[PeterPrinciple]

B 29’s lay mines

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From the following which is a good read:

http://www.hartshorn.us/Navy/MinesAway.pdf

One example of a versatile aerial mine from World War II was the U.S. Navy’s Mark 25.16 The Army Air Forces laid many of these in 1944-45 and almost half of the mines laid in “Operation Starvation,” the mining of Japan’s home waters, were versions of this mine. Assembled, it weighed approximately 2,000 pounds, which included 1,250 pounds of explosive. The weapon looked much like a bomb with the exception of a half-slant shape to the nose (for improved underwater trajectory) and the parachute pack at the tail. After the mine left the aircraft a static line opened the parachute, which
lessened the shock as the mine entered the water. The Mk. 25 could be dropped from any altitude above 200 feet, at a maximum speed of 230 miles per hour, and used in water depths of 16 to 150 feet. Once the mine settled to the bottom it armed itself according to pre-flight settings and awaited its prey. Different models featured unique firing mechanisms (for magnetic, acoustic, or pressure actuation), clock starters and delays, ship counters, and redundant safety features. The minefield planner could select the Mk. 25 (or a smaller mine, such as the 1,000 pound Mk. 26) with modifications tailored to the specific water depth, type of vessels, traffic frequency, and minesweeping capability.

[PeterPrinciple]

From the article. Interesting to think that mining had a part in sinking the yamamota. ----------------------------------------------- Aerial photography revealed the extent of Japan’s unpreparedness and the immediate impact mining had on ship traffic. Mines closed the Shimonoseki Strait for almost two weeks and so restricted Japanese naval traffic that the only passable route was through the Bungo Strait--the Inland Sea’s southeastern exit. If ships attempted to sortie through this passage, they faced almost certain detection. Here, on April 6th, a B-29 sighted an Oklnawa-bound task force led by the battleship Yamato. The next day, carrier-based torpedo and dive bombers intercepted and sank Yamato with most of her escorts.

[Tainan]

ping to mine laying via a/c.
Would have made Corinto Harbor a lot easier...;)