M8 (practice mine)

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M8 (practice mine)


Partial sectional view of the M2A4 mine, which is simulated by the M8

General Information
Designation: M8, M8A1
Type: Exercise mine
Country of origin: United States
Development: from 1940
Commissioning: 1943
Working time: since 1943
Technical specifications
Combat weight: 2041 grams
Charge: see variant table
Diameter: 102 mm base, 64 mm bullet tube
Height: 248 mm
Detonator: see variant table
Lists on the subject

The M8 and M8A1 ( M8 Practice ) are US training mines for simulating the M2 anti-personnel mine . The M8 is not inert , but contains small amounts of explosives for igniting and ejecting practice ammunition, which i. d. Are usually not fatal.

function

The M8 is primarily used to train own troops in handling, relocating, reconnaissance and defusing the M2 mine without endangering them with deadly charges. In order to further reduce the risk to people, the M8 was developed into the M8A1, which no longer contains a projectile, but only emits yellow smoke when triggered. The M8A1 is also used in real operations to detect enemy movements by triggering the mine and revealing its position through the yellow smoke. Here, the M8A1 is used when e.g. B. also with children, civilians u. Ä. is expected that should not be endangered. The refills can be reused by reloading them with consumables such as tablets for generating smoke after they have been triggered. The refills are delivered as 2 × M8 refills, 2 × detonators and 20 sets of consumables together in a wooden box (17 kg). Since the M8 mines are not lethal, they are not covered by the Ottawa Convention .

variants

variant M8 M8A1
description External shape like M2A4
material Steel, welded
(with M8A1 cover plugs made of polystyrene in the bullet tube)
colour light blue body,
white lettering,
olive green detonator
labeling MINE, ANTI-PERSONNEL,
PRACTICE M8		 MINE ANTI-PERSONNEL
PRACTICE M8A1
Detonator M10, M10A1 push
and pull igniter		 M10A2 push
and pull igniter
Tripping 3.63–9.07 kg pressure on the trigger
1.36–4.54 kg pull on the tripwire
charge hollow cardboard bullet
(Ø 60 mm × 127 mm)
with signal charge made of black powder		 3 × tablets smoke generator
for yellow smoke
effect The bullet is ejected about 2 meters
and the signal charge is ignited		 A delay of 4–5 seconds, then
the polystyrene lid is ejected
and the smoking tablets ignited,
yellow smoke rises from the mine

swell

  • TM 43-0001-36 Army Ammunition Data Sheets for Land Mines (FSC 1345) , Headquarters, Department of the Army, Washington, DC, 1994, pp. 58ff.
  • TM-9-1345-203-12 Operator's and Unit Maintenance Manual for Land Mines , Headquarters, Department of the Army, Washington, DC, 1995

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