Anti Tank Mine. G.S. Mark V
Mark V GS Mines, about to be laid in Egypt, 2 July 1942
Typeanti-tank mine
Place of originUnited Kingdom
Service history
WarsWorld War II
Production history
Variants
  • Mine G.S. Mk V
  • Mine G.S. Mk VC
Specifications
Mass
  • 12.5 pounds (5.7 kg), Mk. V
  • 8 pounds (3.6 kg), Mk. VC
[1]
Height4 inches (100 mm)
Diameter8 inches (200 mm)[1]

FillingTNT or Baratol[1]
Filling weight
  • 8.25 pounds (3.74 kg), Mk. V
  • 4 pounds (1.8 kg), Mk. VC
[1]
Detonation
mechanism
Pressure activated, shear-pin fuze (350 pounds (160 kg) of pressure)

The Anti-Tank Mine, General Service, Mk V was a cylindrical, metal-cased United Kingdom anti-tank blast mine that entered service in 1943, during the Second World War.[2] [3] It was replaced in British service with the Mk 7 mine. Two versions of the mine were produced, the Mk. V and the Mk. VC with the same external dimensions. The only difference was that the Mk. VC had a half-sized explosive charge.

The mine used a spider pressure plate that makes it resistant to blast overpressure. The spider rests on a central Mk 3 fuse (sometimes referred to as No.3 Mk I), which contains a spring-loaded striker held in place by a shear pin. The mine, being made largely of steel tended to rust making its activation unpredictable.

It is found in Angola, Egypt, Jordan, Libya, Mozambique, Sudan, and Zimbabwe.

Variants

References

Citations
  1. ^ a b c d Ordnance Pamphlet 1665 (1946) p.402
  2. ^ "USNBD, British Landmines, Fuzes and firing Devices; Section I - A/Tk Mines & Fuzes: A/Tk Mine G.S. Mk V". michaelhiske.de. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  3. ^ "British Mines of the Second World War". www.wwiiequipment.com. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
Bibliography