97. Glass Mine 43; Also Coastal Mine (Glasmine 43; Gl.Mi. 43; Also Schützen-Küstenmine; S.Kst.Mi.)

a. Description. This antipersonnel glass mine 43 (fig. 116) is 5 inches in diameter at the base, 6 inches in diameter at the top, and 4 1/8 inches high. The glass case is deep and dish-shaped, recessed at the bottom to hold a standard 200-gram (0.44 pound) main charge. The midsection ridge inside the mine, about 1 3/4 inches from the top, supports a thin, circular, metal fuze-holder plate or the chemical fuze SF 18 (par. 31) which has a fuze-holder plate as an integral part of the fuze. If the fuze-holder plate is used, either the lever fuze 44 (par. 27), the Buck chemical fuze (par. 28), or the friction fuze SF 6 (par. 29) is employed. The top lip of the mine is recessed on the inside to hold a thin glass shear plate, which may be sealed in place with putty, glue, or coal tar to water-proof the mine. A thick glass pressure plate is glued to the top of the glass shear plate. There are two longitudinal grooves in the bottom of the glass pressure plate so a wire safety device may be inserted to prevent premature crushing of  the glass shear plate. In some cases wooden sticks were used for this purpose. The Germans originally called this the Glasmine 43 but late in World War II changed the name to Schützen-Küstenmine (antipersonnel costal mine).

b. Employment.

(1)

On land. As the glass mine 43, this mine was laid as an antipersonnel mine, buried in the ground and covered with about an inch of soil or surrounding material, and fit-ted with either the lever fuze SM 4 or the Buck chemical fuze.

(2)

Underwater. The Germans intended that the glass mine 43 should be designated the antipersonnel costal mine (Schützen-Küstenmine) to be used as an underwater anti-personnel mine on beaches and likely river-crossing points. The friction fuze SF 6 and the chemical fuze SF 18 were designed for this mine when so employed.

Figure 116. Glas mine 43 or coastal mine.

c. Functioning. A pressure of about 25 pounds on the glass pressure plate breaks the glass shear plate and actiates the fuze, setting off the detonator and the main charge.

d. Installing and Arming.

(1)

Place a 200-gram (0.44 pound) charge (for the lever fuze SM 4 or the Buck chemi-cal fuze) or a cardboard box with 150 grams (0.33 pound) of powered explosive (for the friction fuze SF 6 or the chemical fuze SF 18) in the bottom of the glass case with the fuze well up.

(2)

Glue the metal fuze-holder plate, or an SF 18 fuze with detonator and attached fuze-holder plate onto the midsection ridge.

(3)

Screw an assembled lever fuze SM 4 or Buck chemical fuze, with detonator, into the fuze well of the 200-gram charge, or insert the friction fuze SF 6, with the de-tonator, into a hole punched with a piece of wood in the 150-gram charge. Remove the safety pin of the lever fuze 42.

(4)

Glue the glass pressure plate to the glass shear plate an glue them to the mine case. Be sure the joint is well waterproofed.

Figure 116. – Continued.

e. Neutralizing. Do not hand-neutralize these mines; blow them in place with a prepared charge.

f. Packing. These mine were at first packed 5 to a cardboard box and later were packed 10 to a crate made of wooden slats.