What is inside a claymore mine?

What is inside a claymore mine?

The M18 Claymore, a directional fragmentation mine, is 8-1/2 inches long, 1-3/8 inches wide, 3-1/4 inches high, and weighs 3-1/2 pounds. The mine contains 700 steel spheres (10.5 grains) and 1-1/2 pound layer of composition C-4 explosive and is initiated by a No. 2 electric blasting cap.

What’s the kill radius of a claymore mine?

The steel balls packed within the mine are then projected out from just above ground level by the resulting explosion to a height of about 2 meters with a maximum kill radius of 100 meters and an effective kill range of 50 meters.

How many ball bearings are in a claymore mine?

A Claymore mine is a military weapon containing approximately1. 5 pounds of C4 plastic explosive and embedded approximately 700 steel ball bearings. It is engineered as a directional antipersonnel weapon to inflict death or serious bodily injury over a large area.

Why is it called a Claymore mine?

Its inventor, Norman MacLeod, named the mine after a large medieval Scottish sword. Unlike a conventional land mine, the Claymore is command-detonated and directional, meaning it is fired by remote-control and shoots a pattern of metal balls into the kill zone like a shotgun.

Why is it called a claymore mine?

Why is it called a Bouncing Betty?

The mines were produced in large numbers and planted liberally by defending German units. The S-mine acquired its odd nickname “Bouncing Betty” from American infantrymen. The S-mine had a great psychological effect on Allied forces because of its tendency to maim, rather than kill, the infantryman.

How long is the handle of a claymore?

On average, the claymore had a forty-two inch blade and thirteen inch grip, making the total length of the weapon fifty-five inches.

How is a claymore mine typically used?

Also known as the “red vapor mist machine” in some circles, the Claymore mine is typically used to protect soldiers in static positions such as patrol bases, or used to initiate an ambush against enemy troops.

How do Claymores work?

Since the Claymore has a curved rectangular shape, once fired, plastic explosive hurls 700 steel balls out in a 60° radius . Anything exposed within a 50 yard distance is bound to become a casualty. This only increases by magnitude the closer to the detonation. The function is rather like dozens of shotguns going off at once.

What is a claymore mine?

claymore mine. noun. : a usually electrically fired land mine containing steel fragments that are discharged in a predetermined direction.