pzgr40
Well-Known Member
The interesting moments in this hobby are when you encounter something you've never heard of, yet it's surprisingly simple. The Polish ZPe-1 anti-mine prodding fuze is an example. Astonishingly simple, yet lethal.
Mine prodding involves poking the ground at regular intervals with a prodding rod or bayonet to locate mines, which can then be exposed and cleared.
The fuze consists of two parts: a transparant plastic A4 pocket containing two A4 (210x297mm) sheets of aluminum foil, each with a wire, and electrically insulated from one other by a sheet of paper between the two aluminium sheets. The plastic pocket is sealed moisture-proof.
The second part is a moisture proof transparent plastic battery container with two wires attached to it.
Functioning :
The sheet is buried in the ground, and one of the wires is attached to the battery container. The other wire is connected to an electrically ignited flash tube placed in a bounding mine, after which the circuit is completed by connecting the remaining wires together. Alternatively, an electrically ignited detonator is used, placed in a explosive charge. The mine or explosive charge, the battery container, and the wires are concealed in the ground.
By piercing the pocket with a mine spike or bayonet, the lower and upper aluminum sheets are electrically connected, closing the contact, and the mine or explosive charge detonates.
This fuze is -of course- easily detected with a metal detector, but since some fuzes and mines are triggered by the electrical signal or the movement of the mine detector's disc as it moves over the ground, using a metal detector isn't always possible, and mine prodding is sometimes the only solution.
Dimensions plastic pocket 322 x 222 x 1,5 mm/ The battery used is 1,5 volt.
Regards, DJH
Mine prodding involves poking the ground at regular intervals with a prodding rod or bayonet to locate mines, which can then be exposed and cleared.
The fuze consists of two parts: a transparant plastic A4 pocket containing two A4 (210x297mm) sheets of aluminum foil, each with a wire, and electrically insulated from one other by a sheet of paper between the two aluminium sheets. The plastic pocket is sealed moisture-proof.
The second part is a moisture proof transparent plastic battery container with two wires attached to it.
Functioning :
The sheet is buried in the ground, and one of the wires is attached to the battery container. The other wire is connected to an electrically ignited flash tube placed in a bounding mine, after which the circuit is completed by connecting the remaining wires together. Alternatively, an electrically ignited detonator is used, placed in a explosive charge. The mine or explosive charge, the battery container, and the wires are concealed in the ground.
By piercing the pocket with a mine spike or bayonet, the lower and upper aluminum sheets are electrically connected, closing the contact, and the mine or explosive charge detonates.
This fuze is -of course- easily detected with a metal detector, but since some fuzes and mines are triggered by the electrical signal or the movement of the mine detector's disc as it moves over the ground, using a metal detector isn't always possible, and mine prodding is sometimes the only solution.
Dimensions plastic pocket 322 x 222 x 1,5 mm/ The battery used is 1,5 volt.
Regards, DJH
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