Naval Mine Warfare Operational and Technical Challenges for Naval Forces (2001) / Chapter Skim
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4. Offshore Countermine Warfare
4. Offshore Countermine Warfare
Pages 70-98
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From page 70... ...
deploy with capabilities to plan and execute the first four phases of countermine warfare which involve measures intended to prevent mines from entering the water. However, for the most part, these countermine warfare capabilities have not been fully recognized or leveraged, owing primarily to limited mine warfare awareness and expertise in the fleet forces.
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From page 71... ...
Importance of Environmental Data A few of the key environmental parameters affecting mine warfare operations include: · Bathymetry. Bathymetry determines options for addressing mine threats and can constrain various MCM techniques.
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From page 72... ...
While still in the early stages of development and evaluation, a capability for detection of change may offer significant improvements in operational time lines by allowing MCM forces to quickly discount previously mapped nonmine minelike objects. Data Collection and Environmental Data Library Because the effectiveness of countermine warfare is closely tied to knowledge of the environment, the Navy has developed a viable system for cataloguing the environmental data important to mine warfare and is fielding a system for promulgating the database to operating forces.
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From page 73... ...
Necessary areas of work to incorporate environmental data in the Navy' s mine warfare toolkit are given in Chapter 2. TECHNICAL CAPABILITIES OF CURRENT AND PLANNED SYSTEMS FOR OFFSHORE MINE COUNTERMEASURES OPERATIONS Current Dedicated MCM Forces In 1992, the Navy established a base at Ingleside, Texas, as the homeport and support center for its dedicated mine warfare forces.
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From page 74... ...
This represents the deepest and most powerful influence sweep capability currently available to the Navy. The second sweep capability is the AN/SLQ-38 mechanical sweep capability for cutting the cables of buoyant moored mines that are located relatively close to the surface.
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From page 75... ...
Thus, the committee noted evidence of some lingering, unique, and potentially dangerous materiel problems associated with the MHC-5 1-class MCM ships that were considered to require immediate attention and clarification. Recommendation: The Commander, Mine Warfare Command, should investigate the status and arrange to provide permanent corrective action to resolve the floating ground problem on units of the MHC-51-class MCM ships, and to promulgate information on shock vulnerabilities to crews of MHC-5 1-class MCM ships and formally resolve any outstanding deficiencies shown in shock trials.
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From page 76... ...
. A variety of minesweeping systems, including the following: Mk 103 mechanical sweep, Mk 104 acoustic influence sweep, Mk 105 magnetic influence hydrofoil sled, Mk 106 combination acoustic and magnetic influence hydrofoil sled, AN/SPU-1/W Magnetic Orange Pipe magnetic influence sweep (for shallow water)
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From page 77... ...
and therefore must work with surface MCM or other assets (e.g., explosive ordnance disposal) to conduct mine-hunting and clearance operations.
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From page 78... ...
play key roles in offshore mine warfare operations. EOD MCM detachments are employed to identify, neutralize, and exploit mines as well as participate in post-interdiction intelligence collection.
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From page 79... ...
. LMRS represents the only fully clandestine mine reconnaissance capability among the organic MCM initiatives.
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From page 80... ...
Planned Capabilities for LMRS. The nominal single-vehicle endurance is 40 to 62 hours with an associated vehicle sortie reach of 75 to 120 nautical miles, i.e., the maximum distance from the host submarine that the UUV can be expected to conduct mine reconnaissance operations and still be recovered.
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From page 81... ...
With its inherent identification capability, RMS can be used to directly support mine clearance operations conducted with other assets such as the MH-60S helicopter with its airborne mine neutralization system. In addition, its reconnaissance information can be used to establish areas to avoid (due to the presence of one or more mines or the presence of numerous minelike objects)
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From page 82... ...
organic MCM needs, the committee noted no Navy plans to incorporate RMS or organic airborne MCM in ARG forces. MH-60S Airborne MCM Suite of Five Systems The MH-60S is the Navy's designated organic airborne MCM platform and, as a system, represents the only end-to-end organic airborne MCM capability (mine detection through neutralization)
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From page 83... ...
. OASIS is intended to provide the only organic MCM influence sweep capability; it is compatible with the MH-60S helicopter and potentially with surface MCM units as well.
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From page 84... ...
Technical Issues for ALMDS. Engineering challenges include achieving desired or acceptable false contact rates without adversely affecting desired area coverage rates (and a high probability of detecting actual mines)
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From page 85... ...
for future countermine warfare forces in the era of mainstreaming mine warfare capabilities must be established. This CONOPS must reflect basing and logistics support limitations,
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From page 86... ...
· The benefits and limitations of real-time mine detection and avoidance techniques used by individual warships have to be better understood. · Maneuver guidelines and constraints for battle groups operating in mineable waters prior to completion of countermine warfare operations are needed, whether or not mines have actually been identified (found)
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From page 87... ...
Before they can take on a significant share of the overall MCM tasking, these organic MCM systems must be demonstrated and the capabilities fielded in adequate numbers. However, even if all of the system-specific technical and operational issues can be overcome, the full benefits from these technology developments are not likely to be realized until corresponding developments occur in a number of key countermine warfare support areas: · Manning and unit/force countermine warfare training concepts must be developed that are compatible with the host platforms surface combatants, aircraft, and submarines.
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From page 88... ...
. The littoral environment where mines are expected must be better characterized and understood, to ensure the ability to exploit both previous environmental survey information and in situ measurements during actual contingencies in order to optimize countermine warfare operations.
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From page 89... ...
for the development of effective future MCM investment strategies and could help ensure that the Department of the Navy obtains an optional return on dollars spent for an enhanced countermine warfare capability. The Department of the Navy has developed a draft capstone requirements document for the overall MCM forces that is undergoing review, and it is in the process of developing a set of design reference missions for MCM that will define the operational scenarios against which the CRD goals can be evaluated.
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From page 90... ...
With the introduction of organic MCM into the fleet, seven new systems must be integrated into a diverse fleet of ships and sailors. The technical and social infrastructure of the fleet will be affected by the introduction of these new systems.
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From page 91... ...
extending the application of the new systems to the amphibious force. Specifically, · The CNO should develop and promulgate a countermine warfare concept of operations and a total system technical architecture that includes all the legacy dedicated MCM systems and the new organic MCM systems and subsystems and other upgrades that will be fielded.
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From page 92... ...
Technical Issues for Future High-frequency Sonar Upgrades on Warships Engineering challenges include first and foremost the development of CAD/ CAC algorithms to reduce false contact rates to acceptable levels and to achieve reliable detection of actual mines (including low-target-strength mines in adverse/high-multipath environments)
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From page 93... ...
1998. SC-21 COEA Part II Results: Sea Battlespace Dominance/Mine Warfare (U)
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From page 94... ...
Similarly, efforts to understand and duplicate the minehunting capabilities of dolphins and other biological creatures would have a broad impact. Detection and Classification of Buried Sea Mines and Higher-Resolution Mine Detection The detection of buried mines is currently accomplished effectively only by the marine mammal system, but at a rate far slower than what is desirable.
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From page 95... ...
Although video data allow ready identification of bottom objects, the ocean environment limits the range of video cameras and imaging systems due to backscatter of light in the water column. Two nonvideo programs are focused on rapid mine identification.
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From page 96... ...
Its potential is clear, but a number of substantial engineering issues must be addressed prior to integrating such a system into the fleet. Small UUVs for Clandestine Reconnaissance In the past few years it has become clear that small UUVs may well provide a significant capability for MCM tasks ranging from simple hydrographic surveys of littoral areas to detailed mine hunting and identification in areas of interest, especially in very shallow water.
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From page 97... ...
Such information is needed to allow operational commanders to estimate the risk of reliance on "change detection," and to identify necessary remapping schedules. Methods for Exploiting Microprocessor-based Mines Mine exploitation provides critical support to operations and to mine development initiatives in several ways: .
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From page 98... ...
This continuum of new ideas and system concepts is a critical component of MCM. It is important to the effectiveness and credibility of the Navy's overall mine warfare plans that such S&T developments lead to significant performance improvements in the fleet.
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