and firing mechanism in a separate bl10y called a " contact buoy ...

SUBMARINE l'frNES 399
31. Laying Blockade Mines with a Launch.-In case a cruising
ship is required to lay a number of blockade mines with
its own resources, there are several methods which may be adopted.
The mines, with their anchors, batteries and safety breaks, may
be placed in a ship's launch at the ends of the thwarts as shown
in the sketch, each being ready to slip at short notice. A steam
cutter may then take the launch in tow.
3 r;
a
LAUNCH LOADED WITH MINES. PAR. 3I.
Suppose the mines are to be laid in a line, AI, A 2 , from west to
east, M 1 , M 2 , M 3 , etc., being the mines, B 1 , B 2 , B 3 , the batteries,
and C 1 , C 2 , C:p the safety breaks for the several mines.
Arriving at AI' the first mine, MI' with its anchor, is slipped, and ..
the tow steers N. E. until B 1 · and C 1 are dropped successively.
M t M. ]f'3 M.
L AYING A LINE OF BLOCKADE MINES WITH LAUNCH IN Tow. PAR. 31.
The helm is then put hard over and the tow returns to the E and
W line where M2 is dropped, and continues to steer a zigzag
course until all the mines are laid.
32. Laying Blockade Mines with Several Boats in Tow.­
Another method, which would be preferable under some circumstances,
is to place each mine with its battery and safety break
in a separate boat, the mine and its anchor slung over the stern
ready for slipping, arid the crew seated on the thwarts ready to get