entering the water. The parachute reduces the impact
velocity and protects the mine components from
damage. The use of parachute packs permits the mines
to be released from an aircraft at high altitudes, which
may be required when ports or sea passages are heavily
armed.
The parachute pack currently used is the
delayed-opening type. In this type of parachute pack, a
control mechanism is used to open the parachute at some
point in the air trajectory of the mine. A typical
delayed-opening parachute pack contains a drogue-type
parachute, release gear, and a control device. The
parachute release gear consists of a metal ring that
attaches the parachute to the mine during air travel. It
is released from the mine upon water impact by inertia
weights, wipe-off plates, or hydrostatic mechanisms.
The control device opens the parachute during the
mine’s descent. It is usually controlled by an adjustable
fixed-delay device. Since the parachute is deployed by
firing an explosive fitting, parachute pack control
devices contain explosive components.
REVIEW NUMBER 3
Q1. What element of a mine carries all other
components?
Q2. List the explosive components of a mine.
Q3.
Q4.
Q5.
Q6.
Q7.
Q8.
Q9.
What amount of explosives are used in air-laid
mines ?
After a mine is planted, what device prevents the
mine from firing until it has been submerged for
a predetermined time?
What is the range of the delay time in planted
air-laid mines?
List the influence-actuated firing mechanisms.
What type of mine is detonated by the sound
waves generated by nearby ships’ rotating
screws?
What force actuates the pressure mine?
What actuates the magnetic type of mine ?
OPERATIONAL AIRCRAFT MINES
Air-laid mines currently in operational use are
discussed briefly in the following paragraphs.
Mk 55 Mine
The Mk 55 service mine and the Mk 55 exercise
mine (fig. 5-11 ) are air-laid bottom mines. Each mine
is fitted with a nose fairing and box fins for drop
stability. Each is suspended from the aircraft by two
Figure 5-11.—Mk 55 service and Mk 55 exercise mine.
5-11
