M21 mine

The M21 is a circular United States anti-tank landmine that uses a Misznay Schardin effect warhead. The mine uses an M607 pressure fuse, which can be adapted as a tilt rod fuze. The mine is triggered either by pressure, or by the tilt rod being forced beyond 20 degrees from the vertical by a force of more than 1.7 kg, either of these actions results in pressure being transferred via a bearing cap to a Belleville spring, which inverts, driving the firing pin into the M46 detonator. The M46 charge first ignites a black powder charge, which blows off the mine's cover, and clears any earth or debris that may have been on top of the mine. A fraction of a second later the main warhead detonates, driving and compressing a steel plate upwards, with enough force to penetrate 76 mm of armour at a distance of 530 mm. Approximately 200,000 M21 mines were produced in the U.S. and licensed copies, the K441 and K442, were produced in South Korea.

Specifications

* Diameter: 229 mm
* Height: 206 mm
* Height with tilt rod: 813 mm
* Weight: 7.83 kg
* Explosive content: 4.9 kg of Composition H6
* Operating pressure:
** pressure: 132 kg
** tilt: 1.7 kg

References

* ''Jane's Mines and Mine Clearance 2005-2006''
*

Anti-tank mines
Land mines of the United States

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