PMA-2 mine

PMA-2 mine

The PMA-2 is a Yugoslavian blast antipersonnel mine. Sometimes referred to as the 'Pasteta', due to its superficial resemblance to a meat-paste tin. The mine is constructed from dark green plastic, with a distinctive plunger which has six petals radiating from it.

Overview

The mine is armed by removing a pin which blocks the downward travel of the six-pronged plunger. After removing the arming pin, sufficient pressure on the plunger (by the victim's foot) forces it downwards into the main fuze body, which ignites a friction-sensitive pyrotechnic composition. The burning pyrotechnic composition flashes through to a small RDX booster which in turn detonates the main TNT explosive charge.

Generally, PMA-2 mines are buried in such a way that only the star-shaped plunger is visible above ground. However, although this mine is not completely concealed (unlike so many others), it can be very difficult to spot it, particularly in heavy undergrowth or leaf litter.

Note: this mine can also be emplaced in other ways to hinder visual detection and/or the demining process. For example, sometimes PMA-2 mines are emplaced completely upside down with only a centimetre of the base showing above ground level. Alternatively, they may be buried diagonal to the ground surface, in such a way that the star-shaped plunger (now completely hidden underground) is facing a deminer's clearance probe. A minefield containing PMA-2 mines may have them emplaced in some or all of the three different ways described.

This mine is resistant to traditional explosive mine countermeasures, which use sudden blast overpressure to detonate mines. Additionally, the PMA-2 is a minimum metal mine, containing only a tiny amount of aluminium in the fuze.

Although the blast wound from a PMA-2 mine is unlikely to be fatal, it usually destroys the victim's foot, thereby leading to some form of permanent disability regarding their gait.

Examples of the PMA-2 mine have been found in Albania, Angola, Bosnia, Cambodia, Croatia, Kosovo, Zimbabwe and Namibia.

Specifications

* Weight: 135 g
* Explosive weight: 95 grams TNT
* Fuze: UPMAH-2
* Diameter: 68 mm
* Height: 61 mm
* Operating pressure: 7 kilograms (approx)

See also

* PMA-3 mine
* PROM-1

External links

* [http://ordatamines.maic.jmu.edu/displaydata.aspx?OrDataId=7568 ORDATA entry for the PMA-2 mine]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • PMA-2 (Mine) — Allgemeine Angaben Bezeichnung: PMA 2 …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • PMA-1 (Mine) — Allgemeine Angaben Bezeichnung: PMA 1 …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • PMA-3 (Mine) — Allgemeine Angaben Bezeichnung: PMA 3 Typ …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • PMA-3 mine — The PMA 3 is a Yugoslavian blast resistant minimum metal anti personnel mine. It is circular, consisting of a plastic upper and lower half joined together by a rubber cover. A safety collar is normally wrapped around the outside of the mine,… …   Wikipedia

  • PMA-1 — bezeichnet: PMA 1 (Mine), eine Antipersonenmine PMA 1, ein Kopplungsmodul der Internationalen Raumstation Diese Seite ist eine Begriffsklärung zur Unterscheidung mehrerer mit demselben Wort bezeichneter Begriffe …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • PMA-2 — bezeichnet: PMA 2 (Mine), eine Antipersonenmine PMA 2, ein Kopplungsmodul der Internationalen Raumstation Diese Seite ist eine Begriffsklärung zur Unterscheidung mehrerer mit demselben Wort bezeichneter Begriffe …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • PMA-3 — bezeichnet: PMA 3 (Mine), eine Antipersonenmine PMA 3, ein Kopplungsmodul der Internationalen Raumstation Diese Seite ist eine Begriffsklärung zur Unterscheidung mehrerer mit demselben Wort bezeichneter Begriffe …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Progressive Mine Workers — The Progressive Miners of America (PMA) was a coal miners union organized in 1932 in downnstate Illinois. It was formed after United Mine Workers President John L. Lewis, sided with coal operators and subverted a contract referendum which would… …   Wikipedia

  • Minimum metal mine — A minimum metal mine is a land mine that is designed to use the minimum amount of metal in its construction [1]. Both minimum metal anti tank and anti personnel mines exist. Some designs contain almost no metal at all. Typically this is achieved… …   Wikipedia

  • List of land mines — This is a complete list of land mines. Mines by typeAnti vehicle minesBlast mines * AC NM AE T1 mine * ADWAT mine * AT 8 (Cuban mine) * ATM 72 mine * ATM 74 mine * ATM 75 mine * ATM 96 mine * BLU 91 * C 3 A/B mine * Cardoen AT mine * CC 48 mine * …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”