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to require sustained pressure to initiate them.

Clearance for

military missions is accomplished through the use of hand held

mine detectors, mine probes and explosives to blow the mines in place, if the mines are not removed by hand.

MARKING

Marking systems can be divided into two separate categories, hand emplaced and mechanized systems.

a.

Hand emplaced:

Hand emplaced marking capabilities

run the gamut from manufactured articles to improvised items,

such as tape and stakes.

b.

Mechanized Marking Systems: These systems are

typically used in combat breaching operations. They consist of markers dispensed from the back of a breaching vehicle which mark the center or sides of the breached path. The Cleared Lane Marking System used by U.S. Forces in Southwest Asia is no longer fielded due its ineffectiveness in Operation Desert Storm. No replacement system has been selected to date.

PROTECTION

Blast and fragmentation protection for wheeled vehicles has been largely ignored since Vietnam. We have applied the lessons learned in Somalia in developing solutions to provide increased

protection for our soldiers. Requirements by light forces with wheeled vehicles in Somalia, resulted in bolt-on mine blast and ballistic protection kits for HMMWVs and 5 Ton Trucks.

Armor upgrades to existing wheeled vehicle platforms are limited in the amount of protection provided. A wheeled vehicle encounter with an anti-tank mine will normally result in

catastrophic destruction of the vehicle, and dramatically

increases the risk of personnel casualties if the mine contains more than 12 lbs of explosive.

FIELDED EQUIPMENT

The following equipment is currently fielded for use by U.S.

forces:

DETECTION EQUIPMENT

AN/PSS-12 MINE DETECTOR/BONNETS/PROBES

The current fielded mine detector is known as the AN/PSS-12. It is a state of the art metal detector which uses pulse induction metal detection technology. It is capable of detecting metal mines and mines with metal content, possibly as low as 0.2 grams of metal depending on the depth of burial of the mine, access to the mine (snow cover, foliage) and composition of the metal. To our knowledge, all of the mines found in Bosnia are

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detectable by the PSS-12. Overpacked with the detectors fielded to early deploying units are two plastic mine probes and ten mine marking bonnets. These items also have assigned National Stock

Numbers and are available in the supply system. The AN/PSS-12 which also bears the NATO designation of AN/19-2 is fielded with a number of our allies to include the Canadians and Germans. It was also the detector of choice used by commercial organizations involved in the cleanup of the U.S. sector of Kuwait.

BREACHING EQUIPMENT

BATTALION COUNTERMINE SET FOR M1 TANK (ROLLERS AND BLADES OR TRACK WIDTH MINE PLOWS)

The U.S. Army currently has a mine plow and a roller capability for the M1 tank. The mine plows or blades create a breach by excavating mines in front of the tracks. The rollers detonate pressure fuzed mines in front of the tracks and can withstand several mine blasts. The plows and the rollers are equipped with dogbone assemblies on chains stretched between the plows and rollers to protect the belly of the tank against tilt rod mines. Also available are magnetic dogbones which protect the belly of the tank against magnetic influence fuzed mines.

MINE CLEARING RAKE

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The Mine Clearing Rake was developed for use in Desert Storm

on the M728 Combat Engineer Vehicle.

It was designed for use in

sandy soils and does not have high utility in Bosnia. The

structure and tines are not designed for the heavier stresses on the tines that would be caused by clay and loamy soils.

MICLIC/AVLM

The currently fielded heavy force explosive breaching system is the Mine Clearing Line Charge (MICLIC). This system consists

The

of a rocket propelled line charge that is intended to create 5 meter wide by 100 meter long breach through a minefield. system can be mounted on a trailer or on top of the Armored Vehicle Launched Bridge chassis when the bridge is removed.

MARKING EQUIPMENT

HEMMS/MINEFIELD MARKING SET #2

The Hand Emplaced Minefield Marking Set (HEMMS) is used as a temporary means to mark the perimeter of a minefield and to mark a cleared lane through the minefield. Each set consists of directional flashing lights, mine signs, fluorescent orange tape, poles and a pole driver and is capable of marking up to 700-1000 meters. The perimeter formed by these components yields a highly visible fence around or through the mined area. If the marking is required to be in use for more than 15 days, the HEMMS should

be replaced with Minefield Marking Set #2 which consists of posts, fence wire, signs and lights.

CLEARANCE EQUIPMENT

MINE CLEARING ARMOR PROTECTION KITS (MCAP) FOR D-7 DOZERS

This is an armor kit for a D-7 dozer which allows the use of the bulldozer for mine clearance applications. The dozer can be equipped with a modified version of the mine clearing rake. The rakes will not be used in Bosnia for the reasons stated earlier.

PROTECTION

UP-ARMORED HMMWV

108 Up-Armored HMMWVs, built by AM General, have been delivered to Europe.

BODY ARMOR SET, INDIVIDUAL COUNTERMINE (BASIC)

A Kevlar protective suit consisting of Anti-Fragmentation Trousers, Ballistic Eye Protection, and Antipersonnel Mine Protective Overboots. The system is designed to minimize blast and fragmentation injuries to soldiers conducting countermine

operations.

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