The missing link Ep1: Mines

[Silver_Dragon]

Welcome to a new series dedicated to some aspect not implemented yet on called DCS World The Missing Link.

On that episode we have centered on the “old” planned but actually on hold, Naval & Land Mines:

The first announcement about mines, coming with the F/A-18C module, with one of your first plans adding some naval mines to the Hornet, that was the Mk-36 Destructor mines and the MK65 Quickstrike but actually, has been delayed, meanwhile ED require implement first new functionality to working properly. Actually has no details about them (surely in the fridge awaiting news).

The Mk-36 Destructor mines are part of the Destructor (DST) naval mines. Destructor Mines are general purpose low-drag bombs converted to mines. They can be deployed by air, either at sea as bottom mines or on land as land mines. With the MK 75 Modification Kit installed, a MK 82 bomb (500 pounds) becomes a MK 36 DST.

The conflict in Southeast Asia saw the introduction of a different kind of mine called a Destructor (DST). Destructors Mk 36, Mk 40, and Mk 41 are aircraft-laid bottom mines which use General Purpose (GP) Low-Drag Bombs Mk 82, Mk 83, and Mk 84, respectively as the mine case and explosive charge. The bombs are converted to mines with the installation of a kit of modular components that comprise a mine-type arming, detector, and firing system. The kit contains an arming device, an explosive booster, a magnetic-influence firing mechanism and associated hardware. The arming device and booster are installed in the bomb's nose cavity and the firing-mechanism (with battery) installed in the bomb¹s tail cavity. The same kit of components and method of assembly are used for each one of the destructors, but the kits are available in a number of configurations, each with a different circuitry to meet a variety of operational requirements. It should be noted, however, that since the bomb cases are small, medium, and large, they require different flight gear. DST¹s became the first mines to be used on both land and sea. When dropped on land, they bury themselves in the ground on impact, ready to be actuated by military equipment, motor vehicles and personnel. When dropped in rivers, canals, channels, and harbors, they lie on the bottom ready to be actuated by a variety of vessels including war ships, freighters, coastal ships, and small craft.

MK65 Quickstrike
Conversion of Mark 82 [500 lbs. (227 kg)] bomb. Superseded Destructor EX-52. Marks 62, 63 and 64 are known as the "Quickstrike" series and have a variable influence target designation system that can be used against either land or sea targets. Quickstrike was conceived as a new series of ground mines, replacing the ones that had become compromised as a result of the Vietnam War. These new mines use the same design concept as do "smart" bombs, that is, they are simple bolt-on additions to a standard air-dropped bomb. Quickstrike's design emphasizes ease of maintenance and ease of mine preparation for use. For example, the older mines required refrigeration of their batteries to prolong life, the Quickstrikes do not.

Other mines capables to carrying the F/A-18C will have the old Mk 52 and 56 mine types.

Mk 52 has 1,000 lbs. (454 kg) ground mine of the new design series. Mod 1 acoustic fuzed, Mod 2 magnetic, Mod 3 combined pressure and magnetic, Mod 4 was not issued, Mod 5 combined acoustic and magnetic, Mod 6 combined acoustic, magnetic and pressure. All variants are 18.8D x 70.2L inches (48 x 178 cm). Weights are respectively 1,130 lbs. (513 kg), 1,170 lbs. (531 kg), 1,190 lbs. (540 kg), 1,200 lbs. (544 kg) and 1,235 lbs. (560 kg). Charge for all was 625 lbs. (284 kg) HBX-1. All Mods use identical mine cases and removable instrument racks so that the firing assemblies can be stored apart from the explosives.

Mk 56 has Air launched 2,000 lbs. (907 kg) class moored mine. 22.4D x 114.3L inches (56D x 290L cm). Actual weight 2,135 lbs. (968 kg) with a charge of 360 lbs. (163 kg) HBX-3. First deployed in 1966 and still active as of 2001. Similar to the submarine launched Mark 57. Uses a "Total Field" magnetic exploder.

The Naval versions was that configurations:

Country / Name / Generation sensor / Type / Fuzing / Max Anchor Depth (m) / Max Case Depth / Weight (kg) / Warhead (kg) / Contact Damage / Full Influence Dmg / Severe Major Minor Damage / Laying Platform / IOC / Remarks.
USA / Mk36 DST Mod 3 / 2 / Bottom / M / 92 / Int I / 286 / 87 / - / 79 / 47 24 12 / Air / 1967 / E, Mk82 GP bomb
USA / Mk36 DST Mod 4-7 / 2 / Bottom / M, S / 92 / Int I / 286 / 87 / - / 79 / 47 24 12 / Air / 1967 / E, Mk82 GP bomb
USA / Mk40 DST Mod 3 / 2 / Bottom / M / 92 / Int I / 501 / 202 / - / 120 / 72 36 18 / Air / 1968? / E, Mk83 GP bomb
USA / Mk40 DST Mod 4-7 / 2 / Bottom / M, S / 92 / Int I / 501 / 202 / - / 120 / 72 36 18 / Air / 1968? / E, Mk83 GP bomb
USA / Mk41 DST Mod 3 / 2 / Bottom / M / 92 / Int I / 949 / 429 / - / 175 / 105 52 26 / Air / E, Mk84 GP bomb
USA / Mk41 DST Mod 4-7 / 2 / Bottom / M, S / 92 / Int I / 949 / 429 / - / 175 / 105 52 26 / Air / E, Mk84 GP bomb
USA / Mk52 Mod 0 / 2 / Bottom / P / 47 / Shallow / 496 / 283 / - / 147 / 88 44 22 / Air / 1961-2012 / 
USA / Mk52 Mod 1 / 2 / Bottom / A / 47 / Shallow / 543 / 283 / - / 147 / 88 44 22 / Air / 1955-61 / 
USA / Mk52 Mod 2 / 2 / Bottom / M / 183 / Int II / 568 / 283 / - / 147 / 88 44 22 / Air / / C
USA / Mk52 Mod 3 / 2 / Bottom / P, M / 47 / Shallow / 573 / 283 / - / 147 / 88 44 22 / Air / / 
USA / Mk52 Mod 4 / 2 / Bottom / P, A / 47 / Shallow / 521 / 283 / - / 147 / 88 44 22 / Air / ?-1978 / 
USA / Mk52 Mod 5 / 2 / Bottom / M, A / 47 / Shallow / 571 / 283 / - / 147 / 88 44 22 / Air / / 
USA / Mk52 Mod 6 / 2 / Bottom / P, A / 47 / Shallow / 546 / 283 / - / 147 / 88 44 22 / Air / / 
USA / Mk52 Mod 11 / 3 / Bottom / M, S / 47 / Shallow / e550 / 283 / - / 147 / 88 44 22 / Air / / 
USA / Mk56 / 2 / Moored / M / 365 / Int IV / 1010 / 159 / - / 101 / 61 / 30 / 15 / Air / 1966 - 2002 /
USA / Mk59 DST Mod 3 / 2 / Bottom / M / 92 / Int I / 389 / 183 / - / 114 / 69 34 17 / Air / 1985 - 07 / E, M117D bomb
USA / Mk59 DST Mod 4-7 / 2 / Bottom / M, S / 92 / Int I / 389 / 183 / - / 114 / 69 34 17 / Air / 1985 - 07 / E, M117D bomb
USA / Mk62 Mod 1 / 3 / Bottom / M, S / 92 / Int I / 227 / 87 / - / 82 / 49 25 12 / Surf, Sub, Air / 1980 / G, Mk82 GP bomb
USA / Mk62 Mod 2 / 4 / Bottom / M, S, P / 92 / Int I / 227 / 87 / - / 82 / 49 25 12 / Surf, Sub, Air / 1980 / G, Mk82 GP bomb
USA / Mk63 Mod 1 / 3 / Bottom / M, S / 92 / Int I / 454 / 202 / - / 126 / 75 38 19 / Surf, Sub, Air / 1980s / G, Mk83 GP bomb
USA / Mk63 Mod 2 / 4 / Bottom / M, S, P / 92 / Int I / 454 / 202 / - / 126 / 75 38 19 / Surf, Sub, Air / 1980s / G, Mk83 GP bomb
USA / Mk64 Mod 1 / 3 / Bottom / M, S / 92 / Int I / 907 / 429 / - / 183 / 110 55 27 / Surf, Sub, Air / 1983 / G, Mk84 GP bomb
USA / Mk64 Mod 2 / 4 / Bottom / M, S, P / 92 / Int I / 907 / 429 / - / 183 / 110 55 27 / Surf, Sub, Air / 1983 / G, Mk84 GP bomb
USA /  Mk64 Mod 3 / 4 / Bottom / EP, M, S, P / 92 / Int I / 907 / 429 / - / 183 / 110 55 27 / Surf, Sub, Air / 1983 / G, Mk84 GP bomb
USA / Mk65 series / 3 / Bottom / M, S, P / 92 / Int I / 1084 / 513 / - / 231 / 139 69 35 / Surf, Sub, Air / 1983 / G
USA / Mk65 Mod 0 / 3 / Bottom / M, S / 92 / Int I / 1084 / 513 / - / 231 / 139 69 35 / Surf, Sub, Air / 1983 / G
USA / Mk65 Mod 1 / 3 / Bottom / M, S, P / 92 / Int I / 1084 / 513 / - / 231 / 139 69 35 / Surf, Sub, Air / 1983 / G

Fuzing types:
C : Contact CMD:Command M: Magnetic S: Seismic A: Acoustic P: Pressure EP: Electric Potential

Remarks Key:
C : Mod 2 has deeper depth.
E: Destructor series
G: Quickstrike series

That post will be expanded with AI and other modules capable to carry that armament, as the future HeatBlur A-6 and some other naval aircrafts as AI S-3/SH-60/B-52, etc, actually on DCS. Other countries as Russia / UK / Chinna will be added.

Edited June 3, 2024 by Silver_Dragon