American Projectiles and Explosives
Anti-Tank Mines
M6
Diameter: 12.5 inches
Height: 3.25 inchesTotal weight: 20 pounds
TNT filler weight: 12 pounds
Material: Steel
Color: Olive drab
Components: The mine consists of a loaded mine body, fuze, and pressure-plate plug. The steel body is cylindrical, with a carrying handle attached to the bottom. Assembled to the mine body is a round pressure plate, 7 and 1/2 inches in diameter, containing the reversible pressure-plate plug which covers the fuze well. The pressure plate is supported internally by circular Belleville springs and sealed against moisture by a rubber diaphragm. In addition to the primary fuze well, supplementary fuze wells are located on the side and on the bottom of the mine for use in anti-lifting or booby-trap purposes.
Remarks: For booby traps or anti-removal devices, after the main fuze is installed, any standard firing device may be attached to the supplementary fuze wells by using the Activator M1. This activator is a plastic adapter approximately 2 inches long, which contains a tetryl booster charge.
This fuze myst not be used with the Anti-Tank Mine M7.
M7A1
Length: 7 inches
Width: 4.5 inches
Height: 2.5 inches
Total weight: 4.5 pounds
Tetryl filler weight: 3.25 pounds
Material: Steel
Color: Olive drab
Width: 4.5 inches
Height: 2.5 inches
Total weight: 4.5 pounds
Tetryl filler weight: 3.25 pounds
Material: Steel
Color: Olive drab
Components: This mine can be used as either an anti-tank or an anti-personnel mine. The body is a rectangular steel container filled with high explosive. The fuze well is located in the center of the top surface, and at one end is an activator well that will accommodate any standard firing device with a Corps of Engineers' blasting cap. The pressure plate is shaped to the contour of the mine body and is slotted so that it may be guided by rivets in the sides of the mine body, into position over the fuze. A small circular pad on the underside of the pressure plate bears against the head of the fuze.
Remarks: For a booby trap or anti-personnel mine, any standard firing device may be attached to the side fuze well.
Improvised Mines
Bangalore Torpedo
No picture available
Special torpedo caps are furnished with each box of ten bangalores, to adapt the bangalore torpedo for use on an anti-tank mine. Pull-firing detonators are furnished separately. To assemble the bangalores for use as an anti-tank mine, insert detonators in two torpedo caps; place a safety pin through the torpedo-cap ears and the detonator loop of each; and snap a torpedo cap onto each end of the torpedo, so that the detonator fits into the cap well. Lay the torpedo on the ground across a wooden block and drive eight-inch spikes on drift pins into the ground as close to the ends as possible. Pass the detonator wire through each detonator loop, and attach the wire to the spike. Make sure there is no tension on the detonator wire. Withdraw the safety pin. The mine is now armed and ready for use.
2.36-inch A/T Rocket
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The A/T Rocket M6 may be employed by placing the rocket, nose-up in its container, in a hole about two feet deep, either ina roadbed or horizontally on the side of a cut or bank. It can be set to fire electrically by arranging a circuit containing the rocket, a battery, and an improvised circuit closer. Connections to the rocket are made on the ignition wires: one from the brass ring on the nose, the other from the fins. Ordinary field telephone wire will serve; the battery and connections should be protected from water if necessary.
The container cap is removed and the other end knocked out. The container is thus a guide for the rocket. A hole is punched in the container cap, through which the electric firing-device wire (or trip-wire) are run. When connections have been made, the container cap is slid in place over the fins to protect the contacts from fouling. The rocket safety pin is removed; the container tube is slid over the rocket and joined to the cap; and the assembly is placed in the hole. Loose dirt and leaves are then placed over all of the rocket except the nose; the nose is concealed by covering with leaves or light bunches of grass. Care must be taken not to bump the nose, as the rocket is completely armed when the safety pin is removed.
Practice Mines
General: Practice mines are used in training. These mines can be identified by their blue color and white markings.
M1: The Practice Mine M1 consists of three components: an empty mine body, a spider, and a fuze. The parts are similar in construction to the high-explosive mine, except that the body has five one-inch holes equally spaced around the side. The explosive filling consists of a caliber .32 blank cartridge in the fuze, 100 grains of red phosphorus, and 60 grains of black powder.
M1B1: The Practice Mine M1B1 is made of sheet metal and resembles the service mine, except that the filling hole is in the bottom of the mine body. The body is sand-filled to weight before it is issued for use in practice. Four sections are cut out of the top of the body near the fuze well, to permit the passage of smoke.
T8E1: The Practice Mine T8E1 simulates the standard Mine M6. It uses the Practice Fuze T20, which simulates the M600, but gives a puff of smoke instead of detonating the mine. Four sections cut out of the top of the body near the fuze well permit the passage of smoke.
M10: The Practice Mine M10 simulates the standard Mine M7A1. It is loaded with 3.4 pounds of inert filler, consisting of Santo wax M, 50%, plaster of paris, 12%, and powdered red iron oxide, 38%. It uses the Practice Fuze T20. Four sections cut out of the top fo the body permit the passage of smoke.
2.36-inch A/T Rocket
No picture available
The A/T Rocket M6 may be employed by placing the rocket, nose-up in its container, in a hole about two feet deep, either ina roadbed or horizontally on the side of a cut or bank. It can be set to fire electrically by arranging a circuit containing the rocket, a battery, and an improvised circuit closer. Connections to the rocket are made on the ignition wires: one from the brass ring on the nose, the other from the fins. Ordinary field telephone wire will serve; the battery and connections should be protected from water if necessary.
The container cap is removed and the other end knocked out. The container is thus a guide for the rocket. A hole is punched in the container cap, through which the electric firing-device wire (or trip-wire) are run. When connections have been made, the container cap is slid in place over the fins to protect the contacts from fouling. The rocket safety pin is removed; the container tube is slid over the rocket and joined to the cap; and the assembly is placed in the hole. Loose dirt and leaves are then placed over all of the rocket except the nose; the nose is concealed by covering with leaves or light bunches of grass. Care must be taken not to bump the nose, as the rocket is completely armed when the safety pin is removed.
Practice Mines
General: Practice mines are used in training. These mines can be identified by their blue color and white markings.
M1: The Practice Mine M1 consists of three components: an empty mine body, a spider, and a fuze. The parts are similar in construction to the high-explosive mine, except that the body has five one-inch holes equally spaced around the side. The explosive filling consists of a caliber .32 blank cartridge in the fuze, 100 grains of red phosphorus, and 60 grains of black powder.
M1B1: The Practice Mine M1B1 is made of sheet metal and resembles the service mine, except that the filling hole is in the bottom of the mine body. The body is sand-filled to weight before it is issued for use in practice. Four sections are cut out of the top of the body near the fuze well, to permit the passage of smoke.
T8E1: The Practice Mine T8E1 simulates the standard Mine M6. It uses the Practice Fuze T20, which simulates the M600, but gives a puff of smoke instead of detonating the mine. Four sections cut out of the top of the body near the fuze well permit the passage of smoke.
M10: The Practice Mine M10 simulates the standard Mine M7A1. It is loaded with 3.4 pounds of inert filler, consisting of Santo wax M, 50%, plaster of paris, 12%, and powdered red iron oxide, 38%. It uses the Practice Fuze T20. Four sections cut out of the top fo the body permit the passage of smoke.
Next Time: Anti-Personnel and Trip Mines
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