Path: utzoo!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!bonnie.concordia.ca!ccu.umanitoba.ca!herald.usask.ca!alberta!ubc-cs!uw-beaver!cornell!llenroc!batcomputer!rpi!uwm.edu!linac!att!cbnews!cbnews!military From: cassman@athena.mit.edu (Baby Killer) Newsgroups: sci.military Subject: Re: Are there "smart" minefields? Message-ID: <1991Mar14.040354.28256@cbnews.att.com> Date: 14 Mar 91 04:03:54 GMT References: <1991Mar12.231453.29226@cbnews.att.com> Sender: military@cbnews.att.com (william.b.thacker) Organization: Massachusetts Institute of Technology Lines: 41 Approved: military@att.att.com From: cassman@athena.mit.edu (Baby Killer) From portal!cup.portal.com!ts@uunet.UU.NET #Does anyone make or use "smart" mines? Landmines are EXTREMELY clever these days. The multitude of types available staggers the mind. Some are air-scatterable, some are specifically anti-tank, some are anti-personnel, and they all can be tripped in a variety of ways. How should I begin.... Anti-tank mines: These seem to be the most clever of the mines. One type of anti-tank smart mines actually senses the change in the earth's magnetic field caused by large, moving metallic objects (i.e. tanks). These mines sense the increase in the field as the tank approaches. This arms the mine, which has been dormant until now (usually). The mine then waits until the magnetic field begins to decrease before detonating. The result is that the mine explodes just after the center of the tank passes over (or by) it, creating maximum damage with its shape charge. Wouldn't want a mine to go off at the front of the tank where damage would be less !! It is also true that mines can be "tuned" to know the difference between a tank and a jeep. Why waste a mine on a jeep when you can destroy a tank? (different magnetic field strengths or different vibration frequencies give them away) Some air-scatterable mines (drop 'em out a plane or throw them out of a truck) wait for a set time, then explode. Set the time to match when the enemy is expected to be there or set the times randomly for the terror effect. This is enough for now. There is way too much info to be posted at once. Anyway there are smart mines. --------------------------------------------------- .....and then the blood returned to my brain..... ---------------------------------------------------