- Parachute mine
A parachute mine is a
parachute -retardednaval mine dropped from an aircraft. They were mostly used inWorld War II by the Luftwaffe and initially by theRoyal Air Force (RAF) Bomber Command.Blast effects
These mines were attached to parachutes to act as blast bombs; when detonated at roof level rather than on impact the aerodynamic effects of their blast were maximised. Instead of the shock waves from the explosion being cushioned by surrounding buildings, they could reach a wider area, with the potential to destroy a whole street of houses in a convert|100|m|abbr=on, with windows being blown in up to convert|1.6|km|abbr=on away.
History
Luftwaffe
In 1940 and 1941 the Luftwaffe used parachute mines against British targets. Originally meant for use as magnetically-triggered sea mines, their German designations were Luftmine A (LMA) and Luftmine B (LMB) and they were convert|500|kg|abbr=on and convert|1000|kg|abbr=on respectively. The LMA was convert|5|ft|8|in|abbr=on in length and the LMB convert|8|ft|8|in|abbr=on. When used as parachute mines they were triggered by a clockwork fuse mechanism.
They were first used against land targets on 16 September 1940 in the early stages of
the Blitz . A single mine could kill 100 people.The Luftwaffe also used the convert|1000|kg|abbr=on Bombenmine (BM 1000, Monika, or G Mine). This was fitted with a tail made from
Bakelite which broke up on impact. It had aphotoelectric cell beneath a cover which detonated the bomb if exposed to light to counteract the work of bomb disposal units.RAF
The RAF initially used naval mines, but were replaced by the bigger 4,000 lb blockbuster bombs.
ee also
*
Blockbuster bomb - similar weapon used by the RAF with a higher explosive, but equally devastating effect.External links
* [http://www.hyndl.demon.co.uk/hyndland/dact/7landmine.htm Illustration]
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