Explosive cutter for mine moorings

摘要

An explosive cutter for severing a mooring of a moored mine includes a securing apparatus for attaching the explosive cutter to a mooring and for detaching the explosive cutter from an underwater vessel. The securing apparatus includes a mooring capturing jaw; a clamping lever having a withdrawn position in which it is clear of the capturing jaw and a clamping position in which it closes off the capturing jaw for holding the mooring captive in the capturing jaw; and a slidable shuttle having a first position and a second position. The shuttle includes an actuator for being pressed by the mooring to move the shuttle from the first position into the second position; a detent lug cooperating with the clamping lever for releasing the clamping lever to allow it to move into the clamping position when the shuttle is moved into the second position; and a locking component having a locking position in which the locking member maintains the explosive cutter locked to an underwater vessel when the shuttle is in the first position. The locking member has a releasing position in which it frees the explosive cutter from the underwater vessel when the shuttle is moved into the second position.