seadmine

Seadmine is a term used to refer to naval mines, floating or anchored explosive devices designed to deny access to maritime areas or to protect coastlines. They are intended to detonate on contact or in the presence of a target vessel, depending on the triggering mechanism.

Mines come in several configurations. Moored mines are anchored to the seabed and remain stationary, while drifting or tethered mines move with currents. Activation methods include contact fuzes, magnetic, acoustic, pressure, or influence fuzes. Many modern mines are equipped with sensors and may be remotely armed or programmed for selective detonation.

Historically, sea mines have played a significant role in naval warfare, with widespread use in the World Wars. Minefields were laid to block harbors, straits, or coastlines and to disrupt navigation. In contemporary navies, mine warfare remains a specialized domain, focusing on both offense and defense, as well as post-conflict clearance.

Countermeasures include mine clearance operations using remotely operated vehicles, mine-hunting sonar, and explosive ordnance disposal techniques. Removal of mines is a dangerous but essential activity to restore safe navigation.

In popular and academic usage, "seadmine" may also appear as a shorthand or fictional term used in media and video games to denote underwater explosives; in factual contexts, it generally refers to actual naval mines and their strategic effects.