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C-MASAD-81-13 1 (1981-04-30)

handle is hein.gao/gaobabcaf0001 and id is 1 raw text is: UNCLASSIFIED COMPTROLLER GENERAL'S REPORT TO THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON DEFENSE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AN ASSESSMENT OF THE NAVY'S MINE WARFARE MISSION DIGEST Mine warfare, a relatively inexpensive and effective method of conducting naval warfare, consists of the control or denial of sea or harbor areas through the laying of minefields and countering enemy mine warfare by destroying or neutralizing their minefields. GAO found that the Navy would find it hard to conduct even the most limited type of mining or mine countermeasures operation. The Navy's ability to perform offensive mining missions is limited in several areas and is inadequate in light of the potential threat. Several new mine programs are in development or in limited production which, according to the Navy, should alleviate a number of these weaknesses and provide an effective mining capability against the projected threat. It will take time, however, before the effects of these improvements can be seen. (See p. 9.) MINE COUNTERMEASURES--AIRBORNE The Navy uses both airborne and surface ship platforms to perform mine countermeasures operations. (See p. 2.) The airborne mine countermeasures forces are much more mobile than the surface ship and can be on location quicker, but they suffer from lack of aircraft, spare parts, and a shortage of personnel. Fur- thermore, helicopters are primarily restricted to certain areas of water in which they can operate and in their ability to locate and counter certain types of mines. (See pp. 19 to 24.) Airborne mine countermeasures should see considerable improvement by the mid-1980s. These improvements should provide the helicop- ter with a much broader capability than it cur- rently has. Furthermore, the Navy recently decided to increase the force levels for air- borne mine countermeasures and buy 32 MH-53E helicopters. However, no funds have been UNCLASSIFIED I 11111111111111 C-MASAD-81-13 APRIL 30, 1981 (2/7 ~

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