70. Antitank Stake Mine 43 (Panzer Stab Mine 43; Pz.Stab Mi. 43)

a. Description. The antitank stake mine 43 (fig. 43) has a main charge consists of a pa-rabolic hollow-shaped charge with a zinc lining. The metal container containing the main charge is screwed onto a metal cylinder. The metal clyinder has a partition in it which froms two chambers, a flash chamber, and receptacle for the wooden stake. A flash tube with a fuze well is welded to the metal cylinder at the flash chamber. The detonator-and-booster-charge assembly is a standard German Zündladung 34. A square wooden stake, 15 1/4 inches long and rounded at the top, fits into the lower part of the metal cylinder. A thin metal cover, 4 5/16 inches in diameter, is crimped over the top of the mine. This mine is designed to punch a hole through the under side of a tank. The fuze may be either the snap fuze 43/I (par. 18) or the snap fuze 43/II (par. 19).

b. Employment. This mine is laid in snow, brush, or tall grass in likely avenues of ap-proach for tanks.

c. Functioning. A sideward pressure exerted on the extension rod of the fuze actuates the fuze. The flash from the percussion cap fires the detonator-and-booster-charge as-sembly and the main charge.

d. Installing and Arming. Dig a hole in the ground so the top of the mine will be flush with the surface of the ground when it is placed on the stake. Drive the stake into the ground until only the rounded top portion remains above the bottom of the hole. Place the mine on the stake and screw the snap fuze 43/I or 43/II into the fuze well.

Figure 79. Antitank stake mine 43.

(1)

With the snap fuze 43/I.

(a)

Remove the safety-pin-retaining wire from the fuze.

(b)

Remove the safety pin from the fuze by mean of the attached safety-pin-re-moval wire.

(2)

With the snap fuze 43/II. Remove safety collar from the fuze by sliding it upward and off the extension rod.

e. Neutralizing.

(1)

With the snap fuze 43/I. Do not move the exentsion rod. The fuze may have been partially broken or subjected to blast, and any movement might cause detonation of the mine.

(a)

Replace the safety pin, using the original pin, a nail, or a heavy wire, and fix it firmly to the fuze by wiring it in place.

(b)

Unscrew the fuze from the mine.

(c)

Disassemble the mine, removing the detonator-and-booster-charge assembly from the main charge.

(2)

With the snap fuze 43/II. A mine using this fuze should be detonated in place since the only safety device is the safety collar, which probably not be available. Impro-vised safety device are difficult to construct. If neutralizing is absolutely neces-sary, very carefully unscrew the fuze from the mine. Then disassembly the mine, removing the detonator-and-booster-charge assembly from the main charge.

f. Packing. Five main charges, with metal cylinders and wooden stakes, are packed in a wooden crate (fig. 80). The fuzes are packed separately.

Figure 80. Packing case for the antitank stake mine 43.