Technology for the United States Navy and Marine Corps, 2000-2035 Becoming a 21st-Century Force : Vol. 7, Undersea Warfare (0) / Chapter Skim
Currently Skimming:
Pages 52-77
The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
Select key terms on the right to highlight them within pages of the chapter.
From page 52... ...
capable of detecting buried mines; and pulsed-power devices and biosensors will not be realized without a commitment to R&D. UUVs with intelligent control, long range, and endurance; networked underwater sensors; rigid foam causeways; small and stable surface platforms; and high-data-rate acoustic communications will not emerge without concomitant research.
|
From page 53... ...
The third and final objective is to select concepts that will add clearance speed and efficiency to the MCM system at minimal costs and that can be implemented in the near-term future. Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, considered as a whole, was the highest-priority recommendation of the Naval Studies Board Mine Countermeasures Technology report.6 A continuous, robust ISR effort targeted at potential mine threats can greatly enhance the efficiency of MCM operations by enabling accurate characterization of the threat prior to initiation of sweeping, hunting, and neutralization activities.
|
From page 54... ...
Integrating ISR into MCM operations may allow the interdiction of mines prior to planting (rules of engagement permitting) or the avoidance of a mined area entirely; failing both, it should allow MCM forces to be concentrated solely on mined areas of reasonably well-known characteristics.
|
From page 55... ...
. Rather than develop in parallel a covert UUV mine reconnaissance system organic to itself, the MCM community should evaluate a low-cost NMRS for use by surface ships and craft.
|
From page 56... ...
A field composed of buried mines would seriously degrade current mine hunting sonars and force an increased emphasis on slower and more laborious mine sweeping. A clandestine mine reconnaissance and countermeasures system (CMR/CS)
|
From page 57... ...
An expendable mine neutralization system could also be deployed from the CMR/CS. The effectiveness of bottom charges for neutralization of buried mines must be determined.
|
From page 58... ...
class mine hunting and mine sweeping ships, the Osprey (MHC-51) class coastal mine hunters, and the air MCM MH-53 helicopters.
|
From page 59... ...
nclude the following. The Navy's Magic Lantern Adaptation system, the Army's ASTAMID, and the Marine Corps' COBRA are all in the concept and development stages and are designed to detect mines in the surf zone, in the craft landing zone, and on land.
|
From page 60... ...
Expendable Neutralization Vehicle The mine neutralization vehicle now available to MCM-1 and MHC-51 MCM ships is the AN/SLQ-48 mine neutralization system, a deck-mounted vehicle launched and recovered by a winch and crane system The mine neutralization vehicle is subject to several limitations against the shallow mines that are now the focus of attention. Its forward progress and maneuverability are adversely affected by longshore and tidal currents.
|
From page 61... ...
The Navy should pursue the development of a small, low-cost, expendable mine neutralization vehicle for use by advanced mine countermeasures (AMCM) helicopters, small MCM surface craft, the MCM-1 and MHC-51, and in the future, all MCM-capable ships and air platforms.
|
From page 62... ...
Brute Force Breaching and Clearing the Surf and Craft Landing Zones Brute force methods are generally those techniques that attempt to remove or clear mines en masse, using a nondiscriminating force that can physically overcome or remove them as an effective threat. Brute force methods are needed when the threat is so dense and time lines are short, where friendly forces are denied access to a mined area that needs clearing, or where the harshness of the environment prevents other MCM operations.
|
From page 63... ...
Explosive Channel Excavation The 1992 Naval Studies Board Mine Countermeasures8 study suggested that a buried line charge analog could be formed by airdrop or ballistic delivery of spaced bombs, penetrating to about the depth for maximum cratering radius, and detonated nearly simultaneously to form a cleared channel by excavations of mines and obstacles in the SZ and CLZ, and on up the beach. Although listed here as a brute force technology, it involves precise spatial and temporal placement of the explosive charge and high reliability of detonation.
|
From page 64... ...
Explosive excavation could be effective in this zone, but the amount of ordnance required would be large because the very shallow water zone is typically far more extensive than the surf and craft landing zones. The concepts described above, some in ongoing programs (e.g., line charges discussed below)
|
From page 65... ...
Preliminary tests indicate that a foam road can be built in shallow water out to the surf zone. Following are some other brute force methods involving explosives.
|
From page 66... ...
SABRE and DET should be developed for breaching both land minefields and the surf and craft landing zones where obstacles are not present. Particularly against land minefields, the Thunder Road and glide net concepts for aircraft delivery have merit and should compete for selection.
|
From page 67... ...
Over its long history the MCM force has repeatedly demonstrated that the countermeasure functions of mine sweeping, mine hunting, and mine neutralization can be carried out by air and surface platforms much smaller than the 1,300-ton MCM-1 carrying a crew of 83. The Inshore Minesweeper (MSI)
|
From page 68... ...
The MSL was a 36-foot open launch (Boston Whaler type) equipped for mine sweeping using light AMCM sweep gear, mine hunting using a strap-on AN/SQQ-16 variable depth sonar, and mine neutralization by vectoring a charge lowered from a small boat.
|
From page 69... ...
The range at which sufficient energy for mine neutralization can be brought to bear will be an important consideration for the protection of platforms from which any pulsed power device is deployed. A number of approaches using a variety of source technologies have been proposed.
|
From page 70... ...
While requiring advances and development beyond those currently possible, technological progress in sensors, signal processing, and computational power will make autonomous and semiautonomous systems possible. Networked undersea surveillance systems using small, autonomous and/or semiautonomous undersea vehicles could significantly enhance covert mine surveillance, detection, and neutralization capability.
|
From page 71... ...
Currently, only the Mk-7 mammal system is capable of detecting and placing charges to neutralize buried mines. Combining the Mk-7 with a small, enhanced-capability MCM vessel could provide a system that can be launched from over the horizon, that operates in sea states 3 to 4, and that is able to detect, classify, and place timed neutralization charges against moored, bottom, and buried mines into the surf zone.
|
From page 72... ...
Biosensors: Mammal Sonars There are many ways of reducing the signature of a mine to make it less detectable, such as using materials and shapes that blend in with the environment, constructing it of nonmagnetic materials, or designing it to have a low acoustic cross section. Existing mine hunting sonars have a very difficult task detecting reduced-signature mines, and in the short term, the Navy may be forced to rely on sweeping and brute force methods when such mines are known to be deployed.
|
From page 73... ...
Active Electromagnetic Mine Detection Pulsed electromagnetic induction is a methodology that has been employed successfully in geophysical prospecting for conductive ore bodies. It is an active electromagnetic technique whereby a primary magnetic field is used to induce currents in nearby conductors.
|
From page 74... ...
The White Oak team, in which resided the expertise and corporate memory accumulated since World War II, has been reduced to token representation of mine design specialists and supporting documentation at the Coastal Systems Station in Panama City, Florida. The Navy and Marine Corps will need a small mine design team composed of the most highly qualified scientists and engineers it can attract to the job in order to (1)
|
From page 75... ...
a target detection system that leverages ongoing sensor technology demonstration efforts; (2) a mobile homing warhead that uses the lightweight hybrid torpedo currently being developed; and (3)
|
From page 76... ...
U.S. forces have no surface ships uniquely configured for mine laying, and for a very good reason.
|
From page 77... ...
Thus, it appears possible, without heroic efforts, to cut the mine delivery sortie requirements of both submarines and aircraft by more than half. Also, if the tubes on a retiring SSBN could be used for mine laying (now being considered for the Tomahawk missile)
|
Key Terms
This material may be derived from roughly machine-read images, and so is provided only to facilitate research.
More
information on Chapter Skim is available.