is correct only in theory. On the. in fact, at sea, the degree of buoyancy of the mine will vary.

After all, the composition of water in the sea in different places, at different depths is not the same. In one place it has more salts, the water is denser, and in the other it has less salts, its density is less. The temperature of the water also affects its density. And the temperature of the water varies at different times of the year and at different hours of the day and at different depths. Therefore, the density of sea water, and with it the degree of buoyancy of the mine, is variable. More dense water will push the mine up, and in less dense water the mine will sink to the bottom. It was necessary to find a way out of this situation, and the miners found this way out. They arranged floating mines in such a way that their buoyancy only approaches zero, it is zero only for water in a certain place. Inside the mine is a source of energy - a battery or battery, or a reservoir of compressed air. From such a source of energy, a motor operates, which rotates the propeller of the mine.

Floating mine with propeller

1 - screw; 2 - clock mechanism; 3 - battery chamber; 4 - drummer

The mine floats under water up to the current at a certain depth, but then it got into denser water and was pulled up. Then, from a change in depth, the ubiquitous hydrostat in the mines starts to work and turns on the motor. The screw of the mine rotates in a certain direction and pulls it back to the same level at which it floated before. And what would happen if the mine did not stay at this level and would go down? Then the same hydrostat would force the motor to rotate the screw in the other direction and raise the mine to the depth specified during installation.

Of course, even in a very large floating mine, it is impossible to place such a source of energy that its reserve is enough for a long time. Therefore, a floating mine “hunts” for its enemy - enemy ships - for only a few days. These few days she is “in the waters where enemy ships may collide with her. If a floating mine could stay at a given level for a very long time, it would eventually swim into such areas of the sea and at such a time when its ships could hit it.

Therefore, a floating mine not only cannot, but should not serve for a long time. Miners supply her with a special device equipped with a clockwork. As soon as the period for which the clockwork is wound up, this device drowns the mine.

This is how special floating mines are arranged. But any anchor mine can suddenly become floating. Its minrep can break off, fray in the water, rust will corrode the metal, and the mine will float to the surface, where it will rush with the flow. Very often, especially during the Second World War, the belligerent countries deliberately threw surface-floating mines on the likely routes of enemy ships. They pose a great danger, especially in conditions of poor visibility.

An anchor mine, involuntarily turned into a floating one, can give out the place where the barrier is set up, and can become dangerous for own ships. To prevent this from happening, a mechanism is attached to the mine that sinks it as soon as it floats to the surface. It may still happen that the mechanism does not work and the broken mine will swing on the waves for a long time, turning into a serious danger for any ship that collides with it.

If the anchor mine was deliberately turned into a floating one, then in this case it is not allowed to remain dangerous for a long time, it is also provided with a mechanism that sinks the mine after a certain period.

The Germans also tried to use floating mines on the rivers of our country, launching them downstream on rafts. An explosive charge weighing 25 kilograms is placed in a wooden box at the front of the raft. The fuse is designed in such a way that the charge explodes when the raft collides with some obstacle.

Another "floating river mine" is usually cylinder-shaped. Inside the cylinder is a charging chamber filled with 20 kilograms of explosives. Mina floats under water at a depth of a quarter of a meter. A rod rises from the center of the cylinder. At the upper end of the rod, just at the very surface of the water, there is a float with whiskers sticking out in all directions. The whiskers are connected to a percussion fuse. A long camouflage stalk, willow or bamboo, is released from the float to the surface of the water.

River mines are carefully disguised as objects floating on the river: logs, barrels, boxes, straw, reeds, grass bushes.

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