M14 mine

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A M14 mine, showing a cutaway view.
A M14 mine, showing a cutaway view.

The M14 mine is a US small anti-personnel landmine first fielded in the 1950s. The M14 mechanism uses a belleville spring to flip a firing pin downwards into a "stab" detonator when pressure is applied. Once deployed, the M14 is very difficult to detect due to its plastic design. The design was later modified to make the mine more noticeable through the addition of a steel washer glued onto the base.

Since 1974, this mine is no longer in active US service. However, the US has a stockpile of 1.5 million mines held in reserve for use in Korea. The mine has been widely used in various countries. Several copies of the design have been manufactured locally by countries such as India.

The amount of explosive in the M14 mine is comparatively small when compared to some other anti-personnel mines. As a result, the blast wound from an M14 is unlikely to be fatal, though it usually destroys part of the victim's foot, thereby leading to some form of permanent disability regarding their gait.

[edit] Specifications

  • Weight: 100 g
  • Explosive content: 29 g of Tetryl
  • Diameter: 56 mm
  • Height: 40 mm
  • Operating pressure: 9 to 16 kg

[edit] See Also

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