DESCRIPTION. The mine consists of three main parts: a sheet steel tray, an encased charge of TNT contained in the tray, and a lid which fits over the tray and acts as a pressure plate. (See fig. 236.)

Tray. The Tray is of spot-welded sheet steel construction. Shear wires are threaded through the tray 7/8 inch from the bottom, to support the charge. Re-inforcing strips are welded inside the tray at the shear points. Each end of the tray is folded over on top to form slotted pressure plates to actuate Z.Z. 42 igniters fitted to each end of the charge. Reinforcing plates, welded to inside of the tray in the corners, are bent over as supports to these pressure plates. Swivel clips are provided to protest the igniters. 1 1/2 inches from each end are holes through which safety bars are threaded to keep the charge clear of the shear wires in the unarmed condition. These bars are secured by safety pins attached by cord which may be wound around the mine. Spring-loaded shutters are pro-vided to block the holes on withdrawal of safety bars. The shutters are in the form of spring-loaded angle strip which swings on pivot pins. These shutters can be manipulated from the bottom of the tray through holes 3/4 inch from the end by means of a bar or large nail. One side of the tray is slotted in two places to accommodate anti-lifting igni-ters which may be fitted to sockets provided in the one side of the charge. There is a thin red band painted along the sides of the tray 1/2 inch from the bottom to indicate the correct position of the lid when the mine is armed.

Charge. The charge which has a metallic casing is provided with five igniter sockets. Two are for the main igniters, type Z.Z. 42, one at each end; these are not visible from the out-side when the mine is laid. The other three are for anitlifting igniters; one is in the center of the top of the charge; and the other two in one side 5 inches from the ends. Two shear battens fixed to the bottom of the charge insure double shear action. Two channels are also ficed to the bottom of the charge; these fit over the safety bars.

Lid. The lid is of spot-welded sheet steel construction. It is fitted with a handle at one end. Holes are positioned to correspond with the sockets provided for antilifting in the charge. Two slots are provided for the shear wires; these may be bent over after the lid is fitted. There are also two slots into which the safety bars slide, and white paint marks are found above these slots to correspond with similar marks on the tray. Mines are transported singly in a wooden packing case with main igniters and safety bars in posi-tion. Protecting paper strips cover the igniter holes in the lid. The cords attached to the safety bars are wound round the mine.

OPERATION. After the mine is laid and the antilifting or trip wire igniters are fitted, the two safety bars are withdrawn.

2. Functioning of the antilifting or trip wire igniters fitted into the sockets provided.

3. Reverse of one main igniter, type Z.Z. 42, with its wings below the end pressure plate so that it will function if an attempt is made to lift the charge from the tray. Only one ig-niter can be reversed to operate in this manner.

The mine also lends itself to the usual body trap devices such as a trip wire attached to the handle of the lid.

Figure 236 – R Mine 43 – Antitank