Anatomy of a Naval Mine

Click any highlighted component to explore how a moored contact mine works

WATERLINE SINKER SEABED TNT ~300 kg + - Hertz horns Steel casing Explosive Detonator Battery Mooring chain Sinker / anchor Depth gauge

Moored Contact Mine

This is a cutaway diagram of a moored contact mine, the most widely deployed naval mine in history. First used extensively in the Russo-Japanese War (1904) and both World Wars, variants remain in service today.

The mine floats at a set depth, tethered to the seabed by an anchor and chain. When a vessel strikes one of its Hertz horns, a chemical reaction generates an electrical current that fires the detonator. Click any component to learn more.
Hertz Horns Casing Explosive Detonator Battery Depth Gauge Mooring Chain Sinker