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VS-50 mine
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The VS-50 is an Italian circular plastic cased anti-personnel blast mine. The mine was produced by Valsella Meccanotecnica SpA. The design is similar to the TS-50 and VS-MK2 mine.
The mine consists of three sections, a bottom section containing the main explosive charge, a middle section which contains the fuze and safety mechanism, and the top section which consists of a neoprene pressure pad. The neoprene pressure pad is reinforced with an 18 g mild steel plate, which renders the mine detectable by metal detectors. The case is waterproof and can be used in water up to one meter deep. Note that some VS-50s were manufactured as minimal metal mines, and are therefore much harder to detect.
The mine can be deployed by helicopters or ground vehicles or laid by hand. The mine uses an air pressure delay fuze which renders it immune to overpressure and shock. An electronically fuzed version of the mine, the VS-50AR with an integral mercury tilt switch anti-handling device was also produced.
The mine is found in Afghanistan, Angola, Ecuador, Iraq, Kurdistan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Peru, Rawanda, Sri Lanka, the Western Sahara, and Zimbabwe.
- Weight: 185 g
- Explosive content: 43 g of RDX
- Diameter: 90 mm
- Height: 45 mm
- Operating pressure: 10 kg
- VS-50 EO3 - A version fitted with an electronic anti-handling device.
- SPM-1 - A copy produced under licence in Singapore.
- YM-IB - A copy produced by Iran.
- Jane's Mines and Mine Clearance
- VS-50 at ORDATA
- VS-50AR with electronic anti-handling device at ORDATA