A "minesweeper" could be anything used in mine countermeasures, including anything on land. There is enough erroneous nomenclature in the media without trying to be pedantic. I hadn't realized that the KINGSTON class sawed-off supply boats had hard chine hulls. No wonder they roll so much. I dare say they are wet aft in a following sea.
Posted at 2008-05-06 08:24:30 [PermaLink]Mark, a point of info please? Obviously the first choice would be to detect and neutralize an IED, but, just out of curiosity, wouldn't a directed beam of RF energy (of the appropriate frequency) detonate these things, in advance of actually being in range of damage to the vehicles? [External Link]
In a similar vein:
[External Link]
Assuming the above aren't available in the field at this time...
"A 'minesweeper' could be anything used in mine countermeasures, including anything on land."
Maybe in Canada, but my Websters has one definition: "a warship for removing or neutralizing mines by dragging" (1905) [External Link]
DaninVan:
US working on things:
[External Link]
[External Link]
Mark
Ottawa
Also "a heavy roller attached to the front of a military tank for exploding land mines in its path". (Webster's Unabridged page 1145) During WWII the Soviets used infantry (usually penal)as sweepers, calculating that casualties incurred in charging across a minefield would be about equal to those incurred if the ground was covered by fire. Uncle Joe was a real pragmatist.
Posted at 2008-05-07 18:17:25 [PermaLink]Well, while in NORAD in the early 70s, I'd been told that Canada was no longer in possession of a Navy, and hardly any RCAF (Air Force) at all. They had small coastal ships, many radars, some airfields (quickly closing), some ancient CF-100s, and a tiny army.
I thought about the prospects of some change for the better, and later just gave up. Took to referring to Canada as "Trudeauberg", which some Canucks did not appreciate.
Now they pursue 'thought crime', so it's worse. I'm afraid that I'm writing off most Canucks as a lost cause. Sorry.
I am maternally descended from Quebecois from four generations. Arsenault, Archambeau, Ganye (sp?), etc.