Editing Minesweeper (section)

==Operation and requirements==
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[[File:Magneettiraivain.jpg|thumb|Magnetic naval minesweeper as a monument in [[Kotka]], [[Finland]]]]
[[Image:M1098 Siegburg.jpg|thumb|right|''Siegburg'', a modern {{sclass|Ensdorf|minesweeper|1}} of the [[German Navy]]]]
Minesweepers are equipped with mechanical or electrical devices, known as "sweeps", for disabling mines. The modern minesweeper is designed to reduce the chances of it detonating mines itself; it is [[soundproofing|soundproofed]] to reduce its [[acoustic signature]] and often constructed using wood, [[fiberglass]], or [[non-ferrous metal]], or is [[degaussing|degaussed]] to reduce its [[magnetism|magnetic signature]].<ref name=HowItWorks>{{cite book|title=How it works : science and technology.|year=2003|publisher=Marshall Cavendish|location=New York|isbn=0-7614-7333-5|pages=2633|url=https://archive.org/details/howitworks12mars|url-access=registration|edition=3rd|access-date=15 October 2012|chapter=Minesweepers}}</ref>

Mechanical sweeps are devices designed to cut the anchoring cables of moored mines, and preferably attach a tag to help the subsequent localization and neutralization. They are towed behind the minesweeper and use a towed body (e.g., [[Oropesa (minesweeping)|oropesa]], [[Paravane (weapon)|paravane]]) to maintain the sweep at the desired depth and position. Influence sweeps are equipment, often towed, that emulate a particular ship signature, thereby causing a mine to detonate. 

There are two modes of operating an influence sweep: MSM (mine setting mode) and TSM (target simulation mode or target setting mode). MSM sweeping is founded on intelligence on a given type of mine, and produces the output required for detonation of this mine. If such intelligence is unavailable, the TSM sweeping instead reproduces the influence of the friendly ship that is about to transit the area. TSM sweeping thus clears mines directed at this ship without knowledge of the mines. However, mines directed at other ships might remain.<ref>Dick Linssen and Åshild Bergh (2000): "Target Simulation Mode Mine Sweeping - SWEEPOP", pamphlet, 4 pages, [[Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research|TNO]] Physics and Electronics Laboratory, The Netherlands.</ref><ref>P A Brodtkorb, B-E Marthinsen, M Nakjem, R Fardal (2005): "Royal Norwegian Navy (RNoN) introduces new mine sweeping capabilities", Undersea Defence Technology (UDT) Europe, conf. proc., Amsterdam.</ref>

The minesweeper differs from a [[minehunter]]; the minehunter actively detects and neutralizes individual mines. Minesweepers are in many cases complementary to minehunters, depending on the operation and the environment; a minesweeper is, in particular, better suited to clearing open-water areas with large numbers of mines. Both kinds of ships are collectively called [[mine countermeasure vessel]]s (MCMV), a term also applied to a vessel that combines both roles.
[[File:Базовые тральщики проекта 1265.png|thumb|Basic minesweepers of project 1265. USSR]]