Information Paper Ied's/Landmines
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- Category: Politics: Political Science
- Date Submitted: 01/26/2014 08:48 AM
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INFORMATION PAPER: LANDMINES AND IEDs
4JAN2013 KATHLEEN AMALFITANO
A land mine is a type of explosive device that is intended to cause the destruction of equipment and/or personnel. It is concealed under or on the ground and designed to destroy or disable enemy targets as they pass over or near the device. Such devices are typically detonated automatically by way of pressure from the target stepping or driving on it, though other detonation mechanisms may be possible. The device may cause damage either by a direct blast or by fragments that are thrown by the blast.
Typically a land mine is made up of five components consisting of a firing mechanism, a detonator/igniter, booster charge, main charge and housing/casing that contain all five elements. There are two types of landmines. The first is an Anti-tank mine used to mobilize or destroy vehicles and there occupants. The second is Anti-personnel Mines designed to kill or incapacitate their victims and can damage medical resources, supply resources and non-armored vehicles. The term land mine is typically reserved for manufactured devices designed to be used by the recognized military services.
The use of land mines is controversial because of their potential as indiscriminate weapons. Anti-personnel land mines are victim activated and therefore can’t discriminate between military and civilian targets. In addition, they can remain dangerous many years after a conflict has ended, harming the economy and citizens of many developing nations. Since 1997 there has been a global movement to prohibit their use through organizations such as the International Campaign to Ban Land mines. Anti-tank mines aren’t banned because their military utility is still considered greater than their humanitarian impact. This is due to the fact that Anti-tank mines aren’t generally triggered by a person walking over them instead requiring several hundred pounds of force to detonate.
Improvised Explosive Devices...
4JAN2013 KATHLEEN AMALFITANO
A land mine is a type of explosive device that is intended to cause the destruction of equipment and/or personnel. It is concealed under or on the ground and designed to destroy or disable enemy targets as they pass over or near the device. Such devices are typically detonated automatically by way of pressure from the target stepping or driving on it, though other detonation mechanisms may be possible. The device may cause damage either by a direct blast or by fragments that are thrown by the blast.
Typically a land mine is made up of five components consisting of a firing mechanism, a detonator/igniter, booster charge, main charge and housing/casing that contain all five elements. There are two types of landmines. The first is an Anti-tank mine used to mobilize or destroy vehicles and there occupants. The second is Anti-personnel Mines designed to kill or incapacitate their victims and can damage medical resources, supply resources and non-armored vehicles. The term land mine is typically reserved for manufactured devices designed to be used by the recognized military services.
The use of land mines is controversial because of their potential as indiscriminate weapons. Anti-personnel land mines are victim activated and therefore can’t discriminate between military and civilian targets. In addition, they can remain dangerous many years after a conflict has ended, harming the economy and citizens of many developing nations. Since 1997 there has been a global movement to prohibit their use through organizations such as the International Campaign to Ban Land mines. Anti-tank mines aren’t banned because their military utility is still considered greater than their humanitarian impact. This is due to the fact that Anti-tank mines aren’t generally triggered by a person walking over them instead requiring several hundred pounds of force to detonate.
Improvised Explosive Devices...