TM-44 mine
Encyclopedia
The TM-44 was a circular metal cased Soviet
anti-tank landmine used during the Second World War. The mine's case consisted of a short cylinder with the entire top surface being used as a pressure plate. The mine was normally painted olive drab and was broadly similar to the earlier, smaller, TM-41 mine
.
The earlier TM-41 was used widely between 1941 and 1942, but production was discontinued because of the lack of metal available to Soviet industry. By 1944 the situation had improved and production of metal mines resumed. The TM-44 is similar to the earlier mine, weighing more with a larger charge.
140 to 260 kilograms of pressure on the top pressure plate resulted in it bending downwards and pressing on the MV-5 fuze. One to three kilograms of pressure on the head of the fuze was sufficient to activate it. The fuze's lock balls are forced out of position by the pressure, releasing a striker, which triggers a detonator, then a booster and then the mine's main charge. The mine was used with anti-handling device
s.
Production of the mine ceased in 1946 with the adoption of the TM-46 mine
, which was modelled on German Tellermine designs.
The mine was prone to rust
ing, exposing the MV-5 fuze which could be triggered by as little as 1 to 3 kilograms of pressure. It is found in Yemen
.
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
anti-tank landmine used during the Second World War. The mine's case consisted of a short cylinder with the entire top surface being used as a pressure plate. The mine was normally painted olive drab and was broadly similar to the earlier, smaller, TM-41 mine
TM-41 mine
The TM-41 was a circular metal cased Soviet anti-tank landmine used during the Second World War. The mines case consistsed of a short cylinder with the entire top surface being used as a pressure plate. The mine has a carrying handle on the side of the mine...
.
The earlier TM-41 was used widely between 1941 and 1942, but production was discontinued because of the lack of metal available to Soviet industry. By 1944 the situation had improved and production of metal mines resumed. The TM-44 is similar to the earlier mine, weighing more with a larger charge.
140 to 260 kilograms of pressure on the top pressure plate resulted in it bending downwards and pressing on the MV-5 fuze. One to three kilograms of pressure on the head of the fuze was sufficient to activate it. The fuze's lock balls are forced out of position by the pressure, releasing a striker, which triggers a detonator, then a booster and then the mine's main charge. The mine was used with anti-handling device
Anti-handling device
An anti-handling device is an attachment to or integral part of a landmine or other munition e.g. some fuze types found in air-dropped bombs such as the M83, cluster bombs and sea mines. It is specifically designed to prevent tampering. When the protected device is disturbed it detonates, killing...
s.
Production of the mine ceased in 1946 with the adoption of the TM-46 mine
TM-46 mine
The TM-46 mine is a large circular metal cased Russian anti-tank mine. The TMN-46 is a variant of the mine fitted with a secondary fuze well on the bottom which is slightly off-set from the centre of the mine. This secondary fuze well can be fitted with a pull-fuze which functions as an...
, which was modelled on German Tellermine designs.
The mine was prone to rust
Rust
Rust is a general term for a series of iron oxides. In colloquial usage, the term is applied to red oxides, formed by the reaction of iron and oxygen in the presence of water or air moisture...
ing, exposing the MV-5 fuze which could be triggered by as little as 1 to 3 kilograms of pressure. It is found in Yemen
Yemen
The Republic of Yemen , commonly known as Yemen , is a country located in the Middle East, occupying the southwestern to southern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the north, the Red Sea to the west, and Oman to the east....
.
Specifications
- Diameter: 254 mm
- Height: 140 mm
- Weight: 7.7 kg
- Explosive content: 5.4 kg of AmatolAmatolAmatol is a highly explosive material made from a mixture of TNT and ammonium nitrate. Its name originates from the words ammonium and toluene...