Since ancient times, in any military conflict, the main objective was to inflict maximum damage to the enemy, expressed in the destruction of manpower and equipment. In the past, when there was no gunpowder, in order to minimize their losses, various constructions and devices were used, for example, masked ditches with sharp stakes fixed in them or filled with resin-saturated grass, etc. With the invention of gunpowder, the situation was simplified, since firearms, artillery and mortars appeared. Ammunition for the latter are mines, of which there are many types.
Main types
A mine is an explosive placed in a metal casing, combined with a fuse and a drive device, which provide for the detonation of ammunition. Anti-tank mines (TM and TMK series) are used to destroy tanks and other armored vehicles of the enemy. Anti-personnel mines are designed to destroy the enemy ground forces (series MON-50, 90, 100, 200, PMN, POMZ).
Also used anti-landing mines (PDM and YaRM series) and other special shells. Their diversity is great: from banal traps and extensions to magnetic, directional, subglacial and other specifically arranged charges.
Types of minefields
Minefields, depending on the purpose, by analogy with the purpose of mines, are:
- Antipersonnel (designed to destroy enemy ground forces).
- Anti-tank (designed to destroy enemy armored vehicles).
- Anti-airborne (prevent the landing of the enemy).
- Mixed (needed to destroy enemy manpower and armored vehicles).
By type and method of control, minefields are divided into:
- uncontrollable;
- managed;
- combat;
- false.
Setting a minefield is a specific process that requires certain skills. A clear sequence of actions must be followed. Mixed minefields are set using anti-personnel and anti-tank mines.
The shells are stacked either in rows, alternating between anti-personnel and anti-tank, or in groups of two or three. Also, usually access to the anti-tank field covers an anti-personnel minefield, located at a distance of 20 meters from the anti-tank.
To delay the advancement of the enemy, the installation of false minefields is practiced. The role of shells in this case is performed by various metal objects or cans. The device of such fields is produced by raising the turf layer of the earth with the formation of small mounds.
Main characteristics
The main characteristics of the device for minefields are:
- density (characterizes the frequency of laying mines);
- depth (may vary, depending on the type of mines installed);
- the length of the installation (depends on the specific situation on the front line and in general on the course of hostilities).
The density and depth of the installation of mines also have a direct dependence on the purpose of the minefield, terrain characteristics (plain or rugged, dry or swampy), and the general situation on the contact line.
When mining, it is important that the explosion of a shell does not cause damage to its troops with fragments or shock waves, and for this the distance to the positions of the troops should be at least 50-70 meters. The density of the installation of charges for anti-tank barriers should be from 600 to 1000 min per 1 kilometer of the front line.
Minefield Requirements
Properly installed minefields must meet the following requirements:
- It should be extremely difficult for the enemy to detect a mine and make a passage in a minefield. This can be achieved due to high masking and a variety of mining schemes, the formation of false minefields and the installation of mine-traps.
- Have high efficiency, characterized by causing maximum damage to the enemy.
- Ensure resistance to external factors (explosions from adjacent charges, clearance charges), which is achieved through the use of explosion-proof mines, the correct installation scheme.
- It should be possible to quickly detect and neutralize minefields with military units. To do this, when installing mines produce their thorough fixation.
Manual Installation
With the manual mining method, charges can be placed both on the ground and deepened into the ground to a depth not exceeding 10 centimeters, which makes it possible to additionally mask.
The process of installing shells is as follows: a recess is excavated in the ground no larger than the charge itself, into which it is placed. The handle of the fuse mechanism should be switched from the transport position to the combat position. Then, having removed the pin and the cover of the remote mechanism, pull its thread to a distance of about 1 meter.
Mina is carefully masked. The place of mining must be abandoned, holding the cover of the remote mechanism in hand, pulling the thread to the full length, which is about five meters. After 20 seconds have elapsed since the thread was pulled, the mine goes into a state of alert.
Manual installation of minefields is carried out strictly according to the regulations. The sapper platoon mining the barriers consists of three compartments, two of which directly carry out the laying of mines, and the third produces a tray of pre-prepared charges at the starting position.
Mine Cord Mining
Installation of the minefield on the mine cord is carried out by the separation of the sapper platoon. It is divided into the so-called calculations, consisting of two people. The mining step in this case is from 8 to 11 meters. When constructing minefields in this way, a special landmark is used, having a length of up to 5-6 meters.
The process of installing charges in this way is as follows: first, the detachment commander is advanced to a predetermined place, and one person from the calculation (usually the first number), carrying two charges and a mine cord attached to the belt, moves behind him. The movement is limited by the length of the cord. The first number attaches the cord to the ground and lays the first charge at a distance of 50 centimeters from the edge of the cord, disguises it and puts it into combat readiness.
The commander sets a landmark at a distance of 11 meters to the side, and the first number of the next two begins to advance to this sign. Subsequent movement is carried out by the first numbers of twos. After installing the first charge and putting it into combat readiness, the sapper moves back to the mark on the cord, indicated by one ring, and makes the second charge on the left side, then, stepping back from the cord 4 meters, moves back.
At the time when the first number is busy installing its charges, the second of the two, having two charges with it, moves up to three rings on the cord. There, leaving one charge, he moves on to two rings, where he makes the laying of one charge on the right side of the cord at a distance of 3-4 meters, but without putting him on alert. Immediately after the return of the first sapper, the second one puts its charge into combat readiness and moves to the left charge, installs it on the right side of the cord at a distance of 8 meters, puts it into combat readiness and returns.
Installation of minefields by mine barriers
When mining anti-tank minefields with the help of barriers, charges can be placed both on the ground and in a small hole. The PMZ-4 trap includes five people, and its main task is to install anti-tank minefields.
The calculation operator, the first number, is located directly on the trap and determines the mining step, monitors the movement of charges on the conveyor belt and controls the plow. Three people take mines from a container in the back of a car and place them on a conveyor belt. The fifth person is the tractor driver. The mining step in this way varies from 4 to 5.5 meters.
The installation of anti-personnel minefields is carried out by PMZ-4 mine barriers, the equipment must be equipped with special trays, and either high-explosive or fragmentation charges are used as mines.
