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Mk 56 anti-submarine mine
EQUIPMENT CATEGORY: Naval Mines/Torpedoes -- Mines
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA

PICTURES OF: Mk 56 anti-submarine mine

DESCRIPTION

The Mk 56 is an aircraft-laid, moored U.S. mine which was specifically designed for use against high-speed, deep-operating submarines. It has
a non-magnetic, stainless-steel case and is fitted with a magnetic firing mechanism.

The mine can be laid 150 to 600 ft (46 to 183 m) deep.

PICTURES

STATUS

Development began in 1948. Production started in 1960.

Initial operational capability (IOC) was attained in 1966. The mine is in U.S. service, but not in production.

BUILDER(S)
Unidentified

USERS/PLATFORMS
USA
Air Force
bombers
B-52H
Navy
patrol/ASW P-3C Orion
CHARACTERISTICS
WEIGHTS
2,135 lb (968 kg)
warhead 361.5 lb (164 kg)
DIMENSIONS
length 9 ft 5 in (2.9 m)
diameter 1 ft 8 in (57 cm) body
PERFORMANCE
maximum depth 1,200 ft (366 m)
WARHEAD
conventional HBX-3 explosive
SENSORS/FIRE CONTROL
magnetic dual-channel using total field
magnetometer as detector

VARIANTS

Mk 56 OA 05
This variant has a blunt-nose and a dual-channel magnetic fuze.

Mk 56 OA 05
This is a variant with a rounded Mk 20 nose fairing.

ISSUES AND NOTES

None.

OPERATIONAL NOTES

The Mk 56 training device is the Mk 72.

The Mk 56 is considered inadequate due to its extremely limited actuation width, which is less than 2 percent of the Mk 60. This results in the
need to deploy large numbers of the Mk 56 to mine any area of significant size.

LATEST UPDATE: 1 November 2014

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