The CAPTOR was/is a variant of mine developed by the U.S. Navy during the Cold War. Designed to deny areas of ocean to Soviet submarines, the CAPTOR was really a moored ASW torpedo (the Mk. 46 US) with just enough support hardware to launch it upon the detection of nearby shipping or submarine traffic. Expensive and fragile, they were reserved for wartime interdiction of the SLOCs via the GIUK Gap and for mining enemy submarine transit lanes and harbors. CAPTOR stands for EnCAPsulated TORpedo.

CAPTORs could be deployed by surface vessels, aircraft or submarines.

Cap"tor (?), n. [L., a cather (of animals), fr. caper to take.]

One who captures any person or thing, as a prisoner or a prize.

 

© Webster 1913.

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