Barmine

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Barmine L9 is a large rectangular British anti-tank landmine. The Barmine's principle advantage is its long length - at typical anti-tank landmine is circular, and for it to activate a vehicle's wheel or track must actually press on the mine. The vehicles wheels or tracks actually make up only a small proportion of its total width. To increase the probability of a vehicle striking the mine, the mines effective trigger width must be increased. The Barmine allowed a 50% reduction in the number of mines in a minefield without reducing its effectiveness. It was reported that it would take 90 sappers 150 minutes to lay a 1,000 yard mine field consisting of 1,250 Mk 7 British anti-tank mine, weighing a total 17 tonnes. In comparison it would take on 30 sappers 60 minutes to lay a 1,000 yard minefield consisting of 655 barmines weighing a total of 7.2 tonnes. ^[1]

The mine entered British service in 1969. A number of sub-variants of the mine exist, designated L9A1 through L9A8. It is currently scheduled to be replaced in British service in 2010.

[edit] Specifications

• Weight: 10.4 kg
• Explosive content: 8.1 kg of RDX/TNT
• Length: 1.2 m
• Height: 0.082 m
• Width: 0.108 m
• Operating pressure: 140 kg

[edit] References

• Jane's Mines and Mine Clearance 2005-2006

1. ^ The History of Landmines, Mike Croll, ISBN 085052680