Imperial Japanese Explosives
Type 3 (a) Antivehicular and Antipersonnel Land Mine
Diameter: 8.6 inches
Height (w/o fuze): 4.13 inches
Height (fuzed): 6.2 inches
Length of fuze: 2.5 inches
Material of mine wall: Terra cotta
Thickness of wall: 7/16 inch
Explosive fillin: Type 88 explosive. Captured document states bursting charge might also be either ammonium nitrate (50%), TNT (50%); or ammonium nitrate (90%), dinitronaphthalene (10%)
Height (fuzed): 6.2 inches
Length of fuze: 2.5 inches
Material of mine wall: Terra cotta
Thickness of wall: 7/16 inch
Explosive fillin: Type 88 explosive. Captured document states bursting charge might also be either ammonium nitrate (50%), TNT (50%); or ammonium nitrate (90%), dinitronaphthalene (10%)
Weight of explosive: 4 pounds, 8 ounces
Total weight of mine: 11 pounds, 6 ounces
Color and markings: Brown
Description: The mine is circular with a slightly concave top and a moderately convex base. The mine case is made of earth-colored terra cotta.
The outer surface has a thin dull glaze while the inner surface is covered with a thin coat of lacquer. A rubber fuze seat is sealed in place in a hole in the center of the top of the mine. The explosive filler is contained in a light rubber bag inside the mine.
The fuze body, cover, plunger, and striker support are made of bakelite. The springs, percussion hammer, striker, and the release fork are the only metal parts in the mine and with the exception of the release fork, all are contained inside the fuze.
Description: The mine is circular with a slightly concave top and a moderately convex base. The mine case is made of earth-colored terra cotta.
The outer surface has a thin dull glaze while the inner surface is covered with a thin coat of lacquer. A rubber fuze seat is sealed in place in a hole in the center of the top of the mine. The explosive filler is contained in a light rubber bag inside the mine.
The fuze body, cover, plunger, and striker support are made of bakelite. The springs, percussion hammer, striker, and the release fork are the only metal parts in the mine and with the exception of the release fork, all are contained inside the fuze.
Employment: May be used as an antivehicular or antipersonnel mine.
Operation: The mine is place in the desired location and the safety pin is withdrawn. The fuze may then be rigged to fire either by pull or pressure.
The percussion hammer located within the fuze is held in place by a release fork to which a trip wire may be attached. When the wire is pulled (22-pound pull required), the fork releases the hammer which is forced downward by the hammer spring. The hammer hits the striker forcing it through its bakelite holder into the percussion cap.
When pressure of 20-25 pounds is applied directly on the head of the fuze the plunger spring and hammer spring are compressed causing the hammer head to exert pressure on the hammer release fork. When the plunger is further depressed a groove in its inner surface comes down to the level of the hammer release fork. The pressure of the hammer head cams out the fork. The hammer is released and hits the striker which in turn pierces the detonator.
Remarks: A larger model of this mine exists, and differs from it only in size. The larger version has a diameter of approximately 10 and 1/2 inches.
The percussion hammer located within the fuze is held in place by a release fork to which a trip wire may be attached. When the wire is pulled (22-pound pull required), the fork releases the hammer which is forced downward by the hammer spring. The hammer hits the striker forcing it through its bakelite holder into the percussion cap.
When pressure of 20-25 pounds is applied directly on the head of the fuze the plunger spring and hammer spring are compressed causing the hammer head to exert pressure on the hammer release fork. When the plunger is further depressed a groove in its inner surface comes down to the level of the hammer release fork. The pressure of the hammer head cams out the fork. The hammer is released and hits the striker which in turn pierces the detonator.
Remarks: A larger model of this mine exists, and differs from it only in size. The larger version has a diameter of approximately 10 and 1/2 inches.
Type 3 (b) Antivehicular and Antipersonnel Land Mine
Diameter: 7 and 1/8 inches
Height (w/o fuze): 5 inches
Height (fuzed): 7.5 inches
Material of mine wall: Wood
Thickness of wall: 9/16 inch
Explosive fillin: Type 88 explosive. Captured document states bursting charge might also be either ammonium nitrate (50%), TNT (50%); or ammonium nitrate (90%), dinitronaphthalene (10%)
Height (fuzed): 7.5 inches
Material of mine wall: Wood
Thickness of wall: 9/16 inch
Explosive fillin: Type 88 explosive. Captured document states bursting charge might also be either ammonium nitrate (50%), TNT (50%); or ammonium nitrate (90%), dinitronaphthalene (10%)
Weight of explosive: 4 pounds, 8 ounces
Total weight of mine: 6 pounds, 4 ounces (w/o fuze)
Color and markings: Unpainted wood
Description: The mine is simply a wooden box with dovetailed sides to which top and bottom closing pieces have been fastened by screws and nails respectively. It is a standard mine manufactured to standard specifications and employing the Type 88 explosive charge and its rubber container, the threaded rubber fuze seat, and the same type fuze used in the Type 3 (a) land mine.
The threaded rubber fuze seat is nailed to the bottom side of the top closing piece beneath a hole provided to allow insertion of the fuze.
Employment: May be used as either antivehicular or antipersonnel mine.
Operation: Same as Type 3 (a) land mine.
The threaded rubber fuze seat is nailed to the bottom side of the top closing piece beneath a hole provided to allow insertion of the fuze.
Employment: May be used as either antivehicular or antipersonnel mine.
Operation: Same as Type 3 (a) land mine.
Beehive Antipersonnel Land Mine
Diameter at base: 8 inches
Height (w/o fuze): 4.5 inches
Total weight: 17 pounds (approximate)
Thickness of mine wall: 3/8 inch
Total weight: 17 pounds (approximate)
Thickness of mine wall: 3/8 inch
Explosive filling: TNT
Weight of explosive: 5 pounds (approximate)
Weight of explosive: 5 pounds (approximate)
Color and markings: Black
Description: The mine is hemispherical in shape and its surface is uniformly serrated.
The central hole in the top of the mine is internally threaded to receive one of two fuze adapters. The first adapter takes either the plastic fuze used in the Type 3 (a) ceramic and Type 3 (b) wooden land mines, or the Type 88 instantaneous artillery fuze from which the centrifugal detents have been removed. The second adapter is constructed to take the fuze employed in the Type 93 tapemeasure mine.
Both the serrations of the mine case and the thickness of the wall (3/8 inch) indicate that this mine was to be used as an antipersonnel weapon.
The central hole in the top of the mine is internally threaded to receive one of two fuze adapters. The first adapter takes either the plastic fuze used in the Type 3 (a) ceramic and Type 3 (b) wooden land mines, or the Type 88 instantaneous artillery fuze from which the centrifugal detents have been removed. The second adapter is constructed to take the fuze employed in the Type 93 tapemeasure mine.
Both the serrations of the mine case and the thickness of the wall (3/8 inch) indicate that this mine was to be used as an antipersonnel weapon.
Employment: Antipersonnel mine
Operation: The operations of the Type 93 land mine fuze and the Type 3 (a) ceramic land mine fuze are discussed under their respective mines.
The Type 88 artillery projectile fuze from which the centrifugal detents have been removed is fired by pressure on the firing pin head. Pressure on the firing pin head compresses the anticreep spring and the firing pin is forced into the primer.
Operation: The operations of the Type 93 land mine fuze and the Type 3 (a) ceramic land mine fuze are discussed under their respective mines.
The Type 88 artillery projectile fuze from which the centrifugal detents have been removed is fired by pressure on the firing pin head. Pressure on the firing pin head compresses the anticreep spring and the firing pin is forced into the primer.
5kg Hemispherical Antitank Land Mine
The mine is hemispherical in shape, black in color, with the fuze mounted opposite the flat face. It is equipped with a straight projection to which a pole may be lashed, and with four eyelets to which lines may be attached.
The mine is detonated by the same fuze as that used in the Type 99 magnetic A/TK mine. No specimens of this mine were found outside of the Japanese homeland, very few of them having been produced.
Bangalore Torpedo and Igniter
Dimensions: See Drawing
Total weight of torpedo: 10 pounds
Weight of filling: 3 pounds
Type of filling: TNT (36.4%), Cyclonite (63.6%)
Color and markings:
-Torpedo tube: Brown with red band onboard of externally threaded end, white triangle near midepoint of tube, and eleven inches inboard of red band on opposite side from white triangle is (see below)
Total weight of torpedo: 10 pounds
Weight of filling: 3 pounds
Type of filling: TNT (36.4%), Cyclonite (63.6%)
Color and markings:
-Torpedo tube: Brown with red band onboard of externally threaded end, white triangle near midepoint of tube, and eleven inches inboard of red band on opposite side from white triangle is (see below)
Description: The igniter system consists of two pull igniters screwed into an igniter holder which fits into the igniter locking collar. The rings of the igniters are connected by lines to the lanyard holder. The igniters are simple match composition pull igniters with a black powder delay of 8 seconds, an initiant, and a base charge of tetryl. When shipping, the steel nose cap is threaded onto the igniter as shown in drawing.
The torpedo proper is a steel tube with shoulders welded to both ends. One end is internally threaded to take the igniter locking collar and the other end is threaded externally to take the pointed nose cover. When shipped the tube has a cap screwed over one end and a male plug threaded into the other.
Employment: The Bangalore torpedo is used by the Japanese to demolish barbed wired entanglements. It can also be used as a booby trap, actuated by pull.
Operation: The caps are removed from the ends of the tube, the pointed nose cover is screwed onto one end, and the igniter locking collar into the other end. The torpedo is now ready for use. When the torpedo is placed the safety pin is removed and the firing lanyard is pulled sharply. Personnel can take cover in the 8 seconds delay period.
The pulling of the firing lanyard pulls the match composition through the abrasive. The flash starts the black powder which after 8 seconds delay fires the initiant and tetryl base charge and the torpedo charge.
Pressure and Traction Land Mine
The torpedo proper is a steel tube with shoulders welded to both ends. One end is internally threaded to take the igniter locking collar and the other end is threaded externally to take the pointed nose cover. When shipped the tube has a cap screwed over one end and a male plug threaded into the other.
Employment: The Bangalore torpedo is used by the Japanese to demolish barbed wired entanglements. It can also be used as a booby trap, actuated by pull.
Operation: The caps are removed from the ends of the tube, the pointed nose cover is screwed onto one end, and the igniter locking collar into the other end. The torpedo is now ready for use. When the torpedo is placed the safety pin is removed and the firing lanyard is pulled sharply. Personnel can take cover in the 8 seconds delay period.
The pulling of the firing lanyard pulls the match composition through the abrasive. The flash starts the black powder which after 8 seconds delay fires the initiant and tetryl base charge and the torpedo charge.
Pressure and Traction Land Mine
Overall width: 9.5 inches
Overall height: 7 inches
Weight of filling: 2 pounds
Type of explosive: Three blocks picric acid or TNT detonator of igniter inserted in center block.
Description: The mine consists of a wooden box, the lid of which is held in place against the internal flanges on the top by four stout springs (one in each corner). A wooden block is secured by two bolts to the underside of the lid and serves to operate the pull igniter by pressure exerted on the cover.
The explosive charge is in a separate container with the igniter and detonator inserted in the center block. A pull wire extends from the igniter over to the wire rod directly under the wooden block attached to the underside of the lid.
To this wire rod are attached a trip wire which passes out through the cover to be secured to a tree or other suitable object and an antilifting wire attachment which passes through a hole in the base of the box and is secured to a peg. The igniter contains ignition composition and a pellet of powdered glass in red cement.
Employment: Used as an antitank or antipersonnel mine.
Operation: The mine will function by either of three methods:
-Pressure exerted on the lid,
-Tension exerted on the trip wire; or
-By lifting the mine to operate the antilifting device.
In all instances the wire rod is moved which pulls the wire leading to the igniter.
Friction-Fuzed Land Mine
Overall width: 3 inches
Overall height: 2.37 inches
Weight of filling: 3.5 pounds
Type of explosive: Five blocks picric acid or TNT detonator of igniter inserted in end block.
Description: The mine consists of a wooden box, the sides of which are 0.59 inch thick. A wooden partition block inserted 4.25 inches from the unfilled end of the box serves to hold the five blocks of explosive in place and also to secure the igniter in position. To the igniter is attached a trip wire which extends out through the end of the box and is secured to a tree or other suitable object.
A safety device, the exact nature of which is unknown but reported to consist of a bottle cap, is incorporated on the outside of the box at a point of egress of the trip wire. The antilifting device consists of a wire attachment which passes through the base of the box and is secured to a peg driven in the ground.
Employment: The mine is buried 1 to 2 inches below the surface and used as either an antitank or antipersonnel mine.
Operation: The mine can function by either a tension exerted on the trip wire or by lifting the mine to operate the antilifting device. In both instances the pull igniter is fired which in turn detonates the explosive charge.
Improvised Land Mine
Material: Tin
Color: Silver
Description: The mine consists of a rectangular box with a cover securely fastened by friction tape. Two holes are roughly punched in the cover through which a grenade fuze or detonator projects. The grenade fuze projects approximately 3/4 inch, projection of detonator is unknown.
Contained in the box are one Japanese Type 91 hand grenade and twelve blocks of 1/3 aluminum powder and 2/3 RDX. Each block is 1 and 1/2 inch by 3/4 inch and wrapped in waxed paper. Color is black. The grenade and blocks, 1/3 aluminum powder and 2/3 RDX, are firmly held in place by waxed paper.
Employment: Can be used as an antitank mine when fuzed with the armed grenade. With a pull or tension detonator it can be used as an antipersonnel mine or booby trap.
Operation:
-As an antitank mine: Safety pin on fuze is removed. When it is hit by a sharp blow the striker breaks a shear wire and penetrates the primer. After a delay of 4 to 5 seconds the bursting charge explodes setting off the charge.
-As an antipersonnel mine or booby trap: A pull igniter with detonator is inserted into the charge. When the trip wire is pulled, the flash will fire the detonator which in turn sets off the explosive and hand grenade.
Next Time: More Imperial Japanese Land Mines, and Grenades
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