Naval mine



Naval mines are nautical explosive devices utilized by the Equalists to sink naval vessels. Deployed underwater, these mines detonate on impact with anything that comes into contact with them, creating a massive explosion capable of crippling a United Forces battleship.

History
Following the Equalists occupation of Republic City the United Forces, led by General Iroh, unexpectedly met no resistance upon entering the city's harbor. As the fleet made its way further into the harbor they were met with an ambush when the fleet sailed right into a mine field laid out under the surface of the harbor. Resting just below the surface of the water, the mines were never noticed until finally several battleships struck them and inflicted massive damaged on the ships' hulls leaving them dead in the water, and easy targets for the flight of biplanes that were on their way to bomb the vulnerable fleet.

Design
The naval mines employed by the Equalists were spherical in shape, and were covered in prods that contained a blasting cap which, when struck by another object such as a vessel, detonated the main charge located in the center of the spherical shell. The blast created by this charge was enough to cripple a battleship, or cause massive damage to area immediately effected by the blast.

Trivia

 * These are one of two types of mines seen in either series, the first being the Tangle mine created by Hakoda in The Day of Black Sun, Part 1: The Invasion.
 * The design of these mines bears a striking resemblance to the Polish wz. 08/39 contact mine.