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The Volcano mine dispensing system consists of the M139 mine dispenser, the M87 mine canisters, DCU, carrying cases, and special mounting hardware. The system for the UH-60 is identical with the ground version of the volcano, except the mounting hardware. Figure 8-1 shows the M139 mine dispensing system mounted on a UH-60. Each system can dispense mines 35 to 70 meters from the aircraft flight path. The aircraft flies at a minimum altitude of 5 feet, at speeds ranging from 20 to 120 knots. One aircraft can deliver up to 960 mines per sortie. Each division, corps aviation brigade, and regimental aviation squadron is equipped with three air Volcano systems. The aviation unit that owns the systems is responsible for transporting and mounting the air volcano. Employment of the Volcano system will be planned at division level by the ADE, and ammunition for the system will be located at ATP or ASP.

a. M87 Mine Canister. The M87 mine canister is prepackaged with five AT mines and one AP mine. The mixture of mines is fixed and cannot be altered in the field. The group of mines in each canister are electrically connected by a nylon web that also functions as a lateral dispersion device as the mines exit the canister. Spring fingers mounted on each mine prevent the mine from coming to rest on edge. Upon coming to rest, each mine has a delayed arming time. The AT mine takes 2 minutes and 15 seconds to arm, and the AP mine takes 4 minutes to arm.

b. M139 Dispenser. The dispenser consists of four launching racks that are mounted in the doors of the UH-60. Each rack can hold up to 40 M87 mine canisters. Each canister contains six mines, so the total capacity for the M139 dispenser is 960 mines. The mounting hardware secures the racks to the UH-60 and provides for a jettison assembly that can propel the racks away from the aircraft in case of an aircraft emergency.

c. Dispensing Control Unit. The DCU is the central control panel for the air Volcano mine dispensing system. The operator uses the DCU to perform fault isolation tests on the system, to provide delivery speeds, set self-destruct times, and initiate the arming sequence of the system. The start-stop firing switch is located on both cyclic sticks, allowing either pilot to initiate or stop the dispensing of mines. A counter on the DCU indicates the number of canisters remaining on each side of the aircraft.

a. Capabilities.

(1) Each aircraft carries 960 mines (800 AT mines, 160 AP mines).

(2) The mines have three programmable self-destruct times (4 hours, 48 hours, or 15 days).

(3) The system allows the force commander to quickly lay minefields. The Air Volcano is capable of emplacing a planned (on order/be prepared) minefield 1,115 meters by 120 meters with 960 mines in as little as 17 seconds.

(4) The system is designed to provide the commander with an offensive or defensive mine dispensing capability.

(5) Air Volcano allows the commander to emplace a minefield at night.

b. Limitations.

(1) The air Volcano system weighs 6,413 pounds. With air Volcano mounted, a full crew, and one system operator, the aircraft will be close to maximum gross weight. It may be necessary, based upon weather and environmental conditions, for the aircraft to execute the mission without a full fuel load, reducing en route time.

(2) The flight crew cannot operate the M60D machine gun with the air Volcano installed.

(3) It takes approximately 4 hours for the system to be installed in the UH-60.

(4) The three systems assigned to a division require two 5-ton cargo trucks for transport. The aviation unit that owns the system does not get an increase in their assigned number of vehicles, so the transportation of the systems must come from internal battalion assets.

a. The Volcano system can emplace a minefield with an average AT mine density of 0.72 mines per meter and an AP density of 0.14 mines per meter. The densities will vary slightly since some mines will fail the arming sequence and self-destruct 2 minutes after dispensing, some mines may not orient correctly, or will not deliver their full mine effect. The probability of failing the arming sequence or misorienting is relatively small and does not appreciably degrade the minefield lethality. For tracked vehicles, the AT density yields more than 80 percent probability of encounter. Volcano AT mines do not have antidisturbance devices but are highly sensitive to movement once they are armed.

b. Air Volcano can be used to emplace four types of minefields--disrupt, fix, turn, and block. The force commander determines the type of minefield to be emplaced based upon the desired effect of the minefield. Table 8-1 shows the planning factors for the different types of minefields. Table 8-2 shows the time required to emplace minefields at different airspeeds. General guidelines for determining the type of minefield the commander will emplace are as follows:

(1) Disrupt. For this minefield, the lethality and density is low. The commander's intent is to cause confusion in the enemy formation.

Notes: Black Hawks operating in pairs can lay turn and block minefields in one pass, firing 80 canisters each. Underlined items indicate airspeeds that are not recommended for Volcano dispensing operations

(2) Fix. For this minefield, placement is critical. The commander plans this type of minefield carefully. The location must be synchronized to allow the ground forces to mass their fires on the enemy once the enemy has been fixed by the obstacle.

(3) Turn. For this minefield, density and lethality are critical. Individual minefields may be stacked so as to influence the enemy movement. The commander's intent is to influence the maneuver of the enemy formations.

(4) Block. For this mine field, the commander is attempting to deny the enemy use of terrain. This minefield requires high density and lethality, as well as reinforcement from other obstacles (natural and man-made), to help stop the enemy's use of the terrain.

c. Disrupt and Fix Minefields. Disrupt and fix minefields use one centerline to give a minefield depth of 140 meters. The strip centerline is 278 meters long. The aircraft moves toward the start point, maintaining the ground speed selected in the DCU. The pilot initiates the launch by depressing the launch switch at the desired start point, and finishes the launch by again depressing the launch switch over the selected finish point. Figure 8-2 shows an example of a disrupt and fix minefield.

Legend: See the glossary for acronyms and abbreviations.

d. Turn and Block Minefields. Turn and block minefields are emplaced using the same basic procedures as disrupt and fix minefields. However, turn and block minefields use a two strip centerline to give a total minefield depth of 340 meters. The strip centerline is 557 meters long. The emplacement of turn and block minefields requires one aircraft to make two passes. If two aircraft are available, the time to emplace the minefield is cut in half. Additionally, it may be possible to use one ground and one air Volcano system to emplace these types of minefields, each system providing a different strip. Figure 8-3 shows an example of a turn and block minefield.

Legend: See the glossary for acronyms and abbreviations.

a. Air Volcano in Offensive Operations. During offensive operations, Volcano mines can be rapidly emplace by air to secure a flank during a movement to contact. The Volcano mines can be used to block potential avenues of approach from a flank and reduce friendly forces vulnerability to enemy counterattack. During a deliberate or hasty attack, an exposed flank can be quickly reinforced by helicopter emplaced minefields. Additionally, routes out of the objective can be blocked to deny the enemy potential counterattack routes or avenues for withdrawal.

b. Air Volcano in Defensive Operations. During defensive operations, air Volcano mines can be quickly emplaced in the covering force area to delay and disrupt enemy formations. When used to reinforce natural obstacles, air emplaced minefields provide the covering forces with the time and opportunity to engage the attacking enemy forces. In the MBA, turning minefields can be emplaced to force the enemy into engagement areas and fixing minefields can be emplaced to support the destruction of the enemy.

c. Employment Guidelines. Air Volcano minefields may be emplaced in the deep battle or close battle areas. Commanders must develop a plan for minefield coverage. It may be necessary when emplacing deep minefields to emplace scouts or COLTs to maintain observation on the minefield. Utility helicopters can expect to emplace these scout teams along with the minefield.

d. Employment Principles.

(1) Deliberate and hasty dispensing. Based upon the enemy situation, the pilots must decide whether to conduct a deliberate or hasty dispensing run. A deliberate run means that the pilots will make a preliminary "dry" run to verify the positions of the start and end points, check the terrain, and verify altitude and airspeed for the actual dispensing run. In hasty situations the pilots will not be able to make a dry run. He must rely on detailed mission planning and a thorough map reconnaissance to emplace the minefield on the first run.

(2) Site layout. Site layout for air Volcano minefields is extremely important. When the situation allows, the limits of the minefield are marked before minefield emplacement. When the situation does not allow premarking of the site, the flight crew must determine through premission planning and reconnaissance (map and actual) the start and stop points and minefield limits.

e. Air Volcano Delivery Techniques. Positive control of air Volcano missions are essential. It is imperative that the flight crew emplace the mines at the right location. Failure to put the mines in the correct location will decrease the desired effect of the minefield and increase the potential for fratricide, especially for unobserved deep battle minefields or hasty minefields that may not be marked. The following techniques have been developed to ensure that the mines are emplaced in the correct location:

(1) Visual identification technique. This positive control technique focuses on visual identification for emplacement of the minefield. During the preparation stage, engineer units will mark the limits of the minefield and the start and stop firing points for the Volcano. This provides a visual signal for the pilot to start and stop the firing of the canisters. This control technique is good for open terrain with adequate visibility and little canopy coverage.

(2) Time lapse technique. This control technique focuses on airspeed versus Volcano firing times. Once the firing is initiated by the pilot at a predetermined start point, the canisters are fired for a preset time based upon the aircraft airspeed (see Table 8-2). This technique is good for limited visibility conditions or when time does not permit for complete marking of the minefield. The engineer unit (or another designated unit) will still be required to mark the minefield start point.

(3) Canisters fired technique. This positive control technique focuses on number of canisters fired. Once the air Volcano is initiated, the pilot terminates the firing when the DCU counts down to a predetermined number of canisters. Number of canisters fired is based upon the type of minefield that will be emplaced (see Figures 8-2 and 8-3). This technique is good for limited visibility situations, when the minefield area is covered, and when time to fully mark the minefield is limited. This technique allows the flight crew to focus on flying the aircraft, since the operator or crew chief can monitor the DCU and announce when the desired number of canisters has been dispensed. It will reduce pilot workload. This method, when combined with the time lapse technique, will provide for an accurately emplaced minefield.

(4) Doppler/global positioning system guidance technique. This technique focuses on using aircraft navigation systems to emplace the minefield. During the mission preparation phase, the planners conduct a thorough map reconnaissance. They determine the grid coordinates for the start and stop firing points. These grids are provided to the pilots, who place the points into their navigation systems. When the start point is reached, the pilot initiates the firing and terminates at the end point. This technique is good for minefields emplaced in the deep fight and for hastily emplaced minefields. Pilots using Doppler navigation systems must pay attention to the accuracy of the system and ensure that updates are accomplished accurately to ensure the minefield is emplaced in the desired location.

a. Volcano Emplacement. The decision to emplace a Volcano minefield (air or ground) will usually be made by the division commander or higher. The division commander, based upon the tactical situation and recommendations from division staff sections, will approve the emplacement of the Volcano mine system using a UH-60. The commander will provide his intent and guidance as to minefield type, delivery method, size, markings, and minefield duration.

b. Mission Planning. Mission planning for emplacement of air Volcano is done within the division G3 section. The ADE and the ADAO, with assistance from the division G3 (Air) and airspace management element, will conduct the mission planning. Upon receipt of the mission from the commander, the ADAO will provide a WARNORD to the aviation brigade, who will in turn give a WARNORD to the executing unit. The aircrews involved in the mission, along with assistance from the battalion staff, will develop flight routes and submit them to the ADAO for airspace deconfliction. The aircrews will load the system and determine fuel requirements.

c. Mission Coordination. Since this is a division mission, planning for the mission will be accomplished at division level. The ADE will develop the minefield plan, to include minefield type, observer plan, and marking plan. The ADAO, with assistance from the brigade and battalion S3, will develop a fire support and SEAD plan for the mission, using available assets. If the mission is in support of a deep operation, assets that may be used include field artillery, CAS, and attack helicopters. Employment methods for CAS and attack helicopters are the same as for an air assault. Throughout the planning process the brigade and battalion S3s must be involved to ensure that all combat systems are synchronized.

d. Aircrew Briefing. The flight crew will be briefed on the mission by the battalion staff, or they may be briefed directly by the division on the mission execution. The AB will be similar as that for an air assault, but will include minefield specific information, to include minefield marking procedures, the delivery technique, and the purpose of the minefield. It is important that the flight crews understand the purpose of the minefield. If the navigation systems (GPS, Doppler) onboard the aircraft fail, the pilots can still emplace the minefield that accomplishes the commander's purpose. Based upon a thorough map reconnaissance, enemy situation, and analysis of available assets, the pilots should select the delivery method with which they are most comfortable. The ADAO and the ADE should provide a sketch of the minefield for the aircrews during the AB.

e. Logistics Planning. The division G4 section provides logistics support information to the DAO concerning the air Volcano mission. The DAO will identify which ATP or engineer mine dump will provide the mines for the mission. If the ATP/mine dump is notified early, the ammunition can be broken down and prepared for loading prior to the arrival of the aircraft. The location of the ATP/mine dump is passed to the ADAO, who sends it through the aviation brigade to the aircrews conducting the mission. At a predetermined time, the aircraft will reposition to the ATP/mine dump, where the canisters will be drawn and loaded into the dispensers by the flight crew or personnel from the aviation battalion sent to the ATP/mine dump.

f. Reporting Requirements. Upon completion of the mission, the aircrews conducting the mission must give the ADE the exact coordinates for the start point and end point of the minefield dispensing strip, and the exact time that the aircraft emplaced the minefield. The flight crews should use the SCATMINWARN reporting format found in FM 20-32. This will allow the ADE to provide for proper marking and safe distance determination for the minefield. Reporting will be done as soon as possible following mine emplacement. Notification should be made using FM secure mode. If communications with the division are not possible, the aircrew must relay the information through the aviation battalion to the division. Following mission completion, the aircrew should verify that the ADE received the entire report from the pilots.