Editing Mark 60 CAPTOR (section)

{{Short description|American antisubmarine naval mine}}
{{Infobox weapon
| name               = Mark 60 CAPTOR
| image              = Mark 60 CAPTOR-DF-ST-90-11649.JPEG
| image_size         = 300
| caption            = Mark 60 mine being loaded into a [[B-52 Stratofortress]] at [[Loring Air Force Base]] in 1989
| type               = [[Antisubmarine warfare|Antisubmarine]] [[naval mine]]<ref name=navweaps1>{{Cite web|url=http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WAMUS_Mines.php|title=Mines of the United States of America - NavWeaps|last=DiGiulian|first=Tony|website=www.navweaps.com|language=en|access-date=2017-04-22}}</ref><ref name=vp4assoc>{{Cite web|url=http://www.vp4association.com/aircraft-information-2/32-2/mk-60-captor-mine/|title=Mk 60 Captor Mine {{!}} VP-4 Association|website=www.vp4association.com|date=28 May 2011|language=en-US|access-date=2017-04-22}}</ref><ref name=hartshorn>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hartshorn.us/Navy/navy-mines-10.htm|title=U.S. Naval Mines - Captor program|website=www.hartshorn.us|access-date=2017-04-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120112052835/http://www.hartshorn.us/Navy/navy-mines-10.htm|archive-date=2012-01-12|url-status=dead}}</ref>
<!-- Type selection -->
| service            = 1979-2001<ref name=navweaps1 />
| wars               = [[Cold War]]<!-- Production history -->
| designer           = Goodyear Aerospace<ref name=hartshorn />
| number             =
| spec_label         =
| length             = Aircraft/ship-laid:{{convert|3.68|m|in|abbr=on}}<ref name=navweaps1 /><br>Submarine-laid:{{convert|3.35|m|in|abbr=on}}<ref name=navweaps1 />
| diameter           = {{convert|530|mm|in|abbr=on}}<ref name=navweaps1 />
<!-- Ranged weapon specifications -->
| origin             = United States
| is_ranged          = yes
| is_explosive       = yes
| is_missile         = yes
<!-- Service history -->
| used_by            = [[United States Navy]]
| design_date        =
| manufacturer       = Goodyear Aerospace<ref name=hartshorn />
| unit_cost          = US $113,000 (FY78)<br>US $377,000 (FY86)<ref name=hartshorn />
| production_date    = 1978-1986<ref name=hartshorn />
| variants           = Mine Mk 66, Mk 46 Mod 5 (NEARTIP)
<!-- General specifications -->
| weight             = Aircraft/ship-laid:{{convert|1077|kg|lb|abbr=on}}<ref name=navweaps1 /><br>Submarine-laid:{{convert|935|kg|lb|abbr=on}}<ref name=navweaps1 />
| range              = {{convert|8000|yd|m}}<ref name=vp4assoc />
| max_range          =
<!-- Explosive specifications -->
| filling            = [[Mark 46 torpedo]]
| filling_weight     = {{convert|44|kg|lb|abbr=on}}, PBXN-103
| detonation         =
| yield              =
<!-- Vehicle/missile specifications -->
| engine             = Two-speed, reciprocating external combustion
| engine_power       =
| speed              = >{{convert|28|kn|km/h}}
| guidance           = Active or passive/active [[Acoustic torpedo|acoustic homing]], snake or circle search, reliable acoustic path (RAP) sound propagation<ref name=vp4assoc /><ref name=navweaps1 /><ref name=hartshorn />
<!-- Missiles only -->
| propellant         = [[Otto fuel II]]
| depth              = {{convert|1000|ft|m}}
| launch_platform    = [[Aircraft]], [[Surface combatant|surface ship]] and [[submarine]]s<ref name=vp4assoc /><ref name=navweaps1 /><ref name=hartshorn />
}}

The ''' Mark 60 CAPTOR''' (Encapsulated Torpedo) is the United States' only deep-water anti-submarine [[naval mine]].<ref name=cimsec>{{Cite news|url=http://cimsec.org/naval-mines-mining-innovating-face-benign-neglect/30165|title=Naval Mines and Mining: Innovating in the Face of Benign Neglect|date=2016-12-20|work=Center for International Maritime Security|access-date=2017-04-22|language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=hartshorn /><ref name=vp4assoc /> It uses a [[Mark 46 torpedo#cite note-proceedings-4|Mark 46 torpedo]]<ref name=vp4assoc /><ref name=hartshorn /> contained in an aluminum shell that is anchored to the ocean floor.<ref name=vp4assoc /> The mine can be placed by either aircraft, submarine or surface vessel.<ref name=vp4assoc /><ref name=hartshorn /> The torpedo, once placed, can last anywhere from weeks to months underwater.<ref name=hartshorn /> The original production contract of the CAPTOR mine was awarded to [[Goodyear Aerospace]] in 1972, and entered service in 1979.<ref name=hartshorn /> It was hoped to reduce minefield costs and used in the creation of a barrier of the "[[GIUK gap|Greenland-Iceland-United Kingdom gap]] to interrupt Soviet submarines in the event that deterrence failed."<ref name=cimsec />

The mine uses Reliable Acoustic Path (RAP)<ref name=vp4assoc /><ref name=navweaps1 /> sound propagation to passively identify and track the difference between hostile submarine [[Acoustic signature|signatures]], surface vessels and friendly submarines.<ref name=hartshorn /> Once identified, the torpedo leaves its casing to destroy its target.