71. Wooden-Box Mine 42 (Holzmine 42; H.Mi. 42)

a. Description. The antitank wooden-box mine 42 (fig. 81) consists of a wooden mine case 13 inches long, 12 inches wide, and 4 1/2 inches high. The mine case is devided into four compartments. The compartment across the front of the mine case contains the fuze and the fuze actuating mechanism. The two partitions for the other three com-partements are at right angles to the partition for the front compartment. The narrow compartment containing the booster charge separates the two compartments containing the main charge. The fuze actuating mechanism consists of three parts: a wooden fuze-support block with a U-shaped slot in it, a wooden-fuze-actuating flange secured to the outside wall of the mine case by two wooden dowels, and a wooden pressure block (see fig. 82 for shape) that fits into a hole in the cover of the mine. The fuze-actuating flan-ge has a slot so it will clear the striker shaft of the pull fuze 42 but not the wings of the striker-retaining pin. The cover is positioned on the mine case by wooden pegs and is se-cured at the front and back by metal hooks. Directly opposite the hole in the cover for the pressure block a stocking block is attached to provide a level support for stacking mines on top of each other. The mine weighs 18 pounds, including 11.5 pounds of explo-sive in a main charge of two 5-pound cast charges and a booster charge of three 200-gram blocks (about 1.5 pounds). One side of the pressure block is painted red, and when the pressure block is in the armed position, a continuous red band about 4 inches wide shows down the front of the mine (fig. 81). The mine uses the pull fuze 42 (par. 42).

Figure 81. Wooden-box mine 42.

b. Employment. This mine was designed for employment in antitank minefields during re-trograde movements. It is not used during periods of wet weather because it is not wa-terproof.

c. Functioning.

(1)

A pressure of 200 pounds, or more, on the pressure block shears the two wooden dowels which secure the fuze-actuating flange to the outside wall of the mine case.

(2)

The fuze-actuating flange, forced down, pushes the striker-retaining pin out of the pull fuze 42, releasing the spring-loaded striker against the percussion cap and fi-ring the mine.

Caution: This mine be installed with the two wooden dowels removed or cut to make the mine function under foot pressure. It may also have a hole drilled under the fuze for a pull wire to be tied to the loop of the striker-retaining pin. The mine will function under less pressure if it has been buried long enough for rotting of the wood to take place.

d. Installing and Arming.

(1)

Remove the cover, the pressure block, and the booster charge.

(2)

Insert a pull fuze 42, with detonator, into the fuze well of the booster charge.

(3)

Replace the booster charge so the fuze rests in the U-shaped slot of the fuze-sup-port block with the wings of the striker-retaining pin below the striker shaft and un-der the slot in the fuze-actuating flange.

(4)

Place the pressure block in the armed position, with the red band toward the fuze side of the mine, and replace the cover.

(5)

Lay the mine in the ground so the pressure block is level with the ground surface and the red band is away from the enemy.

e. Neutralizing.

(1)

Locate and neutralize any activating fuzes.

(2)

Remove the cover, avoiding all pressure on the pressure block.

(3)

Lift the pressure block clear of the fuze-actuating flange (fig. 83).

(4)

Remove one of the explosive charge, but not the one into which the fuze is scre-wed.

(5)

Slide the explosive block into which the fuze is screwed back until the striker-retai-ning pin is clear of the fuze-actuating flange; lift out the explosive block and fuzes.

(6)

Unscrew the fuze and remove the detonator.

(7)

Replace the pressure block so the red band is to the rear.

(8)

Replace the cover.