A sea mine is a self-contained explosive device designed to destroy ships, submarines and other types of vessels. Mines deny enemy ships and submarines access to specific ocean areas or channelize the enemy into operating in certain particular areas. As such, mines provide low-cost battlespace shaping and force protection capabilities for the U.S. Navy.

Used by the U.S. Navy since the American Revolutionary War, sea mines exerted significant effects in the American Civil War and both world wars I and II. But the most effective use of mines by the United States was against the Japanese Empire in World War II where U.S. aircraft dropped more than 12,000 mines in Japanese shipping routes and harbor approaches.  This resulted in the sinking of 650 Japanese ships and severely disrupted their maritime shipping and supply routes.

The U.S. Navy has two types of in-service mines; the Quickstrike family of mines (Mk 62, 63 and 65) and the Submarine Launched Mobile Mine (SLMM) (Mk 67).

• Quickstrike mines (Mk 62 and 63) are converted general purpose, 500-pound and 1,000 lb. bombs respectively, that are laid by aircraft in shallow water. The Mk 65 is a 2,000 lb. mine, which uses a thin-walled mine case rather than a bomb body.

• The SLMM is a submarine-deployed mine used for covertly mining hostile waters. It is a shallow water mine consisting of a modified Mk 37 torpedo body, a Mk 13 warhead and a mine target detection device.

The U.S. Navy mining program also has several active developmental mine programs underway, including the Mk 68 Clandestine Delivered Mine (CDM), the Hammerhead Encapsulated Effector, and the Mk 64 Mod 5 Quickstrike Extended Range (ER).

• The Mk 68 Clandestine Delivered Mine is a shallow-water, bottom influence mine that repurposes existing mine warheads from MK 67 Submarine Launched Mobile Mine (SLMM) to rapidly field a new mine capability.

• The Hammerhead Encapsulated Effector is an encapsulated torpedo used as a moored influence mine in intermediate and deep-water. While moored to the sea floor, Hammerhead detects passing submarines and launches its torpedo to destroy the threat.

• Quickstrike Extended Range is a shallow-water mine consisting of a 2,000 lb. general-purpose bomb body fitted with mine components, wing kit, and tail kit for rapid mid-range precision delivery by U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force aircraft.