UW2001 History of USW Part I , Mine Warfare

A study of mine warfare during the 20th century. Starting with the development of mines at the end of the 19th century, the progression of the warfare area is tracked through the end of the 20th century. The lessons of this history continue to have implications for the future of naval warfare. Numerous lessons reappear from the Russo-Japanese War of 1905 on through World War I, World War II, the Korean conflict, the Vietnam War, the Cold War, Desert Shield/Desert Storm, and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Technical Innovations with significant impact on this historical period are covered as part of this course. Prerequisites: None.

Lecture Hours

2

Lab Hours

0

Course Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• Describe offensive and defensive mining, including mine countermeasures, supporting operations, and mine warfare elements in SUBSEA/SEABED Warfare (SSW).
• Apply lessons from the history of naval mines (from the Revolutionary War to today) to assess mine warfare’s impact on the U.S. Navy and warfighting.
• Use the history of mine warfare to infer potential capabilities and weaknesses of the U.S. Navy, allies, and adversaries.
• List current and planned developments in Mine Warfare, including the applications of unmanned systems and the Littoral Combat Ship.