Perhaps this scenario might explain the danger of mines to "isolating" entire sectors.
The Malayan straits is considered the second most busiest straits in the world, with only the Suez Canal and its connecting straits being the first(the Panama was ignored due to its artificial nature, as well as terrain)
A naval study comissioned by Australians at the Insitute of Stragetic Studies suggest that the mining and closing off of these two lanes would create immense economic havoc on the countries of Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, Japan, Phillipines and China. This is primarily due to the fact that over 50% of their energy supplies flow through these straits, and the subsequent 2 day turnabout going south of Sumatra and Java was impractical, expensive and dangerous, EVEN though ships travelling from the Indian Ocean would actually save distance if they navigated straight from Bombay to the Australian continent.
How good are mines?
Moderator: Vympel