83. Light Antitank Mine (Leichte Panzermine; L.Pz.Mi.)

a. Description.

(1)

Mine. The light antitank mine (fig. 98) consists of a steel mine case containing a steel-encased main charge, five built-in, ball-release type pressure fuzes, a cen-trally located detonator, a centrally located flash chamber that is connected to each fuze by a flash tube, and a centrally located safety screw that is covered by a protective cap. The safety screw, when screwed als the way down, closes the opening from the flash chamber to the detonator. On the safety screw there is a white line marked sicher (safe). The mine case is 10 1/2 inches in diameter and 2 1/2 inches high, and is made up of two shallow, bowl-shaped covers that are lip-ped to provide a tight joint, which is waterproofed with adhesive tape. On the top cover are five hexagonal fuze plugs that close the fuzes wells. Also on the top co-ver there is a white indicator mark for aligning the safety screw. On the bottom co-ver are five hexagonal fuze nuts that are diectly below the fuzes. These nuts are removed when the mine is to be employed against personnel. The total weight of the mine is 9 pounds, including the main charge of 5 pounds of cast explosive.

(2)

Fuze. Each of the five pressure fuzes consists of a striker with a hollow shaft, a striker spring, two striker-retaining balls, a plunger, a plunger spring, and an actiat-ing sleeve. The striker spring is compressed inside the hollow striker shaft. The top part of the plunger is provided with an opening to take the hollow striker shaft, which is locked to the plunger by the two striker-retaining balls. The actuating sleeve rides on the upper part of the plunger and holds the striker-retaining balls in place. Midway in the plunger is a shoulder that fits inside the fuze case. The plun-ger spring is retained on the top by the actauting sleeve and on the bottom by the plunger shoulder. The bottom part of the plunger, below the shoulder, is threaded and protrudes through the bottom cover of the mine case. A hexagonal nut on the outside of the bottom cover keeps the plunger in place; this is the fuze nut that is removed when the mine is to be employed against personnel. A percussion cap is screwed into the fuze just below the level to the flash tube.

b. Employment. This mine is employed as both an antitank and an antipersonnel mine. It was designed for use by paratroops to secure jump areas and company positions. Seve-ral may be carried and installed by one man.

Figure 98. Light antitank mine.

c. Functioning.

(1)

Antitank.

(a)

A pressure of 250 pounds, or more, crushes the top cover of the mine case and depresses the actuating sleeve of one or more of the fuzes until the actu-ating sleeve clears the striker-retaining balls, releasing the spring-loaded striker against the percussion cap.

(b)

The percussion cap produces a flame that travels through the flash tube to the flash chamber, firing the detonator and the main charge.

(2)

Antipersonnel. The fuze nuts on the bottom cover of the mine case are removed, and the mine, resting on the threaded ends of the plungers, is placed on a flat, hard surface.

(a)

Light pressure on the top cover of the mine case depresses the entire mine, except the plunger-and-striker assembly of each fuze, until the actuating slee-ve of one or more of the fuze clears the striker-retaining balls, releasing the spring-loaded striker against the percussion cap.

(b)

The percussion cap produces a flame that travels through the flash tube to the flash chamber, firing the detonator and the main charge.

d. Installing and Arming.

(1)

Be sure that the fuzes, the percussion caps, the fuze plugs, the fuze nuts, and the centrally located detonator are in place, and that the safety screw is screwed all the way in until the white line marked sicher (safe) on the safety screw head lines up with the white indicator mark on the mine case.

(2)

For antitank use, unscrew the safety screw approximately 10 turns and replace the protective cap.

(3)

For antipersonnel use, remove the bottom fuze nuts from the bottom cover of the mine; gently place the on a flat, hard surface; unscrew the safety screw appoxima-tely 10 turns; and replace the protective cap.

Caution: Without the fuze nuts on the plunger of the fuzes, the mine is extremely sensitive; if jarred or dropped, its own weight may cause it to explode.

e. Neutralizing.

(1)

Remove the protective cap and turn the safety screw clockwise, screwing it all the way in, until the white line marked sicher (safe) on the screw head lines up with the white indicator mark on the mine case. This action closes the opening between the flash chamber and the detonator.

(2)

Check for and neutralize any activating fuzes.

(3)

Lift the mine from the hole without tilting it. Before putting the mine down, examine it to see that all the bottom fuze nuts are in place. If these fuze nuts are not in place, the mine is extremely sensitive; if jarred or dropped, its own weight may cause it to explode.

(4)

Stand the mine on edge and remove the five top fuze plugs, the percussion-cap holder, and the percussion caps.

(5)

Turn the mine upside down and remove the five bottom fuze nuts.

(6)

Remove the tape from the joint between the cover of the mine case and pry loose the bottom cover.

(7)

Unscrew the three nuts that hold the steel-encased main charge to the top cover.

(8)

Remove the steel-encased mine charge from the top cover.

(9)

Unscrew the detonator holder and remove the detonator.

f. Packing. Five of these mines are packed in an open wooden case designed to be para-chuted to the ground from aircraft (fig. 99).

Figure 99. Packing case for light antitank mines.