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Navy, Air Force Team Up for Mine Field Exercise

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS061005-04
Release Date: 10/5/2006 9:12:00 AM

By Ed Mickley, Naval Mine and Anti-Submarine Warfare Command Public Affairs

SHREVEPORT, La. (NNS) -- The Navy’s Mobile Mine Assembly Unit (MOMAU) 11 worked with three operational units from Barksdale Air Force Base, La., to build and “plant” an underwater mine field from Sept. 13-16, during Operation Picket Fence, held at the SCORE mine range off the coast of San Diego.

Mobile Mine Assembly Group (COMOMAG) based at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, Texas, planned the minefield and MOMAU 11 from Charleston, S.C., assembled and checked the mines. Air Force 2nd Operations Support Squadron (2 OSS), 2nd Munitions Squadron (2 MUNS) and 340th Weapons Squadron (340 WPS) loaded and delivered the undersea mines as part of the combined mine warfare training exercise.

“The mission is part of a block of training called Counter Sea in the 340th WPS School,” said U.S. Air Force Maj. Trent Brunson, the Counter Sea Flight commander.

Using Air Force Boeing B-52Hs, the ‘planting’ included MK 65, MK 62 and MK 56 Laying Mines, mounted either underwing or in the aircraft’s bomb bay, and delivered to a precise location on the range to create a sea lane minefield.

The analysts at Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center San Diego (SSC San Diego) evaluated drop location accuracy and provided feedback on the air crews’ attempts. A total of four MK 56, four MK 65 and 54 MK 62 Laying Mines were successfully planted.

Mine recovery was conducted by MOMAU 1 Seal Beach, Calif., minemen in conjunction with SSC San Diego MK 5 Marine Mammal Recovery System.

According to Chief Warrant Officer Bill Jurkowski, MOMAU 11 operations officer, MOMAU 11 goes to Barksdale twice a year in support of the training.

“The best part is working with 2nd OSS and 2nd MUNS in a joint effort to support the training,” said Jurkowski. “The 340th WPS is our biggest asset for short notice planting of a minefield.”

The mines used for the exercise are Laying Mines (standard inert-loaded mine cases without the internal components) released at an altitude of 1,000 feet or less, which deploy a small parachute or fin designed to slow the descent and release at water impact to ensure the missile-shaped mine submerges to a specific depth.

The mines take one and a half days to assemble and include a quality assurance inspection of the load. The inspection was conducted by Mineman 1st Class Will Brown, a quality assurance inspector from MOMAU 11.