This is the story of how naval mines and mine countermeasures are woven into mainstream history from 1777 to the Ukraine War. From the naval mine contract that led to the modern oil industry, Nobel prizes, and the invention of plywood, to mines used by countries without navies to sink dozens of armored vessels, the impact of naval mines on our culture, history, and social development cannot be understated. This book introduces history enthusiasts to a niche subject which ties into history that is already familiar. For military readers, it teaches the realities and concepts of naval mines as a part of joint operations. For political and military leaders, it is a primer about an unfamiliar warfare area. Finally, for mine warriors, it tells of the proud heritage of the least understood part of the Navy: the vast category of "weapons that wait.".