91. Schützenmines

Schützenmines were among the most commonly encountered German anti-personnel mines in World War II. This type of mine consists of a small wooden or cardboard case with a hinged lid and functions under pressure. It was patterned after the Soviet PMD mine (TM 5-223A) which were copied from a similar Finnish antipersonnel mine TM 5-223B). The three variations of the Schützenmine are described in paragraphs 92, 93 and 94.

92. Schützenmine 42 (Schützenmine 42; Schü.Mi. 42)

a. Description. The antipersonnel Schützenmine 42 (fig. 111) has an impregnated ply-wood or pressed cardboard case 4 3/4 inches long, 3 1/4 inches wide, and 1 3/4 inches high with a hinged pressure lid overlapping the case. The pressure lid has a fuze slot cut in the center of the front edge to fit over the pull fuze 42 (par. 42) so the sides of the slot rest on the wings of the striker-retaining pin. The main charge is a standard 200-gram (0.44 pound) block of explosive. The mine has a total weight of about 1.1 pounds. It is painted gray, tan, black, olive drab, or white depending upon the surroundings in which it is laid.

b. Employment. This main is laid along paths, trails, road shoulders, approaches to likely fords across rivers and streams, and in antitank mine fields. It may be laid unburied in grass or wooded areas and covered with leaves or other vegetation.

c. Functioning. Pressure of 6 to 11 pounds on the pressure lid pushes the striker-retai-ning pin out of the fuze, releasing the spring-loaded striker against the percussion cap and firing the mine.

d. Installing and Arming.

(1)

Open the pressure lid and place the main charge so the fuze well faces the hole in the front end of the case.

(2)

Screw the fuze, with detonator, into the main charge through the hole in the main case.

(3)

Push the main charge and the fuze toward the back of the mine case until the stri-ker-retaining pin touches the outside of the case.

(4)

Turn the striker shaft so the wings of the striker-retaining pin are horizontal and below the striker shaft.

(5)

If the mine is to be activated, drive a stake into the ground under the fuze and tie a length of wire to the stake and to the end of the loop of the striker-retaining pin.

(6)

Close the pressure lid very carefully so the fuze slot fits over the fuze and rests on the wings of the striker-retaining pin. Lay the mine with the hinged end of the pres-sure lid toward the enemy.

e. Neutralizing.

(1)

Check the fuze to make sure the striker-retaining pin is seated firmly in the striker shaft.

(2)

Examine the fuze carefully for a pull wire connected to the striker-retaining pin. If a slack pull wire is found, cut it.

(3)

Raise the pressure lid of the mine.

(4)

Holding the striker-retaining pin in place, unscrew the fuze.

(5)

Remove the detonator form the fuze.

Caution: Destroy the mine in place if the striker-retaining pin is partially withdrawn or if there is difficulty in cutting the pull wire.

Note. The small metal content of this mine make it extremely to detect with electro-nic mine detectors, and its small size makes it difficult to find by observation or pro-bing. A United States mine probe M1 or a light probe made of a round bar one-fourth inch in dia-meter and pointed at one end are suitable probes. If these probes are not available, a bayonet may be used  with caution. The probe is held at an angle of ap-proximately 30° to the ground.

f. Packing. These mines are packed in light open wooden crates, 20 mines to a crate. Detonators, fuzes and charges are packed separately.

Figure 111. Schützenmine 42.