Abstract:
The present disclosure provides a method for clearing weapons that have been sunk in waterways using a weapon clearance appliance. The weapon clearance appliance comprises means for detachable connection to an unmanned underwater vehicle, so that the underwater vehicle is a safe distance away when the weapon is detonated. The volume of the weapon clearance appliance is chosen such that the buoyancy force which acts on the weapon clearance appliance under water compensates for the force of gravity acting on the weapon clearance appliance. Therefore, the weapon clearance appliance has neutral buoyancy, as a result of which, after the weapon clearance appliance has been released from the underwater vehicle, there is no need to retrim the underwater vehicle. Therefore, there is no need for trimming devices on the underwater vehicle.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/811,691 filed on Jan. 23, 2013, which is a US national stage under 35 U.S.C. §371 of International Application No. PCT/EP2011/054809, which was filed on Mar. 29, 2011 and which claims the priority of application DE 10 2010 033 638.6 filed on Aug. 6, 2010 the content of each which (text, drawings and claims) is incorporated here by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     The invention relates to a weapon clearance appliance for clearing weapons, such as underwater mines or munitions which have been sunk in waterways, under water by detonation of the weapon. The invention further relates to an unmanned underwater vehicle having such a weapon clearance appliance. Finally, the invention relates to a corresponding method for clearing weapons by using such a weapon clearance appliance. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Weapons located in waterways, such as underwater mines or munitions which have been sunk, represent a potential danger for marine navigation and the environment. Such weapons are often still located in waterways decades after hostile action. There is, therefore, a need for efficient, cost-effective and safe clearance of such weapons. 
     Various methods have been conventionally used for clearing such weapons. 
     A technically uncomplicated but dangerous method for weapon clearance provides for divers to dive down to the corresponding weapon object(s) and to attach a clearance charge manually to the objects in order to detonate the objects. However, on the one hand, this method is dangerous for the diver as he comes directly into contact with the weapon. On the other hand, the use of divers is limited to the maximum diving depth of a diver. Weapons which are located at a deeper level are, therefore, not able to be cleared in this manner. 
     A further method provides for a clearance charge to be deposited by means of an unmanned underwater vehicle in the region of the weapon object, by means of a manipulator attached to the underwater vehicle. However, this attachment requires clearance charges using high amounts of explosives in order to be able to dispose of the weapon effectively. Often, a single clearance charge already has 30 to 100 kg of explosives which the underwater vehicle has to transport to the weapon and deposit there. Such a large mass of explosive, however, has the following drawbacks. 
     One the one hand, such a high mass requires complex trimming devices on the underwater vehicle as, after depositing the clearance charge, the trimming of the underwater vehicle is permanently affected. This has the result that the design of the underwater vehicle also has to be correspondingly large and complex. As a result, this increases the cost not only of the underwater vehicle but also of various additional devices, such as for example cranes and storage surfaces provided on board a mother vessel, i.e. the facilities for accommodating equipment on board the mother vessel also have to have correspondingly large dimensions. 
     On the other hand, such large quantities of explosive material are extremely dangerous, as even with a small number of clearance charges, very large amounts of explosive material have to be loaded on board the mother vessel. This involves particularly stringent safety precautions which significantly increase the costs of the weapon clearance operations. 
     According to a further method, unmanned underwater vehicles are used as mine destruction drones, such as for example the unmanned underwater vehicles marketed by the applicant under the trade name “Seefuchs” and/or “Seafox”. In such mine destruction drones, shaped charges are fitted with only a small amount of explosive material, for example one to two kilograms. For mine destruction and/or general weapon disposal, the mine destruction drone is moved directly adjacent to the object to be destroyed. The shaped charge is then fired within the underwater vehicle, the underwater vehicle being detonated together with the object. This method is highly efficient and also requires only a small amount of explosive material. However, the method is costly as an underwater vehicle is lost with each use. 
     In view of the above, the object of the invention is to make the weapon clearance under water cheaper, but without substantially increasing the amount of explosive material required. 
     SUMMARY 
     The invention achieves this object by a weapon clearance appliance, an unmanned underwater vehicle having such a weapon clearance appliance, as well as by a method for the clearance of weapons using such a weapon clearance appliance as described and claimed below. 
     The invention is based on the recognition that the use of small explosive charges requires the explosive charge to be positioned exactly adjacent to and/or in the region of the weapon. A small amount of explosive material is sufficient to destroy the weapon only if the explosive charge is positioned accurately. 
     Moreover, small quantities of explosive material permit the use of small underwater vehicles, whereby the costs of weapon clearance operations can be kept low. 
     The invention is based on the further recognition that, due to the use of small underwater vehicles, the self-trimming of the underwater vehicle can be permanently affected in a negative manner, when the clearance charge is separated from the underwater vehicle. Insufficient self-trimming, however, leads either to loss of the underwater vehicle as it is no longer able to be controlled or to time-consuming retrimming, whereby the duration of the missions is significantly lengthened. 
     According to the invention, therefore, it is provided that the weapon clearance appliance is not an integral component of an underwater vehicle but is simply provided as an attachment for an unmanned underwater vehicle. The underwater vehicle thus only serves as a transport vehicle for the actual weapon clearance appliance, which is released from the underwater vehicle in the region of the weapon and/or adjacent to the weapon. To this end, the weapon clearance appliance has means for the releasable connection to the underwater vehicle. The weapon clearance appliance is thus separated from the underwater vehicle in the region of the weapon, so that the underwater vehicle is able to move away from the danger area before the detonation of the weapon. 
     The volume of the weapon clearance appliance is thus selected such that the buoyancy force acting on the weapon clearance appliance under water compensates for the force of gravity acting on the weapon clearance appliance. The weapon clearance appliance thus has neutral buoyancy. A release of the weapon clearance appliance from the underwater vehicle therefore does not lead to a change in the (positive or negative) buoyancy of the underwater vehicle. The underwater vehicle is, therefore, also able to be easily controlled, even after the weapon clearance appliance has been released from the underwater vehicle. 
     The invention thus advantageously permits the use of small unmanned underwater vehicles which do not require any complex equipment for neutralizing buoyancy and/or trimming. The invention thus provides the possibility of using small, low-cost underwater vehicles which can be reused after use, as the actual weapon clearance appliance is arranged separately and such that it is able to be separated from the underwater vehicle. 
     In accordance with a method of the invention it is, therefore, provided initially for a clearance charge comprising explosive material and/or a spoof device for simulating characteristics of marine vessels or submarines to be positioned, i.e. in particular attached or deposited, on the weapon or in the region of the weapon by means of a weapon clearance appliance according to the invention attached to an unmanned underwater vehicle. Such a spoof device serves to deceive the fuse of a mine, which thus activates its own firing mechanism and thus is automatically detonated and is thus cleared. 
     After the positioning of the weapon clearance appliance with the clearance charge and/or spoof device, the weapon clearance appliance is released from the unmanned underwater vehicle. The unmanned underwater vehicle is then moved away from the weapon to a distance which is greater than or equal to a predetermined safety distance. Subsequently, the explosive charge and/or spoof device is activated so that the weapon is detonated. 
     According to a particular embodiment, the mass distribution inside the weapon clearance appliance is selected such that, irrespective of the alignment of the weapon clearance appliance in the water, an alignment moment does not act on the weapon clearance appliance. As a result, the weapon clearance appliance is designed such that it not only has neutral buoyancy but remains in the water in any position and/or alignment without any torque acting on the weapon clearance appliance. The mass distribution is, therefore, advantageously selected such that the resulting buoyancy force for the entire weapon clearance appliance acts at the same point as the resulting force of gravity acting on the entire weapon clearance appliance. In this manner, the release of the weapon clearance appliance from the unmanned vehicle does not produce a torque on the underwater vehicle which would have to be compensated by changing the trimming. 
     According to a particular embodiment, the weapon clearance appliance has one or more clearance charges with a directional effect, in particular one or more shaped charges and a fuse for firing the clearance charge(s). The use of clearance charges with a directional effect increases the efficiency of the explosive material used. This measure contributes to keeping the amount of explosive material to be transported on board the mother vessel low. This leads to non-stringent safety requirements during the transportation and storage of the weapon clearance appliances on board the respective mother vessel. 
     In a further particular embodiment it is provided that, alternatively or additionally to one or more clearance charges, the weapon clearance appliance has a spoof device for simulating characteristics of a marine vessel or submarine. Such spoof devices are advantageously of the acoustic or magnetic type. Preferably, such a spoof device has means for generating marine vessel noise or submarine noise and thus simulates the presence of a marine vessel or submarine in the region of a mine. The firing mechanism provided in a mine reacts, depending on the type of mine, to such noise and causes the mine to detonate. In this manner, a weapon can be cleared by means of a spoof device, even without the use of additional explosive material. 
     Additionally or alternatively, such a spoof device has means for generating a magnetic field. Often, firing devices in underwater mines react to changes in the earth&#39;s magnetic field as a result of metal marine vessel hulls and/or submarine hulls. By generating an artificial magnetic field, a magnetic field sensor in the firing mechanism of an underwater mine can be deceived, such that it causes the underwater mine to detonate. 
     According to a particular embodiment, the weapon clearance appliance comprises the following means for activating the fuse and/or the spoof de-vice: a radio buoy which can be released from the weapon clearance appliance for receiving an activation signal via a radio link; and/or an electro-acoustic transducer for generating an activation signal via an acoustic channel; and/or a firing cable for receiving an activation signal via the firing cable; and/or a time fuse. 
     Such means permit simple activation of the weapon clearance appliance in order to cause the weapon to detonate. A radio buoy connected to the weapon clearance appliance via a line, the radio buoy rising to the surface of the water after the weapon clearance appliance has been positioned adjacent to and/or in the region of the weapon, permits communication with the mother vessel and/or the control platform via a radio link. This is advantageous as an activation signal can thus be transmitted easily to the weapon clearance appliance over a long distance. Thus, even long safety distances can be easily maintained. 
     In contrast, the use of an electro-acoustic transducer for receiving an activation signal via an acoustic signal has cost advantages, as a costly radio buoy can be dispensed with. However, such an acoustic channel can be negatively affected due to temperature stratifications or salt content stratifications in the water. 
     A firing cable for receiving an activation signal is also a robust alternative, and which is suitable in particular for short distances. 
     Finally, a time fuse mechanism is a highly cost-efficient variant which can be used, in particular, when it is ensured that at the firing time there is no danger to people and equipment in the detonation radius. 
     According to a further particular embodiment, the weapon clearance appliance has a retaining device for fixing the weapon clearance appliance to and/or in the region of the weapon. Such a retaining device for fixing ensures that the weapon clearance appliance remains in the correct position and alignment to the weapon, even when the unmanned underwater vehicle has moved away from the weapon and the weapon clearance appliance is subjected, for example, to a current. The exact alignment of the weapon clearance appliance relative to the weapon advantageously permits the use of only small amounts of explosive material, which is advantageous for the reasons already mentioned above, relative to the safety requirement for the storage and transportation of explosive material. 
     Preferably, such a retaining device for fixing the weapon clearance appliance to and/or in the region of the weapon comprises a nail-firing device, an electromagnet, a reduced-pressure device and/or a clamping device for clamping the weapon and/or parts thereof and/or objects in the region of the weapon. 
     Advantageously, such retaining devices are activated by the weapon clearance appliance making contact with the weapon. Additionally or alternatively, such a retaining device can be activated by metal sensors, which signal that the weapon clearance appliance is located immediately in the vicinity of a mine or munitions parts. 
     The activation of the retaining device in such a manner does not require any alteration to the design of existing underwater vehicles. Thus, the weapon clearance appliance can be used cost-effectively as an attachment for an unmanned underwater vehicle of conventional type. 
     According to a further particular embodiment of the weapon clearance appliance, the means for the releasable connection of the weapon clearance appliance to an unmanned underwater vehicle and the retaining device are configured such that when activating the retaining device in order to fix the weapon clearance appliance to and/or in the region of the weapon, at the same time the means for the releasable connection are actuated so that a mechanical connection between the weapon clearance appliance and the unmanned underwater vehicle is released. 
     Such a simultaneous fastening of the weapon clearance appliance to and/or in the region of the weapon and detachment of the weapon clearance appliance from the unmanned water vehicle permits the use of conventional unmanned underwater vehicles, in particular mine destruction drones of conventional type, without having to alter the design thereof. In fact, the weapon clearance appliance is easily fastened to the underwater vehicle. When activating the retaining device for fixing the weapon clearance appliance to and/or in the region of the weapon, the weapon clearance appliance is released from the underwater vehicle at the same time so that the underwater vehicle can be moved to a safe distance away from the weapon. 
     Advantageously, therefore, the means for the releasable connection and the retaining device comprise at least one common integral unit which has the aforementioned nail-firing device. In this case, the integral unit comprises a casing, a nail, a bolt, a cartridge and a cartridge-firing device, as well as a retaining member for a fastening means for fastening the weapon clearance appliance to the unmanned underwater vehicle. The retaining member is in this case connected to the bolt via a drive element. Moreover, the nail, the bolt and the cartridge are aligned axially relative to one another inside the casing. With the activation of the cartridge-firing device which, for example, takes place by contact between the weapon clearance appliance and the weapon or by a metal sensor, the cartridge drives the bolt against the nail so that the nail is driven into a final position in the casing, in which it fastens the weapon clearance appliance to the weapon, and at the same time the retaining member is moved from an initial position in which the retaining member blocks the fastening means into a final position in which the fastening means is released. In other words, by activating the cartridge-firing device, a nail is driven into the weapon and at the same time the weapon clearance appliance is released from the unmanned underwater vehicle. 
     According to a further particular embodiment, the means for the releasable connection are configured in order to hold the weapon clearance appliance on a support frame of the unmanned underwater vehicle. According to this embodiment, it is provided for the weapon clearance appliance to be deposited by the unmanned underwater vehicle in the region of the weapon. Such an embodiment is advantageous when a direct fastening of the weapon clearance appliance to the weapon is not possible, for example due to severe shellfish growth. In such a case, the weapon clearance appliance is positioned in the region of the weapon at the bottom of the waterway and/or the seabed and then the clearance charge is fired and/or the spoof device activated. 
    
    
     
       FIGURES 
       Further particular embodiments are revealed from the exemplary embodiments described in more detail with reference to the drawings. 
         FIG. 1  shows an unmanned underwater vehicle with a weapon clearance appliance attached thereto according to a first exemplary embodiment of the invention when approaching an underwater mine. 
         FIG. 2  shows the weapon clearance appliance according to  FIG. 1  after the fixing thereof to the underwater mine as well as after detachment from the unmanned underwater vehicle. 
         FIG. 3  shows a simplified view of a weapon clearance appliance according to  FIGS. 1  and/or  2  with a simplified view in each case of an integral unit for accommodating means according to the invention for the releasable connection of the weapon clearance appliance to the underwater vehicle and retaining devices for fixing the weapon clearance appliance to a weapon. 
         FIG. 4  shows the weapon clearance appliance according to  FIG. 3  after fixing to the underwater mine. 
         FIG. 5  shows a weapon clearance appliance according to an alternative exemplary embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  shows a weapon clearance appliance  10  which is configured as an attachment for an unmanned underwater vehicle  12  and is releasably fastened to the underwater vehicle  12 . 
     The weapon clearance appliance  10  is arranged releasably fastened to the bow of the unmanned underwater vehicle  12 , the weapon clearance appliance  10  being fixed to the unmanned underwater vehicle  12  by a fastening means  14  configured as an elastic band. Both ends of the elastic band  14  in each case act on an integral unit  16 ,  18  for providing both a retaining device for fixing the weapon clearance appliance  10  to the weapon and means for the releasable connection of the weapon clearance appliance  10  to the underwater vehicle  12 . A central portion of the elastic band  14  acts on a projection  20  on the unmanned underwater vehicle  12 . Due to the elasticity of the band  14 , the weapon clearance appliance  10  is thus pulled and/or pushed in the manner of a cap onto the bow of the unmanned underwater vehicle  12  and thus fixed thereto. This attachment of the weapon clearance appliance  10  to the underwater vehicle  12  is, however, releasable. For releasing the mechanical connection between the weapon clearance appliance  10  and the unmanned underwater vehicle  12 , the elastic band  14  is released from the integral units  16 ,  18 . In the process, the connection between the weapon clearance appliance  10  and the underwater vehicle  12  is released and the underwater vehicle  12  is able to move away from the weapon clearance appliance  10 . 
     The integral units  16 ,  18  in each case comprise a retaining device  22 ,  24  by means of which the weapon clearance appliance  10  is able to be fixed to a weapon, for example a mine  26 . In  FIG. 1 , the mine  26  is shown as a moored mine. The mine  26 , however, can also be configured as a conventional seabed mine. Moreover, the invention is not limited to the clearance of mines, but also relates to the clearance of munitions. 
       FIG. 2  shows the weapon clearance appliance  10  of  FIG. 1  after activation of the retaining devices  22 ,  24  on the mine  26 . 
     Preferably, the retaining devices  22 ,  24  are configured as nail-firing devices, which use cartridges to drive nails into the mine  26  and by means of the nails fasten the weapon clearance appliance  10  to the mine  26 . 
     Moreover, one or more shaped charges  28  are provided on the weapon clearance appliance  10 , which in each case form a clearance charge with a directional effect. 
     Preferably, the direction of the clearance charge  28  faces in the same direction as the longitudinal axis of the retaining devices  22 ,  24  which in turn, when the weapon clearance appliance  10  is fixed to the underwater vehicle  12 , preferably extends parallel to the longitudinal axis of the underwater vehicle. In this manner, the underwater vehicle  12  can be controlled frontally to a mine  26 , as shown in  FIG. 1 , the weapon clearance appliance  10  being positioned on the bow of the underwater vehicle  12 . 
     When the weapon clearance appliance  10  makes contact with the mine  26 , or at least when the weapon clearance appliance  10  approaches significantly close to the mine  26 , which is detected for example by means of a metal sensor, the retaining devices  22 ,  24  are activated so that the weapon clearance appliance  10  is fastened to the mine  26 . At the same time, the elastic band  14  is released from the weapon clearance appliance  10  so that the unmanned underwater vehicle  12  is released from the weapon clearance appliance  10  and is able to move away. 
     In this manner, a conventional unmanned underwater vehicle  12  can transport a weapon clearance appliance  10 , which is configured as an attachment, to a weapon, for example the mine  26 . The weapon clearance appliance  10  is then fixed to the mine  26  by the weapon clearance appliance  10  making contact with the mine  26  and/or by significantly approaching the mine  26  as mentioned above. The weapon clearance appliance  10  is released from the underwater vehicle  12  at the same time or, possibly alternatively, subsequently, and the underwater vehicle  12  is moved away from the weapon  26  to a distance which is greater than or equal to a predetermined safety distance. Then the weapon clearance appliance  10  causes a detonation of the weapon  26  by a clearance charge, for example in the form of the aforementioned shaped charge  28  or a spoof device being activated, by means of which the mine  26  falsely perceives the presence of a marine vessel and/or submarine. Such simulation activates the mine&#39;s own firing mechanism so that the mine  26  is detonated. 
     According to the invention, due to the specific structural design of the weapon clearance appliance  10  the release of the weapon clearance appliance  10  from the underwater vehicle  12  does not produce any forces or torques on the underwater vehicle  12 . This is achieved according to the invention by the volume of the weapon clearance appliance  10  being selected specifically so that the water displaced by the volume corresponds to the mass of the weapon clearance appliance  10 . Due to this design, the buoyancy force acting on the weapon clearance appliance  10  under water compensates for the force of gravity acting on the weapon clearance appliance  10 . The weapon clearance appliance  10  thus has neutral buoyancy. Thus, a release of the weapon clearance appliance  10  from the underwater vehicle  12  does not alter the (positive and/or negative) buoyancy characteristics of the underwater vehicle  12 . This makes changing the trimming of the underwater vehicle  12  unnecessary after the release of the weapon clearance appliance  10 . 
     Advantageously, the weapon clearance appliance  10  is also configured such that the buoyancy force acting on the weapon clearance appliance  10  under water acts at the same point as the force of gravity acting on the weapon clearance appliance  10 . Thus, the weapon clearance appliance  10  “floats” in any position and/or alignment, so that irrespective of the alignment of the weapon clearance appliance  10  in the water no alignment moments occur which might attempt to alter the weapon clearance appliance  10  in its alignment. Such a mass distribution inside the weapon clearance appliance  10 , on the one hand, ensures that the retaining devices  22 ,  24  are loaded as lightly as possible. In fact, such a mass distribution also results in the underwater vehicle  12  not having to be changed relative to its trimming after the weapon clearance appliance  10  has been released from the underwater vehicle  12 , i.e. the underwater vehicle  12  does not have to be retrimmed. 
     The weapon clearance appliance  10  further comprises a radio buoy  30  which is connected via a line  32  to a fuse and/or a spoof device which is/are accommodated in the weapon clearance appliance  10 . 
     The radio buoy  30  is a component of the weapon clearance appliance  10 . However, it is released from the weapon clearance appliance  10  when the weapon clearance appliance  10  is fixed to the weapon (mine  26 ). At the same time, a buoyant body on the radio buoy  39  is activated which ensures the radio buoy  30  is buoyant. Alternatively, the radio buoy  30  provides buoyancy itself, which is compensated by the remaining part of the weapon clearance appliance  10 . 
     The radio buoy  30  serves for receiving an activation signal via a radio link from a control platform, for example a mother vessel, which for example can be a mine sweeper. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates the weapon clearance appliance  10  in a view from above and namely when fixed by means of the elastic band  14  to the projection  20  of the underwater vehicle  12 . The basic design of the integral units  16 ,  18  is, however, shown in more detail. 
     The integral units  16 ,  18  firstly accommodate the aforementioned means for the releasable connection of the weapon clearance appliance  10  to the under-water vehicle  12 . Secondly, the integral units  16 ,  18  accommodate the retaining devices  22 ,  24  for fixing the weapon clearance appliance  10  to a weapon  26 . 
     The means for the releasable connection comprise, in particular, the elastic band  14  as well as one respective retaining member  34 ,  36 , which in each case is arranged in an axially displaceable manner inside a casing H1 and/or H2 of the integral unit  16  and/or  18 . The elastic band  14  has at each of its ends one respective loop  38 ,  40 , which clasps one respective retaining member  34 ,  36 . 
     At the start, the retaining members  34 ,  36  are located in an initial position shown in  FIG. 3 , permitting such a clasping of the loops  38 ,  40 . In this initial position, in each case a portion of each of the retaining members  34 ,  36  protrudes from the respective integral units  16 ,  18  configured in the manner of a casing. Each retaining member  34  and/or  36  is connected to a bolt  42  and/or  44  via a drive element  46  and/or  48 . The drive element  46  and/or  48  ensures that the respective retaining member  34  and/or  36  moves together with the respective bolt  42  and/or  44 . 
     The bolt  42  and/or  44  is driven by a cartridge  50  and/or  52 , which is fired by a cartridge-firing device  54  and/or  56 . The cartridge-firing device  54  and/or  56  is in each case only shown schematically. The cartridge-firing devices  54 ,  56  are, for example, a release mechanism, which is released by contact of the weapon clearance appliance  10  with an object and/or a metal detector. 
     The firing of the cartridge  50  and/or  52  results in the bolt  42  and/or  44  being driven. In the view according to  FIG. 3 , the bolt  42  and/or  44  is moved to the left. Such a movement of the bolt  42 ,  44  ensures that a nail  58  and/or  60  is driven into a final position against a base plate  62  and/or  64  of the casing H1 and/or H2. The nails  58 ,  60  have sufficient strength in order to be able to penetrate a steel casing of a mine and/or munitions. 
     If shellfish growth has already formed on the mine  26  and/or the munitions, the growth is destroyed due to the high energy of the cartridge  50  and/or  52 , and the weapon clearance appliance  10  is securely fastened to the weapon  26 . In this case it is advantageous that the elastic band  14  is released from the retaining members  34 ,  36  at the same time as the nails  58 ,  60  are driven forward. In this manner, only a small mass of the weapon clearance appliance  10  has to be accelerated, when penetrating the shellfish growth. Nevertheless, the far greater mass of the unmanned underwater vehicle  12  does not additionally have to be moved towards the weapon. 
       FIG. 4  shows the integral units  16 ,  18  after firing the cartridges  50 ,  52 . After firing the cartridge  50  and/or  52 , the bolt  42  and/or  44  has driven the nail  58  and/or  60  into the body of the mine  26 . The tip of the nail  58  and/or  60  widens during this process and thus ensures that the nail  58  and/or  60  is not able to be pulled out of the mine  26  again. 
       FIG. 4  further illustrates that the retaining members  34 ,  36  have been pulled into the inside of the respective integral unit  16  and/or  18  via the drive elements  46  and/or  48 . Thus, the loops  38 ,  40  of the elastic band  14  have lost their respective hold and thus the connection between the unmanned underwater vehicle  12  and the weapon clearance appliance  10  is released. 
     Two integral units  16 ,  18  with two retaining devices  22 ,  24  as well as in each case two retaining members  34 ,  36 , two bolts  42 ,  44 , two drive elements  46 ,  48 , two cartridges  50 ,  52 , two cartridge-firing devices  54 ,  56 , two nails  58 ,  60  and two base plates  62 ,  64  are described in the above description of the figures. The invention, however, is not restricted to such a duplicated configuration. In fact, it is possible for there to be only one of the aforementioned components to fasten the weapon clearance appliance  10  securely to the weapon  26 , even with a configuration using one of each component. In the case of a configuration using one of each component, however, the two loops  38 ,  40  of the elastic band  14  have to be secured to the same retaining member. 
     Moreover, more than two integral units and/or retaining devices can also be provided with the associated components. 
       FIG. 5  shows a further exemplary embodiment of a weapon clearance appliance  10 ′ and namely in a view with dashed lines when attached to a support frame on an underwater vehicle  12 . In the view with solid lines, the weapon clearance appliance  10 ′ is positioned in the region of a seabed mine  26 . In this embodiment, the weapon clearance appliance  10 ′ has a plurality of, in particular three, legs  68 , which provide the weapon clearance appliance  10 ′ with a secure hold. 
     In such an embodiment of the weapon clearance appliance  10 ′ the weapon clearance appliance  10 ′ is simply positioned in the immediate vicinity of the weapon  26  but not fixed to the weapon  26 . Such a procedure is advantageous, in particular, when a seabed mine  26  has already sunk into the sediment. In this case, there is a greater chance of success when a clearance charge with a directional effect is arranged as close as possible to the mine  26  and the clearance charge is fired. 
     As a result of the invention, it is possible to provide conventional unmanned underwater vehicles, in particular mine hunting drones, with a multiple use, as the actual weapon clearance appliance  10  is only provided as an attachment to the underwater vehicle  12 . Thus, only the weapon clearance appliance  10  has to be sacrificed with each use, whilst the unmanned underwater vehicle  12  can be reused. In this manner, the costs of mine clearance can be significantly reduced. As a result, the clearance of the weapons  26 , of which many are still located on the seabed, in particular from both world wars, is significantly more cost-effective. As a result, the number of mine clearances can be considerably controlled which improves maritime and environmental safety. 
     All of the features cited in the above description and in the claims are able to be used both individually and in any combination with one another. The disclosure of the invention is thus not limited to the disclosed and/or claimed combination of features. Instead, all combinations of features are to be considered as disclosed.