AT2 (anti-tank mine)

Anti-tank mine AT2 (dummy)

LARS rocket launcher firing

Mine thrower scorpion

Rocket launcher MARS of the Bundeswehr

The AT2 (also: AT-2 ) is a remotely deployable anti-tank mine from the German manufacturer Dynamit Nobel .

description

The AT2 can or could be fired with the rocket launchers LARS (5 pieces per rocket) and MARS (28 pieces per rocket) as well as the Skorpion mine throwing system. In addition, a system for laying with the UH-1D helicopter was developed by Dynamit Nobel and Dornier , but was not introduced by the Bundeswehr. A slightly different version of the mine was developed for each type of laying.

The mine body is cylindrical with a conical-rounded tip and a flat bottom. The versions that can be deployed by rocket (see below) also have a parachute to reduce the impact speed. After hitting the ground, several support feet bent from wire fold out in order to straighten the mine if it has come to rest lying down. An upwardly directed wire connected to the detonator also extends. The mine explodes when the wire is caught by a vehicle and bent aside. In contrast to most anti-tank mines from the Second World War , the vehicle does not have to drive directly over the mine by chain or wheel. In addition, the mine is equipped with a magneto that responds to metallic objects. It also has an anti-seizure device that makes it explode if you attempt to evacuate.

The explosive charge is designed as a projectile-forming charge .

The mine destroys itself after a previously adjustable time (three hours to four days) by detonating it. The reliability of this self-destruct device is over 99%; in the event of a failure, however, the mine becomes inoperable after a while due to the draining of the battery.

Technical specifications

Mass: 2.2 kg
Diameter: 10.3 cm
Height of the lead body: 12.8 cm
Height of sensor wire tip above ground: 70 cm
Explosive charge: 907 g Composition B

criticism

In the opinion of organizations such as the German Initiative Group for the Ban on Landmines , the AT2 is to be seen as an anti-personnel mine , since its detonator can also be triggered by people and it has a protection against being picked up. Anti-personnel mines are prohibited under the 1997 Ottawa Convention .

In 1999, the German federal government took the position that the AT2 does not fall under the Ottawa Convention, because the mine deactivates itself automatically after 96 hours at the latest, it is visible from afar, and anti-vehicle mines are expressly not against the anti-vehicle mines Violated convention.

User states

Germany Germany

The Bundeswehr received a total of 1.2 million AT2s in three variants:

300,000 pieces as DM 1233 for laying by LARS (procurement 1981 to 1986)
640,000 pieces as DM 1274 for laying by the Skorpion mine throwing system (procurement 1984 to 1992, now withdrawn)
262,080 pieces as DM 1399 for laying by MARS (procurement 1993 to 1995)

United Kingdom United Kingdom

The UK military had around 100,000 AT2s in stock at the turn of the millennium. In addition, four Scorpion mine throwers with 15,000 AT2 mines were loaned by Germany to the British armed forces during the Second Gulf War , but they were later returned unused.

Italy Italy

Italy received 45,000 AT2. In 1997 the Italian government ordered the mines to be destroyed, as the AT2 was sensitive enough to be activated by a person .