141. General

The only special mine laying equipment used by the Germans was a mine spacing wire (Minenmessdraht) described in paragraph 142. German equipment for marking mines and mine fields is described in paragraph 143. German mine fields recording equipment is simi-lar to that of the U.S. Army.

142. Mine Spacing Wire (Minenmessdraht)

a. Description. The mine spacing wire (fig. 185) is 85 feet 3 5/8 inches long, and has a number of rings and wooden crosses, bars, and blocks fixed to it. Four rings are located at various distances from the right end of the mine spacing wire. The first wooden cross, 6 feet 6 3/4 inches from the right end, is the zero point for all the following marking devi-ces:

Wooden cross at 4, 8, 12, 16, 20 meters
Wooden bars at 2, 6, 10, 14, 18, 22 meters
Wooden blocks at 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 21, 23 meters

An end-ring at the other end of the wire is provided to stretch the wire taut for laying.

b. Employment.

(1)

Each basic mine belt consists of four rows of mines, 81 feet long, laid at right an-gles to the reference line, which marks the right-hand edge of the belt when facing the opposing force. One mine is laid just above any one or more types of the woo-den marking devices along the mine spacing wire. In order to stagger the rows of mines, any one of the four rings can be put on the reference line. For example, in laying Tellermine 42 and 43 with camouflage cover, the distance between mines and between rows is 6 feet 6 3/4 inches. This spacing is done by laying one mine above each cross and each bar on the wire throughout the mine belt. For laying the first row, which is the row nearest to the opposing force, the first ring (4 feet 4 1/2 inches from the right end of the wire) is laid on point 1. For the second wire, the second ring (3 feet 3 1/2 inches from the end of the wire) is laid on point 2 on the reference line, 6 feet 6 3/4 inches behind point 1. For the third row, the third ring (1 foot 1 inch from the end of the wire) is laid on point 3 on the reference line, 6 feet 6 3/4 inches behind point 2. For the last row, the fourth ring (the end of the wire) is laid on point 4 on the reference line, 6 feet 6 3/4 inches behind point 3. The base line is 6 feet 6 3/4 inches behind the last row and it may be marked of not, according to the tactical situation.

(2)

By varying the sequence of rings and of marks used, a great variety of staggered rows can be laid. The above example is merely the simplest possible method; it was not always followed.

(3)

The required distance between rows for mine belts containing Tellermines 35, unco-vered Tellermines, and rail mines is 13 feet 1 1/2 inch; for S-mines 35, 6 feet 6 3/4 inches; and for Schützenmines, 1 foot 7 3/4 inches.

(4)

Mine belt containing different types of mines may be laid with the spacing wire; for example, a Tellermine at each cross and bar and S-mine at each block, and the re-verse for alternate rows.

Figure 185. Mine spacing wire.