Mine Warfare

Mine warfare is the naval domain covering both the offensive laying of sea mines and the defensive countering of them. Offensive mining seals an enemy’s ports and chokepoints or attrites transiting shipping; mines are categorized by mooring (moored versus bottom ground mines) and by trigger (contact mines versus influence mines that fire on a ship’s magnetic, acoustic, or pressure signature). The defensive side is mine countermeasures. Mines are cheap and persistent, giving them disproportionate effect: the term sea denial captures their value to a weaker navy.