8 misconceptions about mines and sappers you shouldn't believe in

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

We figure out how many times a demolitionist can make a mistake and which wire to cut so as not to fly up into the air.

1. A mine explodes when you remove your foot from it

There is a common misconception that occurs in every second war movie. The alleged anti-personnel mine is activated when a soldier who is nearby steps on it. Then he waits for him to remove his leg. And only then decides to explode.

This design feature of movie detonators creates extremely intense scenes. Some unlucky fighter accidentally gets up on a mine and notices it at the last moment. And he has to remain motionless until the sappers rescue him. Sometimes this translates into several hours of waiting. Or the hero can sacrifice himself after his comrades leave the affected area. Naturally, they do not have to hurry too much.

In Kingsman: The Golden Ring, Special Agent Merlin, standing on a mine, managed to sing Country Roads in its entirety. So he drew enemies closer to take them with him to the next world.

However, in reality, mines are not intended to force opponents to stand still, but to kill and maim them. When a person activates the fuse, the charge will detonate regardless of whether the soldier stays in place or tries to escape. The only way to increase your chances of survival is to fall face down on the ground away from the mine and cover your ears and head with your hands. So there is a small possibility that you will not be heavily hit by shrapnel.

Many people misunderstand how mines work. Anti-personnel projectiles do detonate with a slight delay - 3-5 seconds: so that during this time more soldiers walking in a chain would be in the affected area. But if you freeze on a mine, it will still explode through the same interval.

And yes, charges that are triggered to remove the load do exist. For example, MS-3 ("surprise mine"). But they are used not against infantry, but against enemy sappers. We shove such a thing into the hole, install an anti-tank land mine on top. The miner approaches to clear a path for vehicles, removes a land mine, and the trap underneath is triggered. The Demoman goes to a better world, and those who laid the "gift" giggle ominously and rub their hands.

2. It is necessary to cut the red wire

Usually, in popular culture, the process of defusing a mine or bomb looks like this. The sapper carefully pokes at her entrails while the others shift excitedly from foot to foot. Then the professional finally gets to the wires hidden in the bowels of the explosive device. It cuts red and the device deactivates.

If this decision seems too obvious to you, remember: the enemy knew that you would think so. Therefore, do not touch the blue wire. Cut red!

In reality, there are no official regulations on how and what elements in explosive devices to mark. Normal mines are not supplied with any colored wires, puzzles, and even more so with dials that count to the explosion. Instead of all this stuff, there is a conventional mechanical or chemical detonator. The task of the designers is to make it difficult to neutralize the projectile, and not to test the skills of the sapper.

3. All mines will certainly defuse

Humanitarian sappers who clear the territory from the ammunition left there after the armed conflict is over, they do so. But military demolitions do not stand on ceremony with mines.

Some structures cannot be opened at all, because they have pressure sensors or other protective equipment inside them. So, contrary to what we are shown in the movies, in most cases, when demining the terrain, devices are simply blown up with special charges or mine sweepers.

In addition, the discovered mines are sometimes not touched at all, so as not to attract the attention of the enemy. Otherwise, he can put new "gifts" on top of the already rendered harmless. So the shells are left and then just mark them on the map. So that the personnel know where to go, and where it is better not.

An interesting fact: the shores of the Falkland Islands since the 1982 war between Argentina and Great Britain have been strewn with mines for a long time. Because of this, those places became uninhabited and they were inhabited by penguins, who multiplied beyond measure.

It's just that the weight of the bird is not enough to move the fuse.

The result is spontaneous reserves, where, despite the risk, hordes of ecotourists rushed. Therefore, Britain rushed to clear the area. And by 2020, the islands were completely cleared of shells. The tourists were jubilant. But the penguins are most likely upset. The mines were clearly more good for them than trouble.

4. Who touched the mine is not a tenant

In fact, antipersonnel mines, as odd as it may sound, are not particularly designed to kill people. Their main task is to cripple.

According to statistics compiled by surgeons from the Royal Canadian Medical Service, most of the victims of antipersonnel mines undergo various amputations, but survive.

This has its own cruel logic.

If you just destroy a soldier, then his comrades will go on to fight. But if it is hard to injure him, they will have to look after the victim, protect the fighter and provide him with medical assistance. And the group will be forced to drag the unfortunate back to the camp, so that she will refuse to perform the combat mission.

In addition, the large number of injured people increases the burden on the medical, logistics and evacuation units of the armed forces. It is much more expensive to treat, withdraw from the region of hostilities and support a disabled soldier at the expense of the state than just burying with honors. And the war is often won not by weapons, but by the economy.

5. Mina ominously peaks and explodes with a huge cloud of flame

In Hollywood, it is customary to arrange large explosions, no matter how TNT equivalent one or another ammunition possesses. A grenade on a banner, an anti-personnel mine, a fragmentation charge - everything takes off with a huge cloud of fire, demolishes nearby buildings and scatters cars like candy wrappers.

However, the real detonation of a conventional fragmentation mine is far from being as impressive as in the action films with Jason State.

Take a look at this video for yourself, and you will understand that the cinema exaggerates the power of the shells for the sake of entertainment:

And yes, no picks and flickering lights that constantly flicker in films do not supply real ammunition. They should be invisible. Therefore, you will never know that the mine is about to explode.

6. Minesweeper makes only one mistake

This is a well-known proverb, which, however, is not entirely accurate. Of course, the profession of a sapper is fraught with great risk and the mistake will cost him dearly. But it is far from a fact that a technician who was blown up while working with a projectile will die.

Combined arms demining kits were not invented for beauty, and they are quite capable of protecting their owners (of course, if we are not talking about an anti-tank charge). There is a known case when one specialist was blown up four times during his career and survived.

Also, as we mentioned, anti-personnel mines are designed to inflict severe injury, not instant kill. And the inaccuracy of a sapper, with a certain amount of luck, may cost him not his life, but “just” a limb. Although this is, of course, little consolation.

7. Anti-personnel mines are prohibited

Mines are not able to understand that after the end of the military conflict, it is necessary to stop killing people. Therefore, forgotten shells become a very big problem in peacetime and civilians suffer from them. Modern mines are designed in such a way that after a certain time, their fuses are deactivated. But this mechanism does not always work.

Therefore, the so-called Ottawa Treaty, or the Convention on the Banning of Anti-Personnel Mines, was developed. To date, 163 states have signed the agreement.

But only Russia, the USA, China and India are not among them.

In addition, the document does not very precisely regulate what exactly is considered anti-personnel ammunition and what is not. For example, the convention does not prohibit targeting models such as the famous American M18A1 Claymore projectile. The one that says "Turn towards the enemy."

So anti-personnel mines cannot be used, but if directed action, then it is possible.

8. All naval mines are round

Most likely, when you use the phrase "sea mine" you imagine a round floating metal ball with sticks sticking out in all directions. This is partly true, because the first anti-ship shells were like that.

But modern explosive devices look like metal pipes. They lie on the bottom or float in the water column without rising to the surface.

As soon as this contraption detects a passing ship or submarine that does not respond to the request "friend or foe", it will release a homing torpedo towards the alleged enemy.