Submarine explosive cable cutting device towed by a towing cable

摘要

A submarine explosive device for cutting anchoring chains or cables of sea mines. The device is towed through the water by a mine sweeping vessel via a towing cable. The device includes a gripper body which has a pair of parallel shank portions extending in the towing direction and defining a gripper mouth therebetween for catching the anchoring chains or cables of sea mines. A stabilization float is releasably connected to the gripper body. A release plate is mounted in the throat of the gripper mouth and is adapted to ignite an explosive charge mounted in one of the shank portions of the gripper body. The towing cable is removably mounted in a longitudinal groove extending through the gripper body. Towing cable protecting means are mounted in the other shank portion of the gripper body. The portion of the gripper body in which the explosive charge is housed can be sheared off the remainder of the gripper body when a predetermined force, applied to this portion of the gripper body, is exceeded.