{{Infobox weapon , name = Submarine Launched Mobile Mines , image =A Mk 67 Submarine Launched Mobile Mine being loaded into the USS Montpelier in Souda Bay.png , image_size = , caption =A Mk 67 Submarine Launched Mobile Mine being loaded onto the USS ''Montpelier'' in Crete Naval Base, Greece, 2021 , origin = United States , type =

Naval mine A naval mine is a self-contained explosive weapon placed in water to damage or destroy surface ships or submarines. Similar to anti-personnel mine, anti-personnel and other land mines, and unlike purpose launched naval depth charges, they are ...

, is_explosive = yes , is_missile = no , service = 1979–present , used_by =

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the naval warfare, maritime military branch, service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is the world's most powerful navy with the largest Displacement (ship), displacement, at 4.5 millio ...

, wars = , designer = , manufacturer = , unit_cost = , production_date = 1979 , number = , variants = , weight = 1,765 pounds (800 kg) , length = 13 feet (4 m) , diameter = , filling = Conventional

high explosive An explosive (or explosive material) is a reactive substance that contains a great amount of potential energy that can produce an explosion if released suddenly, usually accompanied by the production of light, heat, sound, and pressure. An exp ...

, filling_weight = 330 pounds (150 kg) , detonation =

Magnetic Magnetism is the class of physical attributes that occur through a magnetic field, which allows objects to attract or repel each other. Because both electric currents and magnetic moments of elementary particles give rise to a magnetic field, m ...

seismic Seismology (; from Ancient Greek σεισμός (''seismós'') meaning "earthquake" and -λογία (''-logía'') meaning "study of") is the scientific study of earthquakes (or generally, quakes) and the generation and propagation of elastic ...

pressure Pressure (symbol: ''p'' or ''P'') is the force applied perpendicular to the surface of an object per unit area over which that force is distributed. Gauge pressure (also spelled ''gage'' pressure)The preferred spelling varies by country and eve ...

target detection , engine =

Electric motor An electric motor is a machine that converts electrical energy into mechanical energy. Most electric motors operate through the interaction between the motor's magnetic field and electric current in a electromagnetic coil, wire winding to gene ...

, vehicle_range = Approx. 8 miles (13 km) , ceiling = , altitude = , max_range = , payload = , guidance = , launch_platform =

Submarine A submarine (often shortened to sub) is a watercraft capable of independent operation underwater. (It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability.) The term "submarine" is also sometimes used historically or infor ...

, transport = Submarine Launched Mobile Mines (SLMM) are a modern type of

naval mine A naval mine is a self-contained explosive weapon placed in water to damage or destroy surface ships or submarines. Similar to anti-personnel mine, anti-personnel and other land mines, and unlike purpose launched naval depth charges, they are ...

designed to be deployed by

submarine A submarine (often shortened to sub) is a watercraft capable of independent operation underwater. (It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability.) The term "submarine" is also sometimes used historically or infor ...

s. The chief example is the Mark 67 SLMM, currently used by the

and capable of deployment on 688i Los Angeles-class submarines. These mines offer a strategic advantage by allowing for clandestine deployment in hostile or denied areas, such as ports or shipping lanes, making them difficult to detect and counter.

Development and Design

The Mk 67 SLMM was first deployed in 1979, based on the design of the Mk 37 torpedo. The SLMMs are designed to be launched from standard submarine

torpedo tube A torpedo tube is a cylindrical device for launching torpedoes. There are two main types of torpedo tube: underwater tubes fitted to submarines and some surface ships, and deck-mounted units (also referred to as torpedo launchers) installed aboa ...

s and are capable of traveling several thousand yards to their target location. Their propulsion system allows for precise placement in areas inaccessible to other types of mines. The Mk 67 is 13 feet long, weighs 1,765 pounds, and carries a 330-pound high-explosive charge. The mine is detonated by a combination of

magnetic Magnetism is the class of physical attributes that occur through a magnetic field, which allows objects to attract or repel each other. Because both electric currents and magnetic moments of elementary particles give rise to a magnetic field, m ...

, and

sensors, making it effective against both surface vessels and submarines. The depth range for the SLMMs is up to 600 feet.

Operational Use

SLMMs have been a part of the U.S. Navy's mine warfare arsenal since 1983.https://www.twz.com/41309/navy-offers-glimpse-of-its-submarine-launched-mine-capabilities-in-the-mediterranean These mines can be deployed in shallow waters, which makes them effective for denying access to strategic locations such as

port A port is a maritime facility comprising one or more wharves or loading areas, where ships load and discharge cargo and passengers. Although usually situated on a sea coast or estuary, ports can also be found far inland, such as Hamburg, Manch ...

s and

harbor A harbor (American English), or harbour (Commonwealth English; see spelling differences), is a sheltered body of water where ships, boats, and barges can be moored. The term ''harbor'' is often used interchangeably with ''port'', which is ...

s. One of the key advantages of submarine-launched mines is the ability to deploy them covertly, significantly reducing the risk of detection compared to surface or air-launched mines. In recent years, the U.S. Navy has conducted several exercises to test and refine SLMM capabilities. For example, in June 2021, the USS Montpelier conducted mine-loading exercises with dummy Mk 67 SLMMs in

Souda Bay Souda Bay () is a bay and natural harbour near the town of Souda on the northwest coast of the Greek island of Crete. The bay is about 15 km long and only two to four km wide, and a deep natural harbour. It is formed between the Akroti ...

Greece Greece, officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. Located on the southern tip of the Balkan peninsula, it shares land borders with Albania to the northwest, North Macedonia and Bulgaria to the north, and Turkey to th ...

. These exercises reflected the importance of SLMMs in the

Mediterranean The Mediterranean Sea ( ) is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by the Mediterranean basin and almost completely enclosed by land: on the east by the Levant in West Asia, on the north by Anatolia in West Asia and Southern ...

region, where naval tensions are high due to the presence of Russian submarines and other regional powers. As of 2023, only 688i ("improved") Los Angeles-class attack submarines in the U.S. Navy are capable of deploying the Mk 67 SLMM. The limited number of suitable launch platforms and mine inventories restricts the scale of potential SLMM operations.

Future designs

An Improved Submarine Launched Mobile Mine (ISLMM) based on the

Mark 48 torpedo The Mark 48 and its improved Advanced Capability (ADCAP) variant are American heavyweight submarine-launched torpedoes. They were designed to sink deep-diving nuclear-powered submarines and high-performance surface ships. History The Mark 48 wa ...

was being developed, but is dormant due to lack of funding.

References

* Tingley, Brett.
Offers Glimpse Of Its Submarine-Launched Mine Capabilities In The Mediterranean.
''The War Zone'', June 28, 2021. * Truver, Scott; O'Rourke, Brian; Millard, Commander Brooke.
Torpedoes!
''Proceedings of the U.S. Naval Institute'', May 2020. * Winnefeld, James A.
Warfare Could Be Key
" ''Proceedings of the U.S. Naval Institute'', December 2023. * National Research Council; Division on Engineering and Physical Sciences; Naval Studies Board; Committee for Mine Warfare Assessment.
Mine Warfare: Operational and Technical Challenges for Naval Forces
" National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press, 2001. DOI: doi.org/10.17226/10176.