Schu-mine 42
| Schu-mine 42 | |
|---|---|
|
A Schü-mine 42 with a ZZ 42 detonator; the components of the mine are shown to the left | |
| Type | Anti-personnel blast mine |
| Place of origin | Nazi Germany |
| Service history | |
| Used by | Germany |
| Wars | World War II |
| Specifications | |
| Filling | TNT |
| Filling weight | 200 grams (7.1 oz) |
Detonation mechanism | ZZ-42 type detonator, pressure |
The Schu-mine 42 (Shoe-mine), also known as the Schützenmine 42, was a German anti-personnel mine used during the Second World War. It consisted of a simple wooden box with a hinged lid containing a 200-gram (7.1 oz) block of cast TNT and a ZZ-42 type detonator.[1] A slot in the lid pressed down on the striker retaining pin, sufficient pressure on the lid caused the pin to move, releasing the striker which triggered the detonator.
The mine was cheap to produce and deployed in large numbers. As an early example of a minimum metal mine, it was difficult to detect with early metal detectors - the only metal present was a small amount in the mine's detonator. During the Normandy Campaign the British resorted to using explosive detection dogs to find them.[2]
See also
- Similar mines
References
- ↑ German Explosive Ordnance. Washington DC: US Government Printing Office. 1953. p. 278.
- ↑ "THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORMANDY 1944". Imperial War Museum. Retrieved 22 September 2014.