M432 mine
Encyclopedia
The M432 is a Portuguese
bounding anti-personnel mine
, which traces the roots of its design to the Second World War German
S-mine
, although it is probably more directly related to the Belgian NR 442 mine and U.S.
M16 mine
. , all operational stocks of the mine have been destroyed, although some may have been retained for training purposes.
The mine has an olive green steel
cylindrical body which has an offset fuze well on the top. The mine is used with the T253 trip and pressure fuze, similar to the M605 fuze used with the US M16 mine. The fuze has three prongs with a central post for attaching a trip wire. The fuze is triggered by either pressure applied to the prongs or tension on an attached tripwire.
Once the fuze is triggered, the inner mine body is projected into the air by a small explosive charge. The outer shell of the mine remains in the ground, and is attached to the inner body by a short length of wire. This wire pulls taut once the mine has risen to a height of approximately one metre. The jerking action pulls a striker into a detonator, triggering the main charge of the mine.
The detonation of the mine scatters approximately 1,240 fragments to an effective radius of approximately 25 meters, with widely spaced fragments still lethal at a range of at least 50 meters. The mine is reported to also be effective against soft skinned vehicles.
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
bounding anti-personnel mine
Anti-personnel mine
Anti-personnel mines are a form of land mine designed for use against humans, as opposed to anti-tank mines, which are designed for use against vehicles...
, which traces the roots of its design to the Second World War German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
S-mine
S-mine
The German S-mine , also known as the "Bouncing Betty," is the best-known version of a class of mines known as bounding mines. When triggered, these mines launch into the air and then detonate at about . The explosion projects a lethal spray of steel balls and fragments in all directions...
, although it is probably more directly related to the Belgian NR 442 mine and U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
M16 mine
M16 mine
The M16 mine is a U.S. made bounding anti-personnel mine. It was based on captured plans of the World War II era German S-mine and has similar performance. The mine consists of a cast iron body in a thin steel sleeve. A central fuze well on the top of the mine is normally fitted with a pronged M605...
. , all operational stocks of the mine have been destroyed, although some may have been retained for training purposes.
The mine has an olive green steel
Steel
Steel is an alloy that consists mostly of iron and has a carbon content between 0.2% and 2.1% by weight, depending on the grade. Carbon is the most common alloying material for iron, but various other alloying elements are used, such as manganese, chromium, vanadium, and tungsten...
cylindrical body which has an offset fuze well on the top. The mine is used with the T253 trip and pressure fuze, similar to the M605 fuze used with the US M16 mine. The fuze has three prongs with a central post for attaching a trip wire. The fuze is triggered by either pressure applied to the prongs or tension on an attached tripwire.
Once the fuze is triggered, the inner mine body is projected into the air by a small explosive charge. The outer shell of the mine remains in the ground, and is attached to the inner body by a short length of wire. This wire pulls taut once the mine has risen to a height of approximately one metre. The jerking action pulls a striker into a detonator, triggering the main charge of the mine.
The detonation of the mine scatters approximately 1,240 fragments to an effective radius of approximately 25 meters, with widely spaced fragments still lethal at a range of at least 50 meters. The mine is reported to also be effective against soft skinned vehicles.
Specifications
- Height: 131 mm (body)
- 268 mm (body and fuze)
- Diameter: 105 mm
- Weight: 3.9 kg
- Explosive content: 0.8 kg