布雷艇亦称为布雷舰是一种用来设置水雷的军舰。布雷艇的吨位不一，有的只有几百吨。而有的则和驱逐舰大小相当。在第二次世界大战中，英国海军的大型布雷艇也作为运输舰使用。因为布雷任务可以经由别的舰种兼任完成，所以布雷舰逐渐被淘汰。

Minelaying is the act of deploying explosive mines. Historically this has been carried out by ships, submarines and aircraft. Additionally, since World War I the term minelayer refers specifically to a naval ship used for deploying naval mines. "Mine planting" was the term used for installing controlled mines at predetermined positions in connection with coastal fortifications or harbor approaches that would be detonated by shore control when a ship was fixed as being within the mine's effective range.