Impact detonation of British Aerial mines capable of being carried by the Fairey Swordfish
By design:
http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WAMBR_Mines.htm
Quote:
A Mark I
Originally designed to fit the same dropping gear as the 18 inch (45 cm) Mark XI torpedo. First used magnetic only triggering but later versions incorporated acoustic, acoustic-magnetic and magnetic-pressure triggering, although the last one was not used in service. Weight was about 1,500 lbs. (680 kg) with a 750 lbs. (340 kg) charge.
Mk II info snipped
A Mark III
Similar to Mark I but with less use of scarce material. Some were fitted for impact firing. Mark III*** was for dropping from Mosquitos at 260 knots from 300 feet (90 m) into inland waterways. Designed to be dropped from 4,000 lbs. (1,814 kg) bomb gear.
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Emphasis added.
By Accident
Fotress Malta -info given earlier
Quote:
Nat was sent on another mine-laying excercise ... He particularily loathed taking off with these enormous long cylinders strapped underneath, especially since the gap between the ground and the "cucumber" was less than one foot; he was fully aware that on the rough, bomb-damaged airfield of Hal Far, it was all too easy to take off and hit an object that might cause the mine to explode. Nor had any of them forgotten what had happened back in February, when eight men were killed after one had accidentally detonated.
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(spelling errors all mine) In February, an armourer was demonstrating - on dry land - how to arm the mine when it went off .
Theoretical
Given that most ships carrying Swordfish would have a workshop, an armourer could adapt a regular impact fuse to fit a mine.
To recap this post:
1) I have proven that the Mk III - Dimensionally equivalent to the MkI could be fitted with an impact fuse. No not the Mark III***.
2) The pilots carrying a "safe" mine were worried about accidental impact with a rock or pothole on take-off detonating the mine. It was not a "1500 lb lump of lead" Even when on "safe". Logically dropping a mine from altitude would have a much higher chance of detonation.
3) Royal Navy armourers almost certainly had the tools and skills to adapt a conventional bomb impact fuse to fit a mine.
Again - I am not saying
any British aircraft
ever dropped a mine as a ground attack weapon in the same fashion as the German airforces were known to have done.
And this is my last post on the matter - Sorry to the rest for involving you in this pi**ing contest.