초록 ▼

An apparatus for and method of laying a minefield in open water uses a high speed air-cushion vehicle that transports substantial quantities of mines to a target area. It then deploys the mines while it is rapidly moving, d marks and records the location of each deployed mine with GPS equipment. Min

An apparatus for and method of laying a minefield in open water uses a high speed air-cushion vehicle that transports substantial quantities of mines to a target area. It then deploys the mines while it is rapidly moving, d marks and records the location of each deployed mine with GPS equipment. Mines can be emplaced at speeds and rates much greater than conventional surface ships. The speed of high speed aircushion vehicle makes it less vulnerable to attack during operations, and it is less vulnerable to other mines it may encounter during a mission. The GPS on high speed air-cushion vehicle ensures an accurate and detailed record of location of the minefield. The high speed air-cushion vehicle has much greater lift capability than aircraft used in mining missions, and, therefore, can deliver a much larger payload per sortie (under all weather conditions) while creating the minefield. Mines can be emplaced much more accurately than an aircraft dropping them from altitude, (at least 100% increase in delivery precision). The high speed air-cushion vehicle running at normal operating speeds, has a low detectable signature and, due to its speed, is invulnerable to certain enemy mine functions. The unexpected benefit is accurate mining of enemy minefields, or areas beyond enemy minefields, for various expeditionary uses.

대표청구항 ▼

[ We claim:] [1.] A method of laying a predetermined spacing and pattern of mines in an area of water from an air cushion vehicle and recording the location of each mine with GPS equipment comprising the steps of:stacking mines on a rack on an air-cushion vehicle;securing said mines to said rack wit

[ We claim:] [1.] A method of laying a predetermined spacing and pattern of mines in an area of water from an air cushion vehicle and recording the location of each mine with GPS equipment comprising the steps of:stacking mines on a rack on an air-cushion vehicle;securing said mines to said rack with securing means;transporting said mines at high speed in said air-cushion vehicle to and across an area of water to be mined;displacing said mines to the rear of said air-cushion vehicle to an off-loading ramp;off-loading said mines from said off-loading ramp on said air-cushion vehicle into said area of the water in a predetermined spacing and pattern of mines, said step of off-loading being at said high speed by said air cushion vehicle and including disengaging said securing means from said mines; andmarking the location of each of said off-loaded mines in said predetermined spacing and pattern of mines with GPS equipment.