Valmara 69

Infobox Weapon
name=Valmara 69


caption=A Valmara 69 mine during training by Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Team in Kuwait, 1992.
origin=Italy
type=Bounding anti-personnel mine
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weight=3.2 kg
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height=205 mm
diameter=130 mm
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filling=Composition B
filling_weight=0.42 kg
detonation=10 kg push or 6 kg pull
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Valmara 69 or V-69 is an Italian bounding anti-personnel mine manufactured by Valsella. The mine was developed from the V-59 mine, and although the mine is no longer produced in Italy, a number of copies were produced in other countries e.g. the "SPM-1" manufactured by Singapore.

The South African version was called the J-69, and was an identical copy of the Italian version. A single centre prong version was also produced. It is no longer produced by South Africa who are compliant with the Mine Ban Treaty requirements.

Description

The mine has a short tubular olive green or sand colored plastic body inside which is the steel bounding body of the mine. On top of the mine is a round fuze cap with five prongs. The mine is triggered when the fuze cap tilts, either because of pressure on one of the prongs or a pull on an attached tripwire. The tilting fuze mechanism is not affected by overpressure. A striker under the fuze lights an igniter in the center of the mine, this then ignites a propelling charge at the base of the mine. The mine's steel bounding body is launched upward by this charge.

When the mine reaches a height of 45 cm, an integral tether wire (connecting it to the plastic body from which it was launched) tugs on a spring-loaded central plunger in the body of the mine, triggering the main charge. Embedded in the main charge are approximately 1,000 pre-cut steel fragments. The mine has a lethal radius of 25 m, but the fragments remain lethal at a considerable distance beyond that.

The time taken from triggering the mine to detonation is approximately one second, so there is no time to take cover from the blast.

This mine has significant metal content, which makes it easy to find using a metal detector. However, like the majority of bounding mines, most of the Valmara 69 is hidden underground and may be difficult to see, particularly in heavy undergrowth. Additionally, the Valmara 69 may be laid along with minimum metal mines such as the VS-50, which complicates the clearance process.

The mine is found in Angola, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Kurdistan, Kuwait, Mozambique, Sudan, and the Western Sahara

See also

*Valmara 59
*PROM-1
*Land mine
*Ottawa Treaty

References

* "Jane's Mines and Mine Clearance 2005-2006"