Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!att!cbnews!military From: bxr307@csc.anu.oz Newsgroups: sci.military Subject: Re: Scatterable Minefields Message-ID: <14317@cbnews.ATT.COM> Date: 25 Feb 90 06:13:13 GMT References: <14124@cbnews.ATT.COM> <14241@cbnews.ATT.COM> <14272@cbnews.ATT.COM> Sender: military@cbnews.ATT.COM Organization: Computer Services, Australian National University Lines: 70 Approved: military@att.att.com From: bxr307@csc.anu.oz In article <14272@cbnews.ATT.COM>, morgan@ms.uky.edu (Wes Morgan) writes: : : : From: Wes Morgan : : In article <14241@cbnews.ATT.COM> ssc-vax!shuksan!major@beaver.cs.washington.edu (Mike Schmitt) writes: :> But, Rule #2 in Emplacing a Minefiled is, to cover that :> minefield with fire - usually indirect fire from mortars or artillery - :> sometimes with direct fire. :> : : Actually, you want to cover the areas *around* the minefield with direct : fire, thereby channeling into the minefield. Once : the enemy has entered the minefield, you call in the big boys of indirect : fire. We had one platoon of engineers wipe out a company of infantry with : this tactic. A little harassing fire, they realize a clear path through : it, try to bug out, and....surprise! It's Mr. Minefield! Heh heh heh.... : Actually I learnt that it was the other way around. You used the minefield to channel the enemy into the areas covered by your weapons. While you must have weapons covering the minefields to prevent their being lifted, if they are encounted by the enemy in a "hasty" attack he will usually attempt to go around before he attempts to breach the obstacle. When he does that, thats when he walks into your specialist AT weapons/etc. :> Usually, a combat engineer squad accompanies infantry/armor companies. :> They have organic 'mine-clearing' equipment - so - call up the engineer :> squad and let them clear it - it's their job. :> : : One of the nice methods of clearance was under development while I was : on active duty <8th Engr Bn, 1st Cav Div, FT Hood, TX>. A jeep trailer : contains explosive charges on a *long* wire with a solid-propellant : rocket on the end, something like this: : : ---***-----***-----***-----***-----***-----***-----***-----[[[> : : The length we tested was about 400 meters. The charges were C4 plastic : explosive. Pull the trailer up to the beginning of the minefield, launch : the rocket..........when it impacts, the detonator in the nose sets off : the charges, thereby creating a nice clear alley through the field. I : seem to remember the alley's width as approximately 25 feet. This method : seems much nicer than bangalores or fake fronts for CEVs....8) : : Anyone out there who can give an update on this equipment? Sounds like a logical development of the WWII "Conga" line clearing charge (which was mounted in a de-engined Bren Carrier towed behind a Churchill AVRE tank. It used a hollow hose which once fired across the minefield was then pumped full of liquid explosive and then exploded. It was however decided to dangerous for actual operational use). The British have also been operating for about 20 years "Giant Viper" which is a post-war development carried in a wheeled trailer towed behind a Centurion AVRE (and I also presume the newer CEVT and Chieftain AVRE's). This uses a more stable liquid plastic explosive than the wartime version and works on the same principle. I find it interesting though that after the war the use of the flail tanks was abandoned. They are only just coming back into use in South Lebanon (with UN forces) and as runway clearance vehicles. I thought that this was an ideal solution to the problem of surface scattered minefield and could, with a little thought be designed to be fitted to any normal gun tank. However there seems to be a considerable deafening silence from the major armies around the world. Brian Ross