102. General

Most of the German improvised antipersonnel mines discussed in this section were manu-factured locally by German ordnance battalions using whatever local material was avail-able. Combat units improvised in the field only the tread mine (par. 105), the rationcan mine (par. 106), and the plastic-explosive mine (par. 108).

103. Antipersonnel Mine W-1 (Behelfs-Schützenmine W-1)

a. Description. The improvised antipersonnel mine W-1 (fig. 126) is made from a French 50-mm mortar shell. The tail fins and the nose fuze are removed. A Buck chemical fuze (par. 28) is inserted in the nose by means of a plastic adapter.

b. Employment. This mine is used in antitank mine fields to hinder reconnaissance and breaching parties. It is laid in paths, ditches and other places where foot soldiers are most likely to walk.

c. Functioning. A pressure of about 15 pounds crushes the corrugated aluminum cylinder of the Buck chemical fuze, exploding the mine.

Figure 126. Improvised antipersonnel mine W-1.

d. Installing and Arming.

(1)

Place the mine in a hole.

(2)

Grasping the Buck chemical fuze as near to the base as possible, screw it into the mortar shell.

e. Neutralizing.

(1)

Detecting. This mine is early detected by any mine detector. If the probing method of mine location, is used, be careful not to crush the aluminum cylinder of the fuze. If the cylinder is chrushed or pierced, the mine explodes.

(2)

Neutralizing. This mine has no safety device.

(a)

Remove the fuze by unscrewing the adapter from the mortar shell. Grasp the fuze as near to the base as possible in order not to crush the aluminum cylin-der.

(b)

Revome the detonator.

Note. If the aluminum cylinder is at all defaced, this improved mine should be destroyed in place.