Minelayer - Fusetsukakan (English)

A vessel tasked with laying mines in the sea. A type of warship. In a broader sense, this name also applies to vessels that lay various underwater cables, underwater acoustic detection devices, and other underwater equipment. The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force classifies the former as minelayers and the latter as minelayers. Generally, minelayers have mine hangars and mine recovery equipment on board, and mines are transported on a drop rail installed on the upper deck or middle deck of the ship, and dropped and laid from the stern by a chain conveyor. In 1899, Russia completed the first dedicated minelayer, the Amur, and since then, various countries have built and modified mines, including high-speed ships that can forcibly lay mines on enemy coasts, large ships for laying minefields in the open ocean, and small ships for defending their own coasts and harbors. After World War II, aircraft and submarines began to conduct offensive mine warfare against enemy territories, and modern minelayers are primarily used to lay mines for blocking passage through straits, forming oceanic minefields, and defending domestic coasts and harbors. In addition to oceangoing types weighing 1,700 to 3,000 tons and carrying 300 to 500 mines, there are also coastal types with smaller mines, some of which also serve as minesweeping tenders, submarine tenders, or training ships. Some countries also equip their surface combatants with the ability to lay mines.

[Yasuo Abe]

"World's Ships No. 383 Special Feature: The Story of Minelayers" (1987, Kaijinsha) ▽ "Takao Ishibashi, Introduction to Naval Ship Studies: A Thorough Study of the Roots of Warships" (2000, Kojinsha) ▽ "Stephen Saunders Jane's Fighting Ships 2010-2011" (2010, Jane's Information Group)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

機雷を海中に敷設する任務の艦艇。軍艦の一種。広義には各種水中電纜(でんらん)（ケーブル）、水中音響探知装置などの水中器材を敷設するものもこの名称でよばれる。海上自衛隊は前者を機雷敷設艦、後者を敷設艦に種別している。一般に敷設艦は艦内に機雷格納庫、機雷揚収装置などを有し、機雷は上甲板または艦内の中甲板に設けた投下軌条で移送され、チェーンコンベヤーにより艦尾から投下敷設される。1899年ロシアが最初の専用敷設艦アムールAmurを完成し、以後各国で新造、改造により、敵沿岸へ強行敷設する高速艦、外洋機雷原設置用の大型艦、自国沿岸・港湾防備用の小型艦などが出現した。第二次世界大戦後は航空機あるいは潜水艦が敵地への攻勢機雷戦を行うようになり、現代の敷設艦はおもに通峡阻止、外洋機雷原形成、自国沿岸・港湾防御などのための敷設任務に用いられ、1700～3000トン、機雷300～500個搭載の外洋型のほか、それ以下の沿岸型などがあり、前者には掃海母艦、潜水母艦、練習艦などを兼ねているものもある。また、水上戦闘艦艇などに機雷敷設能力を設けている国もある。

［阿部安雄］

『『世界の艦船第383号　特集　機雷敷設艦物語』（1987・海人社）』▽『石橋孝夫著『艦艇学入門――軍艦のルーツ徹底研究』（2000・光人社）』▽『Stephen SaundersJane's Fighting Ships 2010-2011（2010, Jane's Information Group）』

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