DESIGN, ENGINEERING, AND ASSESSMENT OF MOBILE MINEFIELDS

Naval mine warfare typically supports a sea denial strategy through the denial and/or delay of the enemy’s use of the water space or by controlling sea traffic in a designated area. Sea mines have been effective for decades. However, with technological progress, mine countermeasure (MCM) efforts have reduced the risks of a minefield by detecting and/or neutralizing mines to establish and maintain a Q-route for safe passage. The concept of a mobile minefield is proposed to increase the difficulty of the enemy’s MCM and improve the survivability of the minefield by adding mobility. This research explores both the physical design concepts and the operational effectiveness of mobile mines based on simulations and models. The simulation results show that, compared to static mines, mobile mines improved the number of enemy ships destroyed by at least 200% and increased the time it took the enemy to transition through the minefield by 50%. The results suggest that the mobile minefield would be operationally useful for the Department of the Navy and this technology is worth pursing and exploring.Distribution Statement A. Approved for public release: Distribution is unlimited.Captain, Singapore ArmyCaptain, Singapore ArmyMajor, Singapore ArmyLieutenant, Taiwan NavyMajor, United States ArmyCivilian, Department of the NavyLieutenant, United States NavyCivilian, Singapore Technologies Engineering, SingaporeMajor, Singapore ArmyMajor, Singapore ArmyMajor, Singapore ArmyCommander, United States NavyCivilian, Defense Science and Technology Agency (DSTA), SingaporeMajor, Singapore ArmyMajor, Republic of Singapore Air ForceTenente-Coronel, Brazilian Air ForceLieutenant, United States NavyCivilian, Department of the ArmyMajor, Singapore ArmyMajor, Israel Defense ForcesCivilian, Defense Science Organisation, SingaporeCaptain, Singapore Arm