contact mine

noun

1. a naval mine designed to explode on contact with the hull of a ship.

Word History and Origins

Origin of contact mine¹

First recorded in 1880–85

Example Sentences

Returning from a convoy on April 14, the frigate struck an Iranian contact mine, which blew a massive hole in the hull.

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The mine appeared to be a pill-shaped contact mine, Ryan said she was told by personnel from the Navy’s Explosives Ordinance Disposal, who called the museum to see if they had anything similar in their collection.

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BBC Wales has tried to contact mine management but nobody was available for comment.

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The device was believed to be a moored contact mine from either World War I or World War II and could have been exposed by Hurricane Sandy last year, base officials said.

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A contact mine had been fired, and the bottom of the ship had been practically blown out, for a few minutes later she went down with nearly every soul on board.

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