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Th e execution of proper minin; operations from th e air will
epend reatly on the local conditions in the enemy area and
on
one's own strateoic plans , and can therefore be planned only
in conjuncti on w ith
tḻ l e naval operations staff .
The hours of
darkness are particularly suited for m inin operations ,
but
precise na vigation
cvill th en be a prerequisite . O ne ' s own
ships should not be endan ered under any circumstances ,
With
the iṃpor tance that aerial minin operations h ave assuwed
it is necessary that the air force staffs a Q we ll oriented on
th e strate ic and tactical effectiveness of the different types
of mines and their multiple-purpose rerote-control fuse nechanisms .
a ;:: on ; ; t h e e s s er t i s .
l da t a ne e de d co n c er ni ng t he t ar e t t ha t i s t o
b e min ed are its military si nificance ,
the density of traffic ,
local
conditians such as the depth of the water and currents , as
" well as th e status of enemy mine cleariug or anizations .
There
ras a basic difference between the G erman parachute min e "Lli" and
the bomb mine "BM .
" The latter was dropped and aimed like an .
ordinary explosive bomb . The minimum depth of water was 33 feet ,
within which th e mị ne bor :
a turnei because of its hea d shape and
restedat the bottom of the water ,
like the L:i .
The explosive char e
of the LM cons it ed of nitrocellulose 1 8 an d that of the BM of triehlorethyl
ene 105 ,
both of them effective underwater explosive media .
The built - iri remo te-control fuses were e ff ective a ains t larger
to
ships up 200 feet depth of water ,
in ,vhich the 1 540 - 1bs explosive
charbe f ully su ffi eed to sink commercial vessels of about 8 ,
000 tons .
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