73. Antitank Schnellmine, Type A (Panzer Schnellmine, A)

a. Description. The antitank Schnellmine, type A (fig. 83) resembles a large Schützen-mine in appearance and functioning. It has a wooden case 20 3/4 inches long, 12 1/4 inches wide, and 12 1/4 inches wide, and 6 1/4 inches high in the armed position. The total weight of the mine is 20 pounds, including a main charge of 13 pounds of explosive and a 200-gram (0.44 pound) booster charge. A wooden fuze-holder block the fuze in position. A slot in the pressure lid clears the striker shaft of the fuze, but not the wings of the striker-retaining pin. Two 1/2 inch wooden shear dowels support the pressure lid when in the armed position. This mine uses the pull fuze 42 (par. 42). The mine is easily improvised.

Figure 83. Antitank Schnellmine, type A.

b. Employment. This mine was designed for employment as an antitank mine. It is not used during periods of wet weather because it is not waterproof.

c. Functioning. A pressure of 100 pounds on the pressure lid shears the two wooden shear dowels and pushes the striker-retaining pin out of the striker shaft of the fuze, re-leasing the spring-loaded striker against the percussion cap and firing the mine.

d. Installing and Arming.

(1)

Raise the pressure lid of the mine and place the two wooden shear dowels in the holes provided.

(2)

Remove the wooden shipping plug from the booster charge, and screw a pull fuze 42, with detonator, into the booster charge through the holes in the wooden case and the wooden fuze-holder block.

Note. The wings of the striker-retaining pin should be horizontal and below the stri-ker shaft.

(3)

Lower the pressure lid carefully in the wooden shear dowels and place the mine in the hole so the pressure lid is level with the ground surface.

Note. When laying more than one mine, keep 13-foot intervals between mines to re-duce the possibility of sympathetic detonation.

e. Neutralizing.

(1)

Uncover the mine and make sure it is not damaged from either blast or deteriora-tion.

Caution: Deterioration of the wood, over a period of time, makes this mine unsafe to handle. The wooden shear dowels must be in place and intact; otherwise, the mine will explode when the percussion lid is dropped.

(2)

Check for activating fuzes on the pressure lid, the side, and the bottom of the wooden case.

(3)

Lift the pressure lid of the mine.

(4)

Unscrew the pull fuze 42 and detonatior from the booster charge.

(5)

Remove the detonator from the fuze.

f. Packing. The detonator and the fuze are carried separately from the mine. The fuze well is closed by a wooden plug to keep out dirt before the mine is armed. The two woo-den shear dowels are taped to the top of the wooden case.