(Answered) Thunder-Augmented LRM 5 minefield clarifications

[Jal Phoenix]

I did a search, but I'm not finding anything related to my question. I'm also using a first printing of TacOps, so there may be some issues.

Thunder-Augmented mines deliver a minefield size equal to half the missile flight's strength rounded up (p.373). That means the target hex and the six surrounding hexes targeted by a Thunder-Augmented LRM 5 each receive a 3-point minefield.

The minefield density table on p208 lists target numbers for detonating a minefield. Problem is, it begins at 5. How does a 3-point minefield figure in terms of this table? Does it requires the same to-hit as a 5-point minefield, or does it scale like the rest of the table?

Also, the text on the same page about reducing the minefield's density doesn't account for 3-point minefields. It states that every time a minefield explodes, it can be reduced by one 5-point increment, but never falls below 5 points. Is a 3-point minefield just treated as impossible to reduce, since it is already below the minimum?

[Welshman]

TacOps Advanced Rules pg 176

"If a weapon-delivered minefield does not exactly match the Minefield Density Table, use the next highest rating. For example, an MML 3 would deliver a 3-point mine  eld, and since a 5-point minefield is the next highest rating, players would roll on that row (i.e. 9+); an MML 12 would deliver a 12-point minefield, and since a 15-point mine  eld is the next highest rating, players would roll on that row (i.e. 8+); and so on."