TM-44 mine

The TM-44 was a circular metal cased Soviet anti-tank landmine used during the Second World War. The mine's case consisted of a short cylinder with the entire top surface being used as a pressure plate. The mine was normally painted olive drab and was broadly similar to the earlier, smaller, TM-41 mine.

The earlier TM-41 was used widely between 1941 and 1942, but production of was discountinued because of the lack of metal available to Soviet industrycite web|url=http://tewton.narod.ru/mines-2/tm-44.html|title=TM-44 mine|work=Tewton.narod.ru|lang=ru] . By 1944 the situation had improved and production of metal mines resumed. The TM-44 is similar to the earlier mine, weighing more with a larger charge.

140 to 260 kilograms of pressure on the top pressure plate resulted in it bending downwards and pressing on the MV-5 fuze. One to three kilograms of pressure on the head of the fuze was sufficient to activate it. The fuze's lock balls are forced out of position by the pressure, releasing a striker, which triggers a detonator, then a booster and then the mine's main charge. The mine was used with anti-handling devices.

Production of the mine ceased in 1946 with the adoption of the TM-46 mine, which was modelled on German Tellermine designs.

The mine was prone to rusting, exposing the MV-5 fuze which could be triggered by as little as 1 to 3 kilograms of pressure. It is found in Yemen.

pecifications

* Diameter: 254 mm
* Height: 140 mm
* Weight: 7.7 kg
* Explosive content: 5.4 kg of Amatol

References

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