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LMB magnetic mine detonator and primer mechanisms

T

tonyboyle

Member
Please can anyone help me. I need some information, hopefully some pictures of the primer and detonator used in the German LMB magnetic mines. I know technically they aren't a bomb but a mine but they were air dropped by parachute.
I have found pictures of the fuses, clock and outside end of the booster mechanism. What I need are some pictures of the detonator which was under a plate on the opposite side of the booster, and the primer and its spring which moved between the two, also if possible the inside end of the booster. There are some pictures of this item in other threads but only the outside end and side.
On a slightly different note what colour were these magnetic mines painted, most look black but it's hard to tell in a b/w picture.
Thanks
 
Hi Tony, I am not sure if you have seen this but it may help....
regards Kev

This is taken from the Series 'Secret War' Episode 'Deadly Waves' and shows a reconstruction of the recovery of the first magnetic mine found at Shoeburyness.


The mine used for the filming was the actual mine recovered.

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/NKi_EI05kX4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
 
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Thought I would also take the opportunity to show a tool that was made to remove the cap that was fitted as a seal above the detonator in these magnetic mines.
The cap is shown with the tool in the photos, both were acquired together.

regards Kev

HPIM0038.jpgHPIM0039.jpgHPIM0040.jpgHPIM0043.jpgHPIM0044.jpg
 
Hi Kev,

Thanks for all your helpful posts. I have bought the video you mention as a VHS tape and it was very useful. The pictures of the tool are fantastic with the added bonus of the detonator cover thrown in too. I will look at reproducing this for my demonstrations. Interstingly the cover I made was surprisingly similar.
I found a 'cut away' LMB mine at Chatham Dockyard and was able to take photographs of the detonator and booster charge in that. Combined with the video footage I now have a reasonable mock up.
Incidentally an IWM DVD entitled UXB has a brief section on Parachute Mines with some good footage. This mentions they were green in colour.
Regards
Tony
 
Hi Tony,

Do you now what designate the letters VH in the name of the German mine of LMB III VH?

090 LM Feo 1 ййй.jpg

Regards
Igor
 
take a look at my posting under mine "German Influence mines WW II" I still can't find the designation LMB in my german naval mines folder though
 
The LMB was the GC mine. LMA was the GD mikne.
John
 
Thanks John that make sense now, I have a doc on both of them. No RSPs or safety precautions, think it came from the BD school in the UK but it like a lot of my other pubs came froms so many sources I couldn't begin to tell you who gave me what any more
 
The table below is what I have pieced together from various documents as to what the letter designations of some of the more commonly used German influence mines were. I would be interested if anyone has any comments as I freely admit there may be errors!
British designation​
German designation​
Charge​
Weight​
Notes​
Type AGALMA
(Luft-Mine)		676lbs hexanite1173lbsDeveloped by 1934
Type BGBLMB1536lbs hexanite2175lbsDeveloped by 1934
Type C
‘Charlie’		GCLMB1,536lbs2175lbsIncorporated the new M2 unit 1940 opposite polarity.
Type D
GDLMA676lbs1173lbsIncorporated the new M2 unit 1940

GPLMF612lbs1035lbsMoored influence mine
Type G
‘George’		GGBM10001,600lbs2,060lbsDeveloped 1940 by Luftwaffe. Aerial dropped without parachute.
Type T
‘Tommy’		GTTMA475lbs hexanite874lbsSubmarine laid mines.

GSTMB1,220lbs1,540lbs

GNTMC2,000lbs2,360lbsLarger version of TMB
 
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IgorVB said:
Do you now what designate the letters VH in the name of the German mine of LMB III VH?
Click to expand...

Here is a list of german mine-designations and abbreviations for certain features.

Mines:
BMx = Bombe Minen (aircraft-delivered - dropped, 'x' denotes type: 1000, A or C)
EMx = Einheits Minen ('x' denotes type: A, B or C)
FMx = Flackwasser Minen ('x' denotes type: A, B, C, D, E, F, R or S)
LMx = Luft Minen (aircraft-delivered - parachute, 'x' denotes type: A, B or F)
TMx = Torpedorohr Minen ('x' denotes type: A, B or C)
SMx = Schacht Minen ('x' denotes type: A)
UMx = Unterseeboot Minen ('x' denotes type: A, B or C)

Misc mine-fittings:
UES = Uhrwerkeinschalter (arming relay clock - hydrostatcically operated)
ZK = Zahlkontakt (period delay mechanism)
VE = Versenkinrichtung (self-destruct mechanism - time delay etc)
VW = Verzgerungsuhrwerk (arming delay clock - in earlier magnetic mines)
VH = Verzgerungshoerst (arming delay clock - in earlier acoustic mines)
VR = Verzgerungsrelais (mechanism for delayed firing after mine being activated)
VK = Verzgerungskontakt (mechanism for arming mine after a short delay following the first activation)
AS = Aufschlagschalter (impact switch)
DK = Doppelkontakt (mechanism that fires mine after two successive changes in magnetic flux)
GE = Geheimhaltungs Einrichtung (device for preserving secrecy, ie anti tamper device)
ZE = Zeiteinrichtung (flooder or sterilizer - usually 80 day clock)
EW = Einrichtung Warnung (11-hour "testing" clock in certain magnetic mines)
HV = Hochstandverrichter (hydrostatic flooder if the mine rise above set depth)
KA = Kontaktauslseeinrichtung ("tomback sheating" anti-sweep mechanism on mooring wire)
LIZ = Lichtzndgert (light-operated (photo-electric) fuze)
Ob.Ent. = Oberflchenstands-Entschrfer (mechanism for sterilizing the mine if it drifts off/to the surface)

Sweep-obstructors:
Sp x = Sprengboje ('x' denotes type: A, B, C, 3, 3A etc)
RB = Reissboje
BRx = Bombe Reissboje ('x' denotes type: A or B)
 
Uh.. I hate forums that don't allow editing of previos posts... :tinysmile_cry_t:
Natter said:
Here is a list of german mine-designations and abbreviations for certain features.
Click to expand...
Anyway... Please ignore my previous post - here is a revised list (thanks for inputs from "Schorschl" in the AxisHistory Forum):

Mines:
BMx = Bombenmine (delivered by aircraft - dropped, 'x' denotes type: 1000, A or C)
EMx = Einheitsmine ('x' denotes type: A, B, C, D, E, F, G or S)
FMx = Flachwassermine ('x' denotes type: A, B or C)
KMx = Kstenmine ('x' denotes type: A)
LMx = Luftmine (delivered by aircraft - parachute, 'x' denotes type: A, B or F)
MTx = Mine mit torpedoantrieb ('x' denotes type: A)
OMx = Oberflchenmine ('x' denotes type: A)
RMx = Regulre Mine (x denotes type: A, B, C, D or H)
SMx = Schachtmine ('x' denotes type: A)
TMx = Torpedorohrmine ('x' denotes type: A, B, or C)
UMx = U-Bootmine ('x' denotes type: A, B or C)

Misc mine-fittings:
A.E.n.A. = Auftriebsentschrfer neuer Art (see also EE)
AS = Aufschlagschalter (impact switch)
DK = Doppelkontakt (mechanism fires mine after two successive changes in magnetic flux)
EE = Entschrfereinrichtung (secures mine if tension of mooring wire disappears - see also Ob.Ent.)
EW = Einrichtung Warnung (1 to 11-hour "testing" clock in certain magnetic mines)
GE = Geheimhaltungseinrichtung (device for preserving secrecy, ie anti tamper device)
HV = Hochstandvernichter (detecting if the mine rises above set depth, in combination with VE the mine was sunk)
HV = Hochstandverrichter (hydrostatic device for flooding the mine if it rose above set depth)
KA = Kontaktauslseeinrichtung ("tomback sheating" type anti-sweep mechanism on mooring wire - detonates mine when touched by sweeping gear)
KE = Kontakteinrichtung (detonates mine if tension of mooring wire disappears)
LIZ / Li.S. = Lichtzndgert / Lichtschutz (light-operated - photoelectric -fuze)
Ob.Ent. = Oberflchenstandsentschrfer (mechanism for sterilizing the mine if it drifts off/to the surface - see also EE)
Ob.Vern. = Oberflchenstandsvernichter (mechanism combined with VE to sink the mine unobtrusively if it drifts off/to the surface)
RL = Reileine (ripcord to increase effective range of the mine: A rope with floating-elements attached to a chemical horn - it would activate the horn if tensioned by getting cought in a ship's propeller/rudder)
SE = Schrfereinrichtung (armes mine if tension of mooring wire is present)
UES = Uhrwerkeinschalter (arming relay clock - hydrostatically operated)
VE = Versenkeinrichtung (self-destruct mechanism: Floods mine when triggered, for unobtrusively sinking - activated by ZE, HV or Ob.Vern. etc.)
VH = Verzgerungshrst (arming delay clock - in earlier acoustic mines)
VK = Verzgerungskontakt (antisweep-mechanism, with adjustable delay from 3 to 30 seconds: Firing condition activates clock and must still be present after delay to enable detonation)
VR = Verzgerungsrelais (mechanism for delayed detonation after mine being activated - see also VK)
VW = Verzgerungsuhrwerk (arming delay clock from 6 hours to 6 days - in earlier magnetic mines)
VZ = Verzgerungsznder (detonates the mine after a 1 to 7 second delay, even when the ignition condition is no longer present)
ZE = Zeiteinrichtung (flooder or sterilizer - usually 80 day clock )
ZE = Zeiteinrichtung (floods mine by use of VE or similar - usually 80 day clock)
ZK = Zahlkontakt (period delay mechanism)

Sweep-obstructors:
Spr.B. x = Sprengboje ('x' denotes type: A, B, C, D, 3, 3A etc)
RB = Reiboje
BRx = Bombe Reiboje ('x' denotes type: A or B)
EMR = Sperrschutzboje (EMC-mine with dummy fuzes and no charge)
 
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