...
l. This publ ~ation is a canpilation in con densed torm ot
information on Japanese Land Mines en countered to date. The enenu
may have other mines not yet encountered, and he is clever at
imprOYising. Troops should be constantly on the alert tor new
developments by the enelcy' in mine warfare•
2. As new information becaDBS available, addi tional. pages to
this publication will be distributed.
3. It mistakes are noted, corrections should be sent to the otfice
of the Engineer, Headquarters Sixth A:rrrq, where they will be
checked and revisions to the publication llllde if necessary.
~~(;_, S • D. STORGfS, J:,
TABLE OF CONI'EmS
Yudftiok Mt.ne
EJ:pl.anatim l3 LUD8I Ill•
Diagrams and Photograph 4 EXplanatian 5
M:Jdel 99 lrtlgDetic A1!l1JOr Piercine; lllne Di881"8JDS and
Photograph 6 EXplanatiOD 7
Diagrams and Photograph 8 :s:xpJ.anatiOD 9
.A.nti-Boa.t #593 (Beaoh) JAne DiagNml and Photograph 10
EXpl&D&tiOD 11
Di~ 12
Diagrema 14 EZplaDatim 15
Woo!en Ba:E Ml.net TJ':peS 1 aDd 2t cliagraim 16 Wooden BOX ·-·
TJpe 1, EXpluatim 17 Wood• BCllC Jllne, T1P8 2. BXplaaatim 18
CCDioal .Anti-Boat l&lne, Sketch aD4 EXplanatim 19 :tDForisecl
lllne•
ld.netield BrMOhiDg Prooe4ure, Sketch 24.
Diagrams 20 EXplanatian 21
..
"
COLOR a Earthen.
CASE a Pottery•
WEIGlfl's Small type: 11 lbs. Large types Unknown.
EXPLOOIVEs Small types 4! lbs. Large type: 6i lbs. Various
explosives used.
GENER.AI. DESCRIPl'IONs Small typea 8!• in diaml~•i"• 3i" high.
Large typea lOt• in diameter, 3!• high. Circular in shape w1th
bakelite fuze inserted in threaded hard rubber contain.er located
in top center of mine. The fuze is spring driTen, push or pull
type, and contains the only metal parts ot the mine - springs,
striker, pina. A satety pin protects against tiring by both push am
pull. The striker is held 1,D poej.tioD by a tork:ed clip, to which
is attached a pull cord ot fish gut or linen.
tu.NCTIONINGa Pull ot about 22 lbs. on cord extracts forked clip,
releasing striker, tiring percussion cap, detonator and main
charge. Pressure ot about 5 lbs. on head ot tuze releases striker
trcm 81l81"e ot torked clip and similarly initiates
detonation.
DTECTa Both types deatr07 tracks ot tanks. EttectiTe ag&inst
personnel at 26-tt. radius (small type), 33-tt. radius (large
type).
EMPLOYMEM's small type used along roads in Leyte. This wu the tirst
diaoOYeey ot the mi.Ile itselt, but document captured C>Jl
,Marianaa gtTes detailed e:xplanation ot both types. Large t7P8
mine aot yet discOYered. Electro magnetic detector will not detect
the mine.
DISARMING1 Exerting extreme care to exert ao clcmmard pressure on
tuze head or pull on oord1 iuert satety piD it aTailable. unscrew
tuze. If eatet7 pin or aubatitute aot &Tailable, great caut1011
should be used in uaacrewing ruu.
LEATHER WASHER
DRAG ROPE
TYPE 93 AN'l'I·TANK ('TAPE MEASURE• I 1PAN:iAKE")
COLORs Olive Drab,
WEIGHT: 3 lbs.
EXPLOSIVE• 2 lb. picric acid or 2 lb. ot 50/50 mix ture TNr and
cycloni te.
GEW.cllAL DESCRIPTIONa Circular. Two brass handles on opposite
ends. Brass pressure plate on top center. Fuze has spring driven
striker. Detonator and booster charge employed. Brass safety cap
screws on top ot tuze.
FONCTIONINGa As A•T mine, 250 lb. pressure cuts shear wire. As A-P
mine, 30-70 lb. pressure cuts shear wire. Released striker tires
percussion cap, detonator, booster and main charge.
EFB'ECT1 One disables vehicles. Two or three disable tanks •
.EMPLOYMENT 1 l. Permanently emplaced. Right side up or upside
down. Addi
tional explosiTe or other mines have been placed under neath. A
bakelite pressure cap has been used with anti personnel shear
wire. The pressure cap has been re moTed and the tuze raised above
top ot mine by means ot brass extension sleeve.
2. Mobile. Drag ropes attached to handles and
pulled in the path of vehicle. Two mi nos tied back to back on end
of pole aud thrust trom foxhole bordering road.
DISARMING: Examine for booby traps. If pressure cap is in place,
unscrew it without exerting downward pressure. lf,safety cap is
available, screw it firmly on top of fuze and unscrew t"uze. If cap
n·~t available, unscrew fuze, being extremely careful not to
depress striker shaft.
5
Fl.IZE WE/OHT 4 OZ. ('--wooDEN PLUG 33/.l"LONG
THREADED BOSS TO MAGNET TAKE LOCK NUT
11/z. IIx I ¥4")( 3/4 If /~ SOl/D EXPLOSIVE IN 8 SEPARATE
SECTIONS
BOOY
DETONATOR
"
EXPLOSIVE1 li lbs. of 8D.Y of following,
1. Equal parts trini troanisole and hexani tro diphenylamine.
2. Equal parts cyclonite and 'I'NT. 3. Equal parts cycloDite and
triDi troanisole. 4. cast TNT. 5. Picric acid.
GENERAL JJESCRIPTIONa Circular, 4 3/8• in diameter, lt• thick, tour
magnets equ.all)r spaced on outer edge. FUze contains a percussion
cap, a 5-6 second delay pellet and detonator. The mine is sanetimes
carried in a spec ially designed canvas pouch. Fitted to inside ot
pouch is a metal cy'lindrical fuze container. When carried in the
pouch, a wooden plug is inserted in the tuze opening.
FUNCTIONINGi Mine placed in contact with object under attack and
clings to object by means ot magnets. Pres sure on eild at fuze
depresses plunger, releasing steel balls into grooYe in sliding
cap. Striker tires per cUAion cap, igniting delay pellet which
tires detonat or a.00 main charge.
El.l'FECTs Single mine perforates 3/41 armor; double mine, lt'
armor.
EMPLOYMEN'l'a used against tanks or other armored ob je~ts.
Usually two mines are placed together. As anti-personnel, planted
in ground on board with tu.ze upright. Removal at delay pellet
permits instantaneous firiJ:lg.
DISARMING& Insert safety pin. Loosen ring holdiJ:18 tuze in
place and remove tuze trom min body. Un screw detonator. If cap
has been depressed so that pin holes are coTered, it should be
treated as a dm.
7
PRIMER
~:J.::q~=====-1======F====:::-==~>/==~==~=====F====+==::==:"~~~~~~:~===~~~~~
COLOR: Olive Drab.
EXPLOSIVEa 6 lbs. picric acid.
GENER.Al. DESCRIPTION: Elliptical in cross section, 3 3/8• wide by
1 13/16• high, and 36" long. Caps fit on both ends of' container,
and one cap has hole through which comnon safety wire is inserted.
Individual shear pins in fuzes. Main charge divided into 8 blocks
ot explosive, rounded to shape of case on bottom aod flat on top.
Blocks also moulded on one end to receive tuze. Four pressure type
fuzea inserted between the blocks. (Japs may use only 3
fuzes.)
FUNCTIONING: Pressure on top of mine depresses case, which
transmits pressure to one of fuzes. 3hear wire generally
encountered breaks at 300 - 350 lbs. Plunger forced downward,
aligning enlarged opening in plunger with firing pin. Spring driven
pin travels horizontally th.rough enlarged opening, tiring
percussion cap, deto nator, and main charge.
EFFECT: Disables vehicles and tanks.
•EMPLOYMENTa strength ot metal case preTents use against personnel.
Can be used in minef'i&ld against 8JJY type vehicle.
DISARl'i.'INGa :Examine for booby traps. aemove both eDd. caps.
Gently pushing on explosive blocks at one end, force charge and
f'uze through opposite end. but do not allow tuze to drop. Place
piece ot #16 wire through satety pin hole ot each tuze. If' mine
has been de formed so as to indicate that shear wires have been
partially cut, detonate in place.
COLOR s Black•
WEIGHT: 106.5 lbs. (less exploder horns, detonator, booster and
wiring).
EXPLCSIVE1 46.5 lbs., 60% TN!', 40% TNA.
GENERAL DESCRIPI'ION: Dome-shaped and electrically detonated. Two
horns screwed into top contain acid Vials. A safety fork snares
plunger on top surface of mine, preventing plunger from dropping
and clos ing circuit. Firing mechanism consists ot wires contacted
b7 plunger, and battery cup and plates beneath each Vial.
F'ONCTIONINGa 150 lb. pressure applied at right angles to center of
either horn crushes acid vial. Acid drops into battery cup.
contacting plates and generating electricity to tire detonator,
booster, main charge.
EFFIOOTa Destrays laDding cratt, tanks, Yehicles.
EMPLontiEN'l'a Has been installed in shallow water, on beaohes, and
as ordinary land mines.
DISARMINGa Insert steel wire into threaded hole in plunger, and
with prying motion withdraw plunger up ward until improvised
satety fork can be placed aroum safety grOOTe ot plunger. unscrew
exploder horns with 2 .3/16• wrench (lef':t hand thread). Note that
withdrawal ot plunger cannot be relied on to break circuit.
I I
&
\.
CONTAINER II
. .. '. : ·........ . . ... . . ·.. . ... .. . . . . :
. . . . . . . . .. . . . . .. ' . ' .. . . . . ~
. •.·. ·. : ~· .·.· .. ~·.·.
EXPLOSIVE a 5t lbs. cast TNT.
GENERAL DESCRIPI'IONa .MUshroom shaped, 8p in dia meter. COTer
suspended .over body by helical spring aild held in poeition by 4
screws in wall of body. Pressure type tuze having copper shear
wire. Brass pressure cap screws into top center of cover.
FONCTIONIJ."IJGa Pressure on any part ot cover is trans mitted by
brass pressure cap to striker head. Spring driven striker explodes
percussion cap, initiating detonation. As anti-tank, 180-240 lb.
pressure re quired• As anti-personnel, 50 lb. pressure
required..
EFFECTa Breaks tank tracks.
EMPLonm1l'a To date encountered only on Guadalcanal, aDd stocks
captured tran Dutch may now be exhausted.
DISARMDIGa unscrew brass pressure cap w1 thout exert ing downward
pressure. Insert substitute safety pin in safety pin hole, unscrew
fuze and remoTe. Replace pressure cap.
13
11.6..
2..J(
[J D
SC'ole f•..J•
3-KCJ LUNG.f: MIH~
WEI GHT: 14.3 lbs .
EX.PLCSIVE: 6.6 lbs. brownish, powdered charge.
GmERAL DESCRIPTION: The case (fougasse) is conical-shaped. A metal
funnel forms a small conical cavity within the case. Three legs,
attached to the bottom surface of the mine keeps a distance of
approximately 5" between the object under attack and the explosive
charge at the moment of detonation. The detonator is inserted in
the top part of the mine. A wooden handle, almost 5' long, screws
into the top part of the case and contains a striker, safety pin
and hold ing pin.
FUNCTIONING: Handle is attached to case. Safety pin is pulled.
Soldier lunges forward at object with mim in a manner similar to a
bayonet thrust. If object is struck with sufficient force, holding
pin 18 cut, allowing striker to hit assembly. It is designed for
suicide attack.
EFFECT: According to Jap document, capable of piercing 4"
armor.
EllPLOIMENT: Has been used on Leyte, but so far
unsuccessfully.
' j 15
PULL THREAD
PELLET OF POWDERED GLASS WAD
~<~~~~~~~~~Q~~~~~~-+i
16
COLORa Varied.
CASE& Wood ..
WEIGRTa UDknown.
EXPLOSIVE& Approximately .3t lbs. picric acid.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION& Wooden box, 13• x j• x 2t" • Trip wire
attached to firing rod, which protrudes through hole in side of
box. Red hooks arouDd thread which is attached to friction 1gniter
at one em sad anti-liftioe; deTice at other end.
FONCTIONINGa PUll on trip wire or lifting of mine initiates
detonation.
EFFECTa Anti-personnel and light anti-tank mine.
EMPLOYMENT a Only reported used aga!.nst the Chinese.
DISARMING& Search thoroughly for anti-lifting device. and all
possible wires or threads leading tran box. Carefully detach such
wires. Wedge red firauy in place where it emerges from box. Open
box in place and remove friction igniter and detonator.
17
COLOR! Varied.
CASEa Wecc1•
EXPLOSIVEa Approx:imately 2 lbs. picric acid.
GENERAL DESCRIPTIONa 12i• x 9' x 7• • Ud kept in place by means ot
springs at each corner, pressing it against flanged top. Wooden
block on under-sur taoe ot lid. Firing rod suspended in air at one
end by attachment to side of box, at other end by thread attached
to tricUon ignj. ter and strung through pulley system. Trip wire
attached to rod emerges from top ot box. Other end ot trip wire
emerges tram bottom ot box and ia attached to peg in groun4.
FONC'l'IONINGa Pressure on lid applied to rod by wooden .,lock
exerts pull on friction iga.1ter by means ot thread. Pull on trip
wire similarly ini tiates detonation. Anti-lifting deTice
detonates it box i a JllOV'ed.
El"l'ECT a unknown.
EMPLOYMEN'l' a Oll1Y reported use against Chinese.
DISARMINGa Similar to '1'1Pe I except care mwst be exerted not to
apply pressure on lid.
18
CONICAL WI-BQAT MIN!
l"ull dete.113 oomermng tu mine are not yet aftilable. It is
conical in shape, lot• hip, 14i• in diamter at base. A siNJ.e horn
contatmng aa aei4 Tial aorews into tb.e tep, aDd the electric
tiring mechaDi.sm 1• similar to the two-horned, heDd· spherical
anti-boat mine (see PP• 10-11). lt was diaoonred in the G1iberts,
Marshall• and Saipan. At Saipu.. 1 t was used widel.y aa a land
mine, parti cularly at street intersectiOBS in the toim ot
aarapan.
GRENADE
EXPLOSIVE
20
IMPROVISED MINF.S
The Japanese are adept at the art ot imprOTisa tion. Following are
listed the more important ex pedients used.
l. Wooden box With h8.Dd grenade. Box :filled With explosive
detonated by pressure type grenade that mq or mq not haTe delay
train. Used previously and recently tow:ri on Leyte. Also detonated
by electric cap.
2. Coconut mine, Shell ot coconut tilled witb black powder 8.Dd
detonated by grenade.
3. Aerial Bombs. Various sizes used, ranging upward trom 30 KG.
Usually buried in gt"ound nose up. Various "types of pressure tuzes
used. Air strips fre quently mined with them. If no eTidence ot
blast or pressure is present, the tuze may be UDSCrewed tram the
bomb.
fill!'.la Be suspicious. Explosives ms:! be contained in aD;Y" type
of wrapping or encasement and various t;ypes ot fuses mq be easily
attached.
JAPANESE MINEF!W M
Unlike the Germana, the Japanese haTe not yet re•orted to a
prolitic use ot mines. AB a result, tew mine tielcts haTe been
discOTered and tewer still haTe had Q1' detini te pattern. But they
haTe the mines and captured documents show they have a doc trine
that teaches the extensive emplayment ot mines. The tut111"9 _.,.
reTeal the Japs making a practical applioatioa ot this
doo~ine.
To date, al.ms ban been more a harassment than an obstacle.
J'&Torite sitea b.aT• been roads, parti oularfy al.ODg the
shoulders; air strips; beaches. A minefield, oonaiating ot aerial
bamba buried in the growd, JlOH pointing upward, was discOTered on
Tacloban airsttip, Leyte, aD4 it had a detinite pattern. They were
laid in rows ot three directly down the center ot the strip.
a
22
(For details. cf. FM 5-31)
ObjectiTea To clear a lane 16 yards wide.
l. A.dftDCe Party. 1 o, 1 NCO, 3 EM equipped w1 th lensatic
com
pass, stakes, marking lights. Selects breach loca tion, with
detector proceeds throush field, locates outer limit, locates guide
stakes or lights along cen ter line ot lane, locates cross
tapes.
2. No, l Party.
l .NCO, 9 EM w1th 3 electric detectorft tape, mine markers,
ccmpass, nails, pliers, Three men at eight-yard apacinss, center mn
on line marked by ad. Ta.Dee Part;r, proceed forward, u.sins
detectors to check grOUJ'ld cm illlnediate reapectiTe tronts. Each
of three men follOlred by man l&71ng tape, investigatins, mark
i:a.g aDi disarmins located mines, cutting trip wires. NCO tollows
in rear. runner behind him. Two men in reserYe at bue line, OD
ccmpletion, Party returns and ~ becc:ae Detector Party.
3• No. 2 Party;.
l NCO, 9 EM, w1th three deteuora, mine markers, wire• GiTes No, l
Party a 15-yard lead and adTances in right-hand, eight-yard lane.
Three men w1th detectors sweep lane, workins in 15-yard, echeloned
interYal.s. One man follows each at three, markins mines toUDd and
ni~hing places at 20-minute interT&ls. Two men fol low and
disarm and remoTe, or pull by 50-yard wire, the marked mines. Ninth
mn is runner accompanying mo.
4• No, 3 Partf• l N::O, 9 EM, with three detectors, mine
markers,
and wire. When ordered, proceeds up center line to first cross tape
and works forward on right-ham lane, usins same procedure aa No. 2
Party, When finished, witbdrawa down center line to first cross
tape and clears lett haDd lmw forward. Lett-hand lane trom base
line to first cross tape may be cleared by No. 2 Party, or by
No.
Party when 1 ts initial task is completed. l
23
5• NOe 5 parlz• , 1 WO, 9 EM. Replaces c.asual ties• erects
lane markers, checks approaches to lane tor mines, maintains
cam111n1cat1ons.
6. S'9Jlll!ll7• The 16-yard lane is diTi.ded into segments,
eight yards wide, boumed by longitminal. lines (cen ter line and
two boundary lines) and croas tape lines. Detector teams work
sillultaneously in ditterent ••s mants. (See sketch.)
NO~e a If non-metallic mines are encountered, mines JIU8t be
detected by probing with bayonet. :More men must be used because a
man can probe only a three-toot width whereas a ml.ne detec tor
operator can cover a three-yard width.
ASSISTANT DETECTOR MAN
"Corefulf 4 examine for Boob4 Traps, Insert Safet4 Pin •..•. " •
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