The YaM-5 (anti-tank mine 5 kilograms) was a Soviet anti-tank blast mine with a wooden case. The mine was widely used during Great Patriotic War. Wood was chosen as primary material for its availability, cheapness and ease of handling; for example, in 1942, many thousand of such cases were produced at Tuymen Plywood Factory by patriotic young volunteers as an after-school activity. Various types of wood were used.
The mine consists of a rectangular wooden box with a hinged lid that overlaps the front of the mine. A slot in the hinged lid's side through which an MUV pull fuse is placed. A wooden pressure bar is sometimes used on the edge of the lid above the slot. A nail is placed horizontally through the loop of the MUV fuse's striker retaining pin and two loops on the bottom of the lid's slot.
A YaM-10 was also produced; it was a scaled-up version of the YaM-5.
The wooden case was normally painted olive green, gray or white.
The mine was frequently used with anti-handling devices.
Downward pressure on the lid forced the nail downwards; withdrawing the striker retaining pin detonated the mine.
Specifications YaM-5 YaM-5K YaM-5M YaM-5U YaM-10 Length 19.5 inches 23.6 inches 19.5 inches 19.75 inches Width 7.75 inches 6.9 inches 7.6 inches 7.6 inches Height 3.5 inches 6.4 inches 6.4 inches 6.4 inches Weight 14 lb 16 lb 16 lb 14 lb 22 to 27 lb Explosive content 11 lb 16 to 22 lb Operating pressure 300 lb Notes No pressure block on lid Long pressure block Short pressure block Long pressure block Larger version of the mine
References
TM 5-223, Foreign Mine Warfare Equipment Pamphlet No. 30-50-1, Handbook on the Soviet Army
External links