Recovering a contact mine for reuse

Guns, torpedoes, mines, bombs, missiles, ammunition, fire control, radars, and electronic warfare.
Fatboy Coxy
Member
Posts: 116
Joined: Thu Jul 19, 2018 5:18 am

Recovering a contact mine for reuse

Post by Fatboy Coxy »

I thought that once a contact mine, ie a mine with Hertz Horns, was deployed, it had to be destroyed when a minefield was swept clean. However, reading an excellent article which contains Admiralty reports, there is a suggestion that contact mines could be recovered. These reports are remarking on the maintenance of the contact minefields, and dealing with those mines which broke adrift

January 1941, 26th. During the month 12 mines broke adrift from West Lamma Minefield, 3 broke adrift from North Lantau Minefield. Recovered 10, Exploded ashore 2, Lost – Sunk by rifle 2. Total 14 Boom Defence

February 1941, 11thd. 7 mines broke away from West Lamma Minefield 4 mines broke adrift from North Lantau Minefield. Recovered 10, Exploded ashore 1. Total 11

See web page http://indicatorloops.com/hongkong.htm
About a third of the way down.

OK, you know what I’m gonna ask, how did they recover the contact mines?
Regards
Fatboy Coxy

Currently writing https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/ ... if.521982/
OpanaPointer
Senior Member
Posts: 553
Joined: Wed Jul 06, 2011 1:00 pm

Re: Recovering a contact mine for reuse

Post by OpanaPointer »

Carefully?
Steve Crandell
Senior Member
Posts: 954
Joined: Wed Feb 05, 2014 7:05 pm

Re: Recovering a contact mine for reuse

Post by Steve Crandell »

This thread is duplicated at navweaps, where it is stated that moored mines had a safety switch which disarmed the mine when tension on the mooring cable disappeared. It also states that one problem with that was if the mine was in the water a long time this assembly would become corroded and might not work anymore.
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