Mines are a problem in many places in the world. Now it is a problem in a sensitive area of the world with economic impacts.

The USA is prepared to carry out these missions. This type of ordinance is not foreign to the concerns in these waters.

UNITED STATES

07.24.2017

Photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Tyler Thompson 

U.S. Navy

170724-N-QA919-0172
MEDITERRANEAN SEA (July 24, 2017) Senior Chief Explosive Ordnance Disposal (click here) Technician Robert Ramirez, left, and Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician 3rd Class David Garcia, both assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EODMU) 8, proceed to a simulated call in the Mediterranean Sea during exercise Noble Melinda 2017. The Israel Defense Force-hosted explosive ordnance disposal and mine countermeasures exercise is designed to increase the interoperability of participating nations, enhance maritime proficiencies, and promote maritime safety and security in the region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Tyler Thompson/Released)

With a current measure by the US Navy in place to remove and disarm this type of munition, Trump has no basis to point to Iran. This form of terrorism, unfortunately, it not an uncommon concern. Of course, the Australian navy would be involved with such exercises.

A bit of history.

It was the spring of 1939, (click here) and the threat of war was hanging over Europe when Stuart Macrae, the editor of Britain’s Armchair Science magazine, received a mysterious phone call.

A man named Millis Jefferis, who Macrae had never met before, wanted to know more about the powerful magnets featured in an issue of the magazine. The gruff-sounding Jefferis wouldn’t tell Macrae why he needed the information, but he was insistent....

Everything I look at says terrorists. This is on Etsy (click here) It is an empty shell for sale for $27.00. The proof of any sovereign state using such devices is highly questionable. 

1/16 German Metal MAGNETIC LIMPET MINE re WWII Tank Panzer Tiger Diorama Model (click here)

The mines are from WWII. The country of Iran didn't exist during WWII. The picture below left (click here) is the usual method of installing the limpet mines. The terrorists that placed the magnet mines on the ship didn't care to carry out the explosions underwater. 

Source of picture (click here)

There are far more questions than answers. The reality that can be acted on is the fact there were magnetic mines placed on the oil tankers. There need to be measures to insure safe passage of the ships. How that safe passage is achieved is most likely up to the USA and MONITORS to report trustworthy activities by the USA Ships. The monitors will have to be in the water. I doubt if any monitor will be allowed on board a USA ship.

There need to be cameras installed on the tankers to record nefarious activity. Those cameras can be a part of a monitor station on board to be viewed by a sailor.

Harbors around the world have sophisticated monitoring in their harbors. I am sure that level of surveillance can be brought to the ports along the Gulf of Oman.

To the right is a crosscut view of a limpet mine. It is a very crude device. It is also a very old device. There is nothing sophisticated about this.

It was probably used in the previous attack of four tankers. There is no evidence of that though. The word used is probably.

...It is an underwater charge (click here) incorporating a built in time delay exploder intended to be fixed to the hull of a ship magnetically or held in a place by a nylon belt. Highly effective against submarines, war / merchant ships riding at anchor or moored along the pier, or alongside a jetty as well as port installations, pipelines and offshore drilling / processing platforms. It can be easily carried on chariots, when required....

This article is from the Japan News. Japan and Norway need to be a large part of this initiative and certainly, need to be a part of the decision making at this point.

June 14, 2019

Dubai/Washington — The United States blamed Iran (click here) for attacks on two oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman on Thursday that drove up oil prices and raised concerns about a new U.S.-Iranian confrontation.

It was not immediately clear what befell the Norwegian-owned Front Altair or the Japanese-owned Kokuka Courageous, which both suffered explosions, forcing crews to abandon ship and leave the vessels adrift in waters between Gulf Arab states and Iran.

One source said the blast on the Front Altair, which caught fire and sent a huge plume of smoke into the air, may have been caused by a magnetic mine.

The firm that chartered the Kokuka Courageous tanker said that it was hit by a suspected torpedo but a person with knowledge of the matter said torpedoes were not used.

An unexploded device, believed to be a limpet mine, was spotted on the side of the Japanese tanker, a U.S. official told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity. If confirmed, the next steps might be to either deactivate or detonate the device....

There is nothing conclusive about that video, except, a potential Iranian ship is removing a mine from the ship. We all should be grateful the Iranians could safely remove a dangerous munition. The Japanese thought they might lose the ship entirely.

If this was a film loop whereby Iranian sailors were placing the magnetic mine on the ship it would be suspicious to a sovereign act, but, there is no such information in a film loop.

Trump wants a war. He doesn't care of it is legitimate or not. What needs to happen here are decisions between the countries using these waters for the need of mine sweepers and patrols to provide safe passage.

What concerns me is how terrorists obtained magnet mines and how was the attack deployed without anyone on the ship detecting the attack. The ships are not equipped with cameras that monitor the sides of the ship otherwise that video would be out there rather than an Iranian ship removing a magnetic mine.