OVERVIEW: The Mk60 CAPTOR is an encapsulated deep-water anti-submarine mine deploying a Mk46 Mod 4 torpedo upon detecting hostile submarines. It combines long-duration passive surveillance with a homing torpedo payload to deny access to designated undersea zones.

DETAILS: The Mk60 CAPTOR (enCAPsulated TORpedo) was introduced in 1981 by the U.S. Navy as an advanced deep-water ASW mine. Housed in a pressure-resistant casing, the system rests on the seabed and uses a sophisticated acoustic detection system to differentiate between friendly and hostile submarines. Once a valid target is detected, the mine releases a Mk46 Mod 4 lightweight torpedo that homes in on the submarine. The Mk60 was designed to be deployed via aircraft or submarines and remained operational for extended periods. It provided the U.S. Navy with a strategic tool to passively defend chokepoints, sea lanes, and coastal approaches during the Cold War.

FUNCTION: Deployed on the ocean floor, the Mk60 passively monitors acoustic signatures. Upon confirming a hostile submarine target, it activates and launches the Mk46 torpedo to engage the contact autonomously.

NOTE:
IOC: 1981
Operators: United States Navy
Platforms: P-3 Orion, B-52 Stratofortress, submarines
Conflict used in: Cold War deployment; no confirmed combat use

SOURCE: U.S. Navy Mine Warfare Manual ; Jane’s Naval Weapon Systems ; Federation of American Scientists (FAS): https://fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/sea/captor.htm ; U.S. Navy Fact File (archived) ; https://www.navy.mil