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MINE, ANTITANK HE, HEAVY, M21 |
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Filler and Weight | ||
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| NA, | |||
| Body and Overall Weight | |||
| Steel, 17.5 lb | |||
| Color | |||
| NA | |||
| Type of Round, DODIC | |||
| Antitank, 1345-K181 |
| Description: |
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| Mine M21 is composed of a cover assembly and a cylindrical steel body. The cover assembly includes the charge cap assembly with a threaded fuze hole closed by a shipping plug, a black powder charge, and the cover. The mine body contains a concave steel dish, and HE charge, firing pin, and delay assembly. The delay assembly consists of the M42 primer, a delay element, and a relay charge. A booster is placed separately in the mine and it is assembled with the mine packing box when the mine is fuzed. The M607 fuze is screwed into the mine charge cap and the extension rod and extension rod adapter, if provided, are assembled to the fuze. The extension rod adapter was eliminated after 1963. |
| Use: |
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| Mine M21 is used primarily for destroying tanks and tracked and wheeled vehicles. It is a standoff type that can penetrate 3-inch armor plate at a distance of 21 inches. It also functions as a blast-type mine. |
| Functioning: |
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| The fuze M607 for the mine is actuated by applying a horizontal force greater than 3.75 pounds at the end of the extension rod. The fuze is also actuated by a directly applied downward force of 290 pounds. The fuze ignites the black powder expelling charge in the mine and the resulting detonation opens up the mine cover and removes the earth covering the mine. Back pressure from the burning propellant drives the firing pin into the M42 primer which, in turn, ignites the delay assembly. After 0.15 second, the relay assembly is detonated, firing the M120 booster, which, in turn, fires the main charge. The steel dish is then driven at high velocity against the target. The arming wrench M26 is provided for use with this mine and fuze. |
| Munition Components: |
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| Data Source: |
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| TM 43-0001-36 Sep 1994 |
| Munitions Tech Data Sheet: |
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