15. MINE, ANTITANK, NONMETALLIC, H.E., M5, AND FUZE, MINE, ANTITANK, CHEMICAL, M5

a. General. This round (figs 9 and 10) is manufactured without the use of materials which would betray its presence to an enemy using an electromagnetic mine detector. The mine body consists of a ceramic bowl containing 5.6 pounds of high explosive and a ceramic plate which acts as the spider. These components are separated by a cushion of rubber or similar material and enclosed in a hard paper container. There is a threaded opening in the top of the mine for assembly of the fuze and a bakelite plug, in the bot-tom, which may be removed for the attachment of an antiremoval device. Because of its construction, this mine may be buried without fear of stones or dirt jamming the firing mechanism and, being waterproof, it may be installed under water or in swampy ground. The fuze consists of a cylindrical body attached to a threaded plug. Instead of a metal safety pin, a bakelite cap is screwed on the base of the fuze body. This cap must be removed before the fuze can be assembled to the mine. In addition to this safety cap, which restrains the firing pin, there is a safety ring around the fuze body against the flange of the plug, which prevents the fuze being screwed home into functioning position in the mine.

Figure 9 - FUZE, Mine, Antitank, Chemical, M5

b. Fuzing.

(1) The mine may be fuzed by the following steps. NOTE: The outer hard paper contai-ner of the mine body will be left in place.

(a) Remove the adhesive cover of the fuze cavity and examine the cavity to insure that it its free of all foreign material.

(b) Examine the fuze to insure that it is serviceable and that the safety ring and safety cap are in place.

(c) Remove the safety cap.

(d) Insert the fuze, with safety ring in place, into the mine and screw down handtight.

(e) Plant the mine.

(f) Remove the safety ring. If necessary, back the fuze out one turn.

(g) Screw the fuze in handtight in a clockwise direction.

Figure 10 - MINE, Antitank, Nonmetallic, H.E., M5

c. Unfuzing. The mine may be taken up by reversing the steps in subparagraph b, above.

d. Antiremoval Device. Any of the firing device described in section V may be atta-ched to this mine by removing the plastic plug in the bottom of the mine and attaching as described in the paragraph on the device used. It should be borne in mind, however, that the use of a metallic firing device tends to defeat the purpose of designing this mine and fuze with no metal parts.

e. Precautions. In addition to the general precautions to be observed in handling anti-tank mines and fuzes, care should be exercised in arming the mine to screw the fuze in no more than handtight and, when taking up the mine, to turn the fuze in a counter-clockwise direction.

f. Marking. MINE, antitank, nonmetallic, H.E., M5, is painted lusterless olive-drab and marked in yellow.

g. Packing. MINE, antitank, nonmetallic, H.E., M5, and FUZE, mine, antitank, chemical, M5 are packed four of each to the box (par. 8).