Russian Mine Laying Is Deadly & Stupid Easy!

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[Brasidas]

My father told me about an army instructor, who right after WWII killed himself and a group of solidiers when trying to show that a live anti tank mine could not be triggered by a man. Unfortuanely, instead of stepping on the mine, he jumped on it with his full weight.

I don not know if this story is true, but the story serves as a moral reminder of always showing respect to dangerous devices or situations.

[StreamMediaSkeptic]

So this was just bugging me enough to have to say something. AT mines detonate with 350-800 lbs of pressure applied to the pressure plate (depending on mine type). You can generate this force jumping up and down on an employed AT mine.

Not that this is a real risk for most people, since not many will ever find themselves in a mine field, assume they are all AT mines, and decide jumping up and down on them is a good idea...

But as a former combat engineer, it bugged me enough I had to comment.

[ThWKrapf]

Hello,
two points:
1. I agree to ryanbrown7618. An AT-mine will blow up, if a normalweight adult person jumps on it. A German AT-mine with a pressure fuse will detonate at 180 kg flat pressure on the fuse, but can easyly detonate at 90kg edge pressure. A soldier with its fighting gear easyly gets in range of that weight today. Why is the trigger weight so low? Because tanks mostly have tracks and with their tracks they distribute their weight (30-80 metric tons) down to 90-210 kg per square-decimeter.
2. I'm watching the footage in shocked amazement: AP-mines just armed and thrown in the landscape?! In my time, for mines layed per hand, we had to make a precise mine field layout plan, where every mine (AT, AP pressure, AP fragmentation a.s.o) was placed, where the wires are, which of these mines were secured against removement by e.g. booby-traps a.s.o.. So afterwards we exacly knew, where the mines were placed, which could be picked up easyly and which we had to demine by detonating them in place (the secured ones) If AP-mines are not placed, but just thrown in the landscape, as shown in the footage, there is not even a chance, to clear this terrain easyly. On the other hand this means, that even the Russians are unable to use this terrain in future, without taking (heavy) losses. Ok, a man doesn't count anything in the Russian army and this might explain, why even Russian tanks and IFVs so often hit their own mines on counter attacks. Noone knows or/and cares, if areas were mined by the own troops in the past. Friendly fire on another level...

Regards Th. Krapf (former engineer officer)

[mckutzy]

@2:30
PFM-1(butterfly mine) are scattered by a dispenser cassette from a helicopter, planes, rockets and mortar shells....Which allows them to activate and arm when they hit the ground,

Not at all a hand laid or hand scatterable device. Or they would kill the user, due to their extreme sensitivity, as mentioned.
Essentially a cluster munition.

[shanewallace]

I trust your "Reacts" in commentating footage you think relevant. Fresh and crispy, Kia kaha, stay strong. 🙃

[Jonsson]

A stab detonator has nothing to do with that you can’t “stab it” during mine clearing. It’s a type of detonator with a friction triggered initiator that is generally set off when it is punctured by a firing pin with sufficient force.

[CanuckBacon]

It reminds me of learning about how during the vietnam war, often the vietnamese would plant a tripwire grenade on a stick, but underneath the dirt with the spoon pressed in on the stick and the pin removed, would be a second grenade. If someone disturebd the stick, it could release the pressure on the second grenade and cause it to go off

[kearnsdouglase]

As a Navy EOD Tech and an electrician in my civi life I wouldn't stand on wires or explosives.

[miketan]

Don't think it's at night - the mine layer is not wearing any night vision goggles, so how is he working blind in darkness? Weird.

[roberthuntley]

A credible threat of a mine field is enough to slow an attacking army down, since they have to take the time to clear them (or instead drive into the kill zones pre-selected by the enemy). So enough real mines to demonstrate that you have the capability is a highly effective deterrent.

[richardchin]

How do forces of either side not get blown up by their own mines? Do they map where they mine, hope the other side set them off, or are they reasonably confident that they won't want to advance/retreat over the minded ground?

[henningventer]

2nd one from the left have a twist off lid and is about 2'in diameter and 1/2' high. They are normally scatted while retreating. It is armed if the lid is removed.

[tonybaker]

Lethal, or is it Leafal? They will certainly be difficult to see in the Autumn.
That detail on thermal image was amazing.

[bwilsonduncan]

I think I know of some guys who will need post-war employment, say, clearing mines before they're allowed to go home.

[richardlellip.e.m.b.a.]

I want to shout out and give Russian General Popov the respect he deserves -- in my opinion, a charismatic Gladiator that got tired of arguing with a Telephone Pole.

[verofrady]

Seen a video of guy with stick setting off what I believe were the butterfly mines

[bkr]

Police/LEO have a specific "recovery" ring they can place on the back of their duty belt, I think you are correct in your "thesis".

[leechmiller]

Paul, I need to point out in your thumbnail lethal is spelt wrong, there is only one 'A' in lethal.
Oh and thank you for warning me not to jump up and down on anti-tank mines.😜

[tommyleejohnson]

OK Paul, so how do you clear the mine formations, moving artillery barrage?

[jamesduhaime]

I think ukraina should invest in some remote software controlled low cost vehicles with front end rollers to deal with the mines.