Andy Smith
Mine action specialist
 

Mined area Indicators – Embankment

 


Sheet 27       Embankment
(Page 1)

The picture shows a crumbling embankment close to a road where ambushes were frequent some time ago.

A metal object is clearly visible in the foreground. It has rusted but still looks as though it could have been military equipment.

Suggested message(s):

  • Places where fighting took place may be dangerous.
  • Do not investigate objects left over from the war.

 

Sheet 28     Embankment
(Page 2)

At the bottom of the picture is a discarded ammunition cannister, indicating that soldiers were once in the area.

At the top of the embankment on the left is an OZM-72 bounding fragmentation mine buried to more than half of its height in the ground. This mine is usually fitted with an MUV fuze (initiator) and is tripwire activated. When the mine is activated, the inside of the mine is blown up in the air on a one meter long wire tether. When the tether is pulled tight, the main charge explodes. The main charge is surrounded by short lengths of chopped steel bar set into plastic. These metal fragments are spread over a wide area.

Beside the picture of an OZM-72 is a picture of the outer sleeve that is left in the ground after the mine has detonated. Beneath that is a picture of the inner part of the mine. Beside that are examples of the fuze arming-pin and the fragments that are spread when the main charge detonates.

Suggested message(s):

  • If there is one military item around there may be more.
  • Because one item is harmless, that does not mean that the next item will be.

 

 

Mined area
warning signs

 

Areas without
signs

 

Informal
warning
signs

 

Roads in
rural areas

 

 

Improvised devices
on roads

 

Surveyor's stick
scene

 

Fighter plane
scenario

 

Abandoned
grazing land

 

Tank
Scene

 

 

Washout
Scene

 

Embankment
Scene

 

Destroyed
train

 

Abandoned
building

 

Transporter
Scene

 

Angola bush
Scene

 

Power-line
Scene

 

Burnt-off
area

 

Trench
Scene

 

 

Angola
bush 2

 

OZM
Scene

 

Small
fuzes

 

 

How mines
age

 

Other common
AP mines

 

Other common
ordnance

 

Other common
indicators

 

Ammunition
dump

 

Mine
injuries

 

TEACHING
NOTES
*.doc

 

TEACHING
NOTES
*.pdf