REDUCE A MINEFIELD

H-40. Most types of obstacles do not cause casualties directly. Minefields do have this potential, and will cause direct casualties if not reduced. Buried mines usually are found in a highly prepared defense. When training the reduction of surface-laid and buried minefields, always assume the presence of AHDs and trip wires until proven otherwise.

MINEFIELD DETECTION

H-41. The three types of minefield detection methods the platoon or squad might employ visual, physical (probing), and electronic.

Visual Detection

H-42. Visual detection is part of all combat operations. Soldiers should constantly be alert for minefields and all types of enemy obstacles. Soldiers visually inspect the terrain for the following obstacle indicators─

  • Trip wires and wires leading away from the side of the road. They may be firing wires that are partially buried.
  • Signs of road repair (such as new fill or paving, road patches, ditching, and culvert work).
  • Signs placed on trees, posts, or stakes. Threat forces may mark their minefields to protect their own forces.
  • Dead animals or damaged vehicles.
  • Disturbances in previous tire tracks or tracks stopping unexplainably.
  • Odd features in the ground or patterns not present in nature. Plant growth may wilt or change color; rain may wash away some of the cover; the cover may sink or crack around the edges; or the materiel covering the mines may look like mounds of dirt.
  • Civilians who may know where mines or IEDs are located in the residential area.
    1. Civilians staying away from certain places or out of certain buildings are good indications of the presence of mines or IEDs.
    2. Question civilians to determine the exact locations.
  • Pieces of wood or other debris on a road. They may be indicative of pressure or pressure-release firing devices. These devices may be on the surface or partially buried.
  • Patterns of objects being used as a sighting line. An enemy can use mines fired by command, so road shoulders and areas close to the objects should be searched.
  • Berms may indicate the presence of an antitank ditch.

Physical (Probing) Detection

H-43. Physical detection (probing) is time-consuming and is used primarily for mine-clearing operations, self-extraction, and covert breaching operations. Detection of mines by visual or electronic methods should be confirmed by probing.

Electronic Detection

H-44. Electronic detection is effective for locating mines, but this method is time-consuming and exposes personnel to enemy fire. In addition, suspected mines must be confirmed by probing. As in probing, 20 to 30 minutes is the maximum amount of time an individual can use the detector.

H-45. The AN/PSS-14 uses ground penetrating radar (GPR) and metal detection sensing for the detection of AP and AT mines. (See figure H-5.) Both the metal detection and GPR are active search methods that transmit electronic signals into the ground and analyze the signals that return. The metal detection and GPR audio signal can be used separately and in combination as required by local conditions. (Refer to TC 3-34.14 for more information.)

AN/PSS-14 mine detector in operation

Figure H-5. AN/PSS-14 mine detector in operation

H-46. The AN/PSS-12 mine detector (see figure H-6) is effective at finding metallic mines, but is less effective against low-metal mines. Employment and operation procedures of the AN/PSS-12 are discussed in ATP 3-34.20. The detector is handheld and identifies suspected mines by an audio signal in the headphones.

AN/PSS-12 mine detector

Figure H-6. AN/PSS-12 mine detector

MINEFIELD REDUCTION AND CLEARING EQUIPMENT

H-47. Minefield reduction and clearing equipment is broken down into explosive, manual, mechanical, and electronic. While chiefly an engineer task, the platoon or squad might need to reduce a minefield depending on the situation. The leader masses reduction assets to ensure they will create as many lanes as necessary to ensure the rapid passage of the assault force through the obstacle system. If necessary, the leader must carefully plan and synchronize the creation of additional lanes to reduce the potential for fratricide with assaulting troops. The distance between lanes depends on the enemy, the terrain, the need to minimize the effects of enemy artillery, the direct-fire plan of the support force, command control, and reduction-site congestion.

H-48. The breach force should be organized and equipped to use several different reduction techniques in case the primary technique fails. Additional reduction assets should be present to handle the unexpected. Normally, 50 percent more reduction assets than required for obstacle reduction are positioned with the breach force. Mechanical and electronic reduction techniques and equipment are employed by engineers and can be found in ATP 3-34.20.

Explosive Minefield Reduction

H-49. ATP 3-34.20 lists all explosive minefield reduction techniques and equipment. The different types of explosive minefield-reduction equipment the platoon or squad might use to breach obstacles are discussed below.

M1A1/M1A2 Bangalore Torpedo

H-50. The Bangalore torpedo (see figure H-7) is a manually emplaced, explosive-filled pipe designed as a wire breaching device also effective against simple pressure-activated AP mines. It is issued as a demolition kit and consists of 10 1.5-meter tubes, 10 connecting sleeves, and one nose sleeve. Each tube contains four kilograms of HE and weighs six kilograms. The kit clears a 1-by 15-meter lane.

Bangalore torpedo

Figure H-7. Bangalore torpedo

H-51.The M1A3 Bangalore torpedo demolition kit consists of eight charge assemblies, eight connecting sleeves, and two nose sleeves. The tube assemblies, or torpedoes, are steel tubes 2 1/2 feet long and 2 1/8 inches in diameter, grooved and capped at each end. The torpedoes have a 4-inch composition A3 booster (1/2 pound each) at both ends of each 2 1/2 foot section. The main explosive charge is five pounds of composition B4. The primary use of the torpedo is for clearing lanes through wire obstacles and heavy undergrowth. It will clear a 3- to 4-yard-wide path through wire obstacles.

H-52. All torpedo sections have a threaded cap well at each end so they can be assembled in any order. The connecting sleeves are used to connect the torpedo sections together. An individual or pair of Soldiers connect the number of sections needed, and push the torpedo through the antipersonnel minefield before priming the torpedo. A detailed reconnaissance is conducted before using the Bangalore torpedo to ensure trip wires have not been used. The Bangalore torpedo generates one short impulse. It is not effective against pronged, double-impulse, or pressure-resistant antipersonnel or antitank mines.

WARNING
Do not modify the Bangalore torpedo. Cutting the Bangalore in half or performing other modification could cause the device to explode.


Antipersonnel Obstacle Breaching System

H-53. The Antipersonnel Obstacle Breaching System (APOBS) (see Figure H-8) is a man-portable device capable of quickly creating a footpath through AP mines and wire entanglements. It provides a lightweight, self-contained, two-man, portable line charge rocket-propelled over AP obstacles away from the obstacle’s edge from a standoff position

H-54. For dismounted operations, the APOBS is carried in 25-kilogram backpacks by no more than two Soldiers for a maximum of two kilometers. One backpack assembly consists of a rocket-motor launch mechanism containing a 25-meter line-charge segment and 60 attached grenades. The other backpack assembly contains a 20-meter line-charge segment and 48 attached grenades.

H-55. The total weight of the APOBS is about 54 kilograms. It is capable of breaching a footpath about 0.6 by 45 meters and is fired from a 25-meter standoff.

Antipersonnel obstacle breaching system

Figure H-8. Antipersonnel obstacle breaching system

Man Portable Line Charge

H-56. The man portable line charge (MPLC) is a lightweight, man-portable; rocket-launched explosive line charge system that assists in breaching through a complex mined or trip-wired environment. (See figure H-9.) The MPLC NSN No. 1375-01-593-8347, provides a precise, portable mine clearing weapon system at the small tactical unit level providing the ability to conduct clearing operations in urban and complex mined or trip-wired environments. Mobility and survivability is increased due to immediate precision fire from covered or concealed positions.

H-57. The system weighs about 35 pounds and can easily be carried, set up, and detonated by one Soldier. It is a rocket-launched explosive system designed to clear an area of other explosives. A Soldier proficient on the MPLC can set up and detonate an explosive in about one minute.

H-58. The MPLC provides small tactical units with the ability to conduct clearing operations in urban and complex, mined or trip-wired environments; in covered or concealed positions. It is designed to assist in the clearing of a narrow footpath to a target by exposing, disrupting or neutralizing IED trigger mechanisms, while minimizing collateral effects on noncombatant personnel, structures and property.

H-59. The MPLC system is self-contained in a backpack designed for carry and deployment by one Soldier. The system requires no additional special tools or equipment, however, a hammer, may be needed to secure the launch pad to the ground. Once the system is in place, a “shock tube” firing system will initiate the rocket and detonate the line charge.

H-60. MPLC offers a three-prong approach to optimal breaching effectiveness: It reduces time on target, improves information operations by reducing collateral damage during tactical operations and improves freedom of movement.

H-61. MPLC is composed of a plastic bonded explosive line charge, a small rocket motor used to deploy the line charge, an arresting strap, a launch rod, and dual shock tube housed in a SKIN-PACK detonator assembly. The shock tube is initiated by two M81 firing devices. The shock tubes are connected through an energetic transfer assembly that contains a PBXN-5 booster. All of these items are contained in a backpack.

Man portable line charge

Figure H-9. Man portable line charge

Manual Minefield Reduction

H-62. Manual procedures normally are conducted by engineers (but also can be performed by Infantry units) and are effective against all obstacles under all conditions. Manual procedures involve dismounted Soldiers using simple explosives or other equipment to create a lane through an obstacle or to clear an obstacle. These procedures expose the Soldier and may be manpower and time-intensive. While mechanical and explosive reduction procedures normally are preferred, Infantry platoons or squads may have to use manual procedures for the following reasons─

  • Explosive, mechanical, and electronic reduction assets are unavailable or ineffective against the type of obstacle.
  • Terrain limitations.
  • Stealth is required.

H-63. Different manual reduction techniques for surface-laid and buried minefields are discussed below.

Surface-Laid Minefield

H-64. First use grappling hooks from covered positions to check for trip wires in the lane. The limited range of the tossed hook requires the procedure to be repeated through the estimated depth of the obstacle. A demolition team then moves through the lane. The team places a line main down the center of the lane, ties the line from the explosive into the line main, and places blocks of explosive next to surface laid mines. After the mines are detonated, the team makes a visual check to ensure all mines were cleared before directing a proofing roller and other traffic through the lane. Demolition team members are assigned special tasks such as grappler, detonating-cord man, and demolitions man. All members should be cross-trained on all procedures. Demolitions are prepared for use before arriving at the point of breach. The platoon and squad must rehearse reduction procedures until execution is flawless, quick, and technically safe. During reduction, the platoon or squad will be exposed in the lane for five minutes or more depending on the mission, the minefield depth, and Infantry platoon’s or squad’s level of training.

Buried Minefield

H-65. Manually reducing a buried minefield is extremely difficult to perform as part of a breaching operation. If mine burrows are not easily seen, mine detectors and probes must be used to locate mines. Mines then are destroyed by hand-emplaced charges. As an alternative, mines can be removed by using a grappling hook and, if necessary, a tripod. (See figure H-10.) Using a tripod provides vertical lift on a mine, making it easier to pull the mine out of the hole.

H-66. The leader organizes Soldiers into teams with distinct, rehearsed missions including grappling, detecting, marking, probing, and emplacing demolitions and detonating cord. Platoons or squads are exposed in the obstacle for long periods.

Tripod

Figure H-10. Tripod

Grappling Hook

H-67. The grappling hook is a multipurpose tool used for manual obstacle reduction. Soldiers use it to detonate mines from a standoff position by activating trip wires and AHDs. After the grapnel is used to clear trip wires in a lane, dismounted Soldiers can move through the minefield, visually locate surface laid mines, and prepare mines for demolition. In buried minefields, Soldiers grapple and enter the minefield with mine detectors and probes.

H-68. Multiple grapplers can clear a lane of trip wires quickly and thoroughly, but they must time their efforts and follow procedures simultaneously. A hit on a trip wire or a pressure fuse can destroy the grappling hook and cord, so the platoon and squad should carry extras

H-69. There are two types of grappling hooks: hand-thrown and weapon-launched.

H-70. Hand-thrown. A 60+-meter light rope is attached to the grappling hook for hand throwing. The throwing range is usually no more than 25 meters. The excess rope is used for standoff distance when the thrower begins grappling. The thrower tosses the grappling hook and seeks cover before the grappling hook and rope touch the ground in case their impact detonates a mine. He then moves backward, reaches the end of the excess rope, takes cover, and begins grappling. Once the grappling hook is recovered, the thrower moves forward to the original position, tosses the grapnel, and repeats the procedure at least twice. He then moves to the end of the grappled area and repeats this sequence through the depth of the minefield.

H-71. Weapon-launched. A 150-meter lightweight rope is attached to a lightweight grappling hook designed to be fired from an M16 or M4-series rifle using an M855 cartridge. The grappling hook is pushed onto the rifle muzzle with the opening of the retrieval-rope bag oriented toward the minefield. The shooter is located 25 meters from the minefield’s leading edge and aims the rifle muzzle at a 30-to 40-degree angle for maximum range. Once fired, the grappling hook travels 75 to 100 meters from the firer’s position. After the weapon-launched grappling hook (WLGH) has been fired, the firer secures the rope, moves 60 meters from the minefield, moves into a prone position, and begins to grapple. The WLGH can be used only once to clear a minefield, but it can be reused up to 20 times for training because blanks are used to fire it.

Demolitions

H-72. Different types of demolitions can be used for minefield obstacle reduction. (See table H-2.) FM 3-34. 214 covers each different type of demolition available to support all Infantry missions. Demolitions are used differently against certain types of mines:

Table H-2. Demolitions

Demolitions

MARKING AND CROSSING THE MINEFIELD

H-73. Lane marking allows the leader to project the platoon or squad through the obstacle quickly with combat power. It also gives Infantry platoons or squad’s confidence in the safety of the lane and helps prevent unnecessary minefield casualties.

H-74. Once a footpath has been probed and mines marked or reduced, a security team should cross the minefield to secure the far side. After the far side is secure, the rest of the unit should cross. If mines and trip wires have been identified but not reduced, the mine and line of the trip wire are marked along the ground surface, 12 inches before the trip wire. (See figure H-11.)

Marking a footpath

Figure H-11. Marking a footpath