View of the open rear of a Claymore mine.
Primary function: Anti-personnel, defensive.
Weight: 3.53 lbs.
Maximum effective range: 328 ft.
The design for the Claymore mine was originally conceived by the
German Army during WW2. The original mine consisted of a solid slab
of explosive with a hollowed front face. The concave surface of the
mine was lined with a solid brick of steel and was originally
intended as an anti tank mine. When detonated the explosive force
was enough to throw the steel brick forward with enough power and
velocity to penetrate a tank's armour plating at ranges up to 50
meters. However the Germans never fully perfected the weapon.
Instead it was left to the US Army to expand on the idea in
response to the massed North Korean, and Chinese attacks that US
soldiers faced during the Korean war. US ordnance experts developed
the idea of a mine that would propel hundreds of small pieces of
steel in one - go thereby causing maximum casualties among the
enemy. However trials of this experimental mine were not completed
before the Korean war ended.
By the time of the Vietnam war 65-75 the mine had been fully
developed, with the version used in Vietnam being the M-18A1.The
mine had an olive-drab coloured outer casing with the words "Front
Toward Enemy" embossed on it and was made from plastic which
measured 216mm long, by 83mm high, and was 35mm deep. Inside the
casing was 0.68Kg of C-4 plastic explosive in front of which was
placed 700 steel ball bearings. Designed so the convex side faced
the enemy, and steadied by digging a twin set of "V" shaped legs
into the earth. When detonated the blast sprayed its contents in a
60 degree fan-shaped arc that was lethal up to 50 meters. The mine
could be either command detonated by using the hand held "clacker"
(or a PRC 25 battery) which sent an electrical charge through the
wire to the blasting cap inserted in the mine. Or detonated by trip
wire.
When arranged in fixed defensive positions Claymore's were arranged
so as to have overlapping kill zones. It was also a very effective
tool for initiating ambushes due to the instant devastating, and
lethal zone generated. And also because it did not reveal the
whereabouts of the ambush team.
