Counter-Mine Warfare

Counter-mine warfare, more commonly mine countermeasures (MCM), is the detection, classification, and neutralization of naval mines to reopen sea lanes, ports, and approaches. It splits into minehunting (locating individual mines with high-frequency sonar and identifying or disposing of each by remotely operated vehicle or clearance diver) and minesweeping (cutting moored-mine cables mechanically, or firing magnetic and acoustic influence sweeps to detonate ground mines). Modern navies push the task to unmanned surface and underwater vehicles to keep the manned mother ship clear of the danger area.