Te-1 rocket propelled mine

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The Specialized-1 (特-1, or Te-1) rocket propelled mine project was started by the 710th Research Institute in 1981, and was completed by 1987 after more than 100 major design changes. Specialized-1 is planted by surface ships into the depth up to 200 m (650 ft). The maximum speed of the mine is greater than 50 m/sec (112 mph). In the early 1990’s, Specialized-1 rocket propelled mine was upgraded to have bigger warheads and the maximum depth it can be planted was more than doubled.

At least two more mines were developed from Specialized-1 (Te-1) rocket propelled mine in the late 1990s but their designations are unknown. Both type were directional, i.e. the control fins of the mines would maneuver the mine toward the target in the process of going upward, a feature the Specialized-1 mine lacks. The first of the two new mines is similar to Specialized-1 rocket propelled mine, with speed of greater than 80 meters per second. A single directional mine like this can control an area with a radius of 3 km (1.9 miles).

The second one is the simplified version to reduce cost by eliminating the rocket motor, thus only depends on its natural buoyancy to propel the mine upward. There is yet a third mine derived from the second one with further simplification to reduce cost by further eliminating the control fins, thus lacking the directional capability, and this mine had to be released much earlier from its anchorage like the one with directional capability but without the rocket motor. The area control of both type, of course, is much less than the one with rocket motor, but still larger than the Specialized-1 rocket propelled mine, which could only travel upward in straight line.