Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 4:16-4:57

Unrestricted mine warfare and drifting mines

Unrestricted mining includes drifting mines, whose movement can bring them back into the laying navy's own shipping.

Naval Mine WarfareNaval MinesSea Denial
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Question

What counts as unrestricted mine warfare, and does it include free-floating mines?

Short answer

The definition includes mining wherever an enemy is expected and using free-floating mines, even though those mines can return to threaten their own side.

Notes

Unrestricted mine warfare means placing mines wherever the enemy is expected, including international or neutral waters, with little concern for what else they might hit. The definition includes free-floating mines. Their movement makes them especially hazardous to the force that laid them, since they can drift back into its own shipping.