85. S-Mine 35 (Bounding Shrapnel Mine) (S-Mine 35; S.Mi. 35)

a. Description.

(1)

General. The antipersonnel S-mine 35 (fig. 102) consists of a cylindrical steel mine cases 4 inches in diameter and 5 inches high. The mine case contains a centrally located fuze well (which leads to a cavity in the bottom of the mine case for a small propelling charge); three brass detonator wells with a delay pellet in each well; a 16-ounce main charge; and several hundred steel balls which are held against the mine case wall by a thin, cylindrical, steel partition. This mine fits into a cylindrical steel mine container. The total weight of the mine and mine container is 9 pounds. It has an effective casualty radius of 10 to 15 yards and a danger area radius of 100 yards. The fuze normally used with this mine is the S-mine fuze (par. 25) was also designed for use with this mine. With a Y-shaped fuze adapter (fig. 103), two pull fuzes 35 (par. 44) or other pull fuzes may be fitted to the mine and laid with trip wires. A W-shaped fuze adapter (fig. 103) was also provided and enabled the mine to be fitted with three fuzes – two pull fuzes in the end fuze wells and an S-mine fuze 35 in the central fuze well.

(2)

Modifications. The following is a summary of modifications found on S- mines. All of these changes are usually not present in an individual mine and, although they have some effect on the functioning of the mine, these changes do not alter the met-hods of arming or neutralizing.

(a)

Three brass screws at the base connect the mine case to the mine container. The propelling charge must shear these before it projects the mine into the air. This model explodes closer to the ground.

(b)

The steel balls are replaced by scrap steel, such as pieces of broken spring or cut nails.

(c)

The detonator wells are of paper instead of brass. The detonator-well plugs have wooden plugs attached to their under sides. The plugs fit down into the paper detonator wells. In this model of the mine, there are no springs to hold the detonator against the short-delay pellet.

(d)

A wax seal is used instead of the sheet-metal waterproof seal.

(e)

A flat-top plate extends over the mine container to form a seal.

(f)

A detonator replaces the 4 1/2 second delay pellet at the bottom of the fuze well so the mine fires instantaneously, without bounding.

(g)

An activating fuze well is located in the bottom of the mine.

b. Employment. This mine is used for local security of units and in antitank mine fields to hinder reconnaissance and breaching parties.

c. Functioning.

(1)

Pressure of 15 pounds on the S-mine fuze 35 actuates it, igniting the 4 1/2 second delay pellet at the bottom of the fuze well.

Figure 102. S-mine 35 (bounding shrapnel mine).

(2)

The delay pellet burn through and ignites the propelling charge.

(3)

The propelling charge projects the mine case upward out of the mine container and, at the same time, ignites the short-delay pellets in the detonator wells.

(4)

The short-delay pellets burn through and set off the detonators and the main charge when the mine is from 3 to 5 feet in the air.

(5)

The main charge scatters the steel balls, and fragments of the mine case, within a radius of 100 yards.

d. Installing and Arming.

(1)

Unscrew the three detonator-well plugs from the detonator wells, remove the springs, and insert either three standard German No.8 detonators, or three United States non-electric blasting caps, open end down.

(2)

Replace the springs and the detonator well plugs.

(3)

Unscrew the shipping cap from the fuze well and screw in either an S- mine fuze 35; a Y-shaped fuze adapter (fig. 103) with two pull fuzes; a W-shaped fuze adap-ter with one pressure fuze 35 and two pull fuzes (fig. 103);  or an electrical bridge and an electrical S-mine fuze 40 set (fig. 31).

(4)

Place the mine in a hole so the tops of the fuze or fuzes are slightly above ground level. If pull fuzes are used, attach trip wires to the fuzes and to an anchor.

(5)

Remove the safety pins.

e. Neutralizing.

(1)

Insert a nail in the safety-pin hole of each pressure or pull fuze.

(2)

Cut any slack trip wires, after checking the anchored ends for pull fuzes.

Figure 103. Y- and W-shaped fuze adapters fitted to the S-mine 35, and installation with the W-shaped adapter.

(3)

Check the mine for activating fuzes and neutralize any that are found.

(4)

Remove the mine from the ground.

(5)

Unscrew the pressure or pull fuze or fuzes.

(6)

Unscrew the three detonator-well plugs and remove the springs and detonators by turning the mine upside down and shaking it.

f. Packing. These mines are shipped with the detonator remoced and the detonator-well plugs in the detonator wells. A shipping cap is placed on the fuze well. Three mines are packed either in a watertight, metal carrying case or in a wooden crate (fig. 104). The total weight of the packed metal carrying case is about 33 pounds.

Figure 104. Carrying cases for S-mine 35.