|
|
|
|
|
Claymores were not buried like other mines but were placed above ground pointed towards the likely location of the enemy. They were usually triggered manually but could be used as booby traps. |
|
The M-18A1 Claymore Antipersonnel Mine The design was originally conceived by the Germans during WW2 as an anti-tank mine firing a steel slab. It was never perfected although the discovery of the [Misznay-Schardin effect]? led to the current device. Following the massed Chinese attacks during the Korean War, the US Army developed the mine into a anti-personnel device that would fire hundreds of small ball-bearings in one go. Claymores were not buried like other mines but were placed above ground pointed towards the likely location of the enemy |
|
When a claymore is fired a plastic explosive charge detonates and fires a large number of metal ball bearings into the target area. |
|
Fully developed in time for the Vietnam War, as the M-18A1. The mine had an plastic olive casing with the words "Front Toward Enemy" on it. It was 21.5 cm long, 8 cm high, and 3.5 cm deep with two sets of little legs. Inside was 650 g of plastic explosive and 700 steel ball-bearings. When fired the contents sprayed out in a 60 degree arc that was lethal up to 50 metres. The mine could be either be fired on command using a hand held device or detonated by trip wire. |
|
Claymores were often used in ambushes and to defend temporary positions. |
|
Claymores were often used in ambushes and to defend temporary positions. |
![[Home]](wikipedia.png)