A landmine is a passive weapon of land warfare that is often used to kill or injure passing enemy personnel or vehicles. The history of landmines can be traced back to the early years of the Ming Dynasty, when China's Qi Jiguang invented the world's first landmine to resist the Mongol invasion. Since then, landmines have become an indispensable weapon in warfare, especially in local wars such as World War II, the Vietnam War, and the Afghanistan War.
With the development of science and technology, mines have also been continuously improved and innovated, from the initial simple pressure detonation of mines, to the later magnetic induction, vibration induction, sound wave induction, infrared induction and other intelligent mines, the lethality, concealment, stability and selectivity of mines have been significantly improved. In this article, the types and characteristics of some high-tech military mines, as well as their role and impact on the battlefield, will be presented.
Anti-infantry mines
Anti-infantry mines refer to mines that are mainly used to kill and injure enemy infantry, usually detonated by the pressure caused by the feet of personnel, but there are also some trick mines that are detonated by tripwire, remote control, timing, etc. Anti-infantry mines are generally small in size, made of plastic or other non-metallic materials, and contain explosives sufficient to blow off the soles or legs of a person, causing lethal or non-fatal injuries. Anti-infantry mines are very cheap, costing only a few dollars each, so they can be used in large quantities and placed on roads, bridges, buildings, water sources, etc., where enemy troops may pass, to form minefields, to hinder or delay the movement of enemy troops, or to cause damage to enemy troops' logistical supplies.
Anti-infantry mines can be divided into three types according to the explosion mode: ground explosion, surface explosion and bouncing explosion. Mines that explode on the ground are buried in the ground, and when people step on them, the mines will explode on the ground, causing local casualties, generally only one or two people. Mines that explode on the surface are placed on the surface, and when people approach or touch them, the mines will explode on the surface, causing a wide range of casualties, generally injuring several people. The bouncing and exploding mine is buried in the ground, and when the personnel step on it, the mine will first bounce to a certain height in the air, and then explode in the air, causing the maximum range of killing, which can generally injure more than a dozen people.
Typical products of anti-infantry mines are as follows:
- M14 mine: An anti-infantry mine developed by the United States in the 1950s, it is a pressure-activated ground explosive mine, made of plastic, containing 33 grams of TNT explosives, which can be detonated with only 9 kilograms of pressure and can blow off the soles of people's feet. This type of mine was widely used in the Vietnam War, Afghanistan War and other battlefields, causing a large number of casualties, also known as "toenail mines".
- PFM-1 mine: An anti-infantry mine developed by the Soviet Union in the 1970s in imitation of the BLU-43 mine in the United States, it is a pressure-activated surface explosive mine, made of plastic, butterfly-shaped, and filled with 1.5 grams of RDX explosives, which can be detonated with only 1.5 kilograms of pressure and can blow off people's legs. This type of mine was used in large numbers during the war in Afghanistan and was scattered on the ground by aircraft or rockets, causing a large number of casualties, and was also known as "butterfly mines".
- S-type mine: a kind of anti-infantry mine developed by Germany in the 1930s, is a kind of pressure or tripwire detonated bouncing explosive mine, made of steel, cylindrical, containing 200 grams of TNT explosives and more than 300 small steel balls, when the personnel step on or pull the tripwire, the mine will bounce into the air about 1.2 meters, and then explode in the air, can kill and injure people within 10 meters around. This mine was widely used in World War II, causing huge casualties to the Allies, and is also known as the "Betty Jumping Mine".
Anti-tank mines
Anti-tank mines refer to mines that are mainly used to destroy enemy vehicles or armor, usually detonated by the weight of the vehicle or magnetic force, but there are also some mines that are detonated by remote control, induction, timing, etc. Anti-tank mines are generally large in size, made of metal or other hard materials, and contain explosives that can reach several kilograms or even tens of kilograms, and can blow up a vehicle's tracks, tires, chassis or engine, causing fatal or non-fatal damage. The price of anti-tank mines is relatively high, and the cost of each can reach tens or even hundreds of dollars, so they are generally not used in large quantities, but are laid on bridges, tunnels, junctions, river banks and other places where the enemy may pass, forming minefields, hindering or delaying the enemy's march, or causing damage to the enemy's important targets.
Anti-tank mines can be divided into three types according to the mode of explosion: bottom explosion, side explosion and top explosion. The mine that explodes at the bottom is buried in the ground, and when the vehicle is crushed, the mine will explode on the ground, causing local damage, and generally only the bottom of the vehicle can be damaged. Mines that explode on the side are placed on the surface, and when a vehicle passes by, the mine will explode on the surface, causing a wide range of damage, generally damaging the side or back of the vehicle. When the vehicle is crushed, the mine will first bounce to a certain height in the air, and then explode in the air, causing the maximum range of damage, which can generally damage the top or interior of the vehicle.
Typical products of anti-tank mines are as follows:
- TM-46 mine: An anti-tank mine developed by the Soviet Union in 1946, it is a pressure-activated bottom-explosive mine, made of steel, in the shape of a disc, containing 5.7 kg of TNT explosives, which requires 200 kg of pressure to detonate, and can blow up the tracks or tires of vehicles. This kind of mine was widely used in the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Afghan War and other battlefields, and is a very classic anti-tank mine.
- M15 mine: An anti-tank mine developed by the United States in 1943, it is a side-explosive mine detonated by pressure or magnetic induction, made of steel, in the shape of a square box, containing 10.9 kg of TNT explosives, which requires 158 kg of pressure or 0.5 gauss of magnetic force to detonate, and can blow up the chassis or engine of a vehicle. This mine was widely used in World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War and other battlefields, and is a very intelligent anti-tank mine.
TMRP-6 mine: An anti-tank mine developed by Russia in the 1990s, it is a pressure or remote-controlled detonated top-explosive mine, made of plastic, cylindrical, containing 6 kg of TNT explosives and an EFP (explosive shaped armor-piercing projectile), which requires 300 kg of pressure or radio signal to detonate, and can blow up the roof or interior of a vehicle. This mine is a very advanced anti-tank mine that can deal with modern composite or reactive armor.
- Other types of mines
Anti-helicopter mines
In addition to anti-infantry mines and anti-tank mines, there are some other types of mines, such as anti-helicopter mines, anti-ship mines, anti-submarine mines, etc., all of which have their own characteristics and uses.
In conclusion, landmines are a very old and modern weapon, which has played an important role in warfare and has also brought great disasters to mankind. With the development of science and technology, mines have also been continuously improved and innovated, from the initial simple pressure detonation of mines, to the later magnetic induction, vibration induction, sound wave induction, infrared induction and other intelligent mines, the lethality, concealment, stability and selectivity of mines have been significantly improved. However, landmines have also brought many negative impacts, such as environmental pollution, harm to civilians, threats to peace, etc., therefore, the international community is also working hard to promote the ban and clearance of landmines to reduce the harm of landmines and protect human life and safety.