The M23 is a United States steel cased
chemical
A chemical substance is a form of matter having constant chemical composition and characteristic properties. Some references add that chemical substance cannot be separated into its constituent elements by physical separation methods, i.e., wi ...
landmine
A land mine is an explosive device concealed under or on the ground and designed to destroy or disable enemy targets, ranging from combatants to vehicles and tanks, as they pass over or near it. Such a device is typically detonated automati ...
. The mine was developed in the late 1950s and early 1960s, and approximately 100,000 units were produced. The U.S. completed its destruction of its stock at the
Umatilla Chemical Depot
The Umatilla Chemical Depot, (UMCD) based in Umatilla, Oregon, was a U.S. Army installation in the United States that stored chemical weapons. The chemical weapons originally stored at the depot consisted of various live munitions and storage con ...
in 2008 and the
Johnston Atoll Chemical Agent Disposal System
Johnston Atoll Chemical Agent Disposal System (JACADS) was the U.S. Army's first chemical munitions disposal facility. It was located on Johnston Island, at Johnston Atoll and completed its mission and ceased operation in 2000.
Background
Prior ...
in 2000.
The mine is broadly similar to the
M15 anti-tank mine in appearance, with the addition of four pairs of small ridges along the top surface. The mine has two secondary fuse wells in addition to the primary fuse well and can be set to operate either for anti-vehicle or anti-personnel purposes. It is normally fitted with either an M603 or M608 fuse. Upon activation, the bursting charge breaks open a thin steel casing, heating and spraying
VX nerve agent
VX is an extremely toxic synthetic chemical compound in the organophosphorus class, specifically, a thiophosphonate. In the class of nerve agents, it was developed for military use in chemical warfare after translation of earlier discoveri ...
to form an
aerosol
An aerosol is a suspension (chemistry), suspension of fine solid particles or liquid Drop (liquid), droplets in air or another gas. Aerosols can be natural or Human impact on the environment, anthropogenic. Examples of natural aerosols are fog o ...
.
Specifications
* Diameter:
* Height:
* Weight unfused:
* Content: of VX nerve agent and
Composition B
Composition B, colloquially Comp B, is an explosive consisting of castable mixtures of RDX and TNT. It is used as the main explosive filling in artillery projectiles, rockets, land mines, hand grenades and various other munitions. It was also use ...
4 bursting charge.
References
Land mines of the United States
Chemical weapon delivery systems
Chemical weapons of the United States
Military equipment introduced in the 1960s
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