IDENTIFY MINES/UXO
Mines/UXO come in many different shapes, sizes and colours. They may not always be the brightly coloured objects seen in the posters and displays. Age and weathering can change their appearances with the metal mines rusting and the wooden and plastic mines breaking down. On arrival in a mined country a person should visit one of the demining and/or mine awareness agencies to find out which types of landmines are found in that country (as well as the location of known mined areas, the official warning signs/clues, etc). Landmines can be broken into 2 categories as shown on this Cambodian mine/UXO identification leaflet (click on the areas to see more details.)
1. BELOW GROUND MINES
Below ground (buried) mines can be as small as of a cigarette packet - which is capable of blowing off half of one leg, or as large as a car wheel rim (an anti-tank mine) - which will leave no trace of the victim.
Usually these types of mines are difficult, if not impossible to see as they will be buried (usually to depth of 3-5 cm), hidden in tall grass, floating in water or lying under water. Although sometimes they may be exposed through the action of wind or rain.
Below ground mines are designed to detonate when someone applies pressure to the top. The blast action severs the leg, inflicts damage to the lower body sections and drives foreign particles deep into the upper body.Below ground mines are by far the most commonly used mines as they are cheap to produce, easy to require, light to carry and small enough to effectively hide and lay.
DO NOT TOUCH any mines, even if you are told it is safe (even the experts have accidents). 'Anti-handling' devices may be fitted to a mine, for example the Type 72B mine has an anti-tilt mechanism that will cause it to detonate when tilted 10 degrees or more.
Example #1 of a Below Ground Mine: 'PMN'
An example of a common below ground landmine is the PMN anti-personnel mine. This mine has probably killed and maimed more civilians than any other mine. Originally manufactured in the former Soviet Union, it has also been produced in other countries. PMN mines have been found in Afghanistan, Cambodia, Northern Iraq, Iran, Nicaragua, Angola, Mozambique and many other countries.
 | Weight: 600 g Diameter: 112 mm Height: 56 mm Body: Bakelite Main Charge: TNT Main Charge Weight: 240 g Charge: Tetryl Lethal Range: up to 2 meters |
2. ABOVE GROUND MINES
