TECHNICAL ASSESSMENT OF THE CHINESE TYPE 84 ANTI-TANK MINE 1.

The Chinese Type 84 A/Tk mine has only ever been use in Libya during the revolution. To date it is attributed to the death of one NGO Deminer and the loss of the hand of another in addition to countless locals. 2. There is some information available on open source, but a lot of it is contradictory. There is no authoritive technical document to refer with confidence to. What is known and speculated is described below: 270 mm 140 mm

110 mm

95 mm

160 mm Mine dimensions 3. The mine is delivered via a 122-15 ATML 122 mm FFR. Rockets encountered by the author have contained 6 mines but it is believed that there is a shorter range rocket that carries 8.

Logistical container

Full Rocket

4. The mine is deployed from the carrier section by an expulsion charge. The charge is electrically initiated from the time of launch and it is not know if it has an electronic or pyrotechnic delay.

5. Once the mine is free of the carrier body its three legs rotate through 180 degrees and it is believed that this action starts the arming sequence of the mine:

Mine in carrier body

Legs deployed

a. The three legs form a spike that is designed to stick in the ground and secure the mine. The mine is orientated in its descent by a small parachute.

Mine with parachute still attached

Parachute

b. As one of the legs rotates into position it pushes on a pin (A) that is protruding from the base of that legs lug. Pin A, in turn, frees a second longer pin (B) which runs inside along the base of the mine. Pin B is under pressure from a spring and once released it protrudes from the side of the same lug. This gives the mine a visual indication on its state of arming. Pin B

Pin A

Pin A

c. As pin B moves it realises a spring loaded pin (C), housed in the electronics pack. Pin C in connected to a unit inside the fuze that has a ball detent. It is not know if this ball detent is either locked into position or releases another mechanical part of the fuze.

Pin C Pin A Base section of the mine Base of the electronics pack

Ball detent Pin C held out against spring Pin C released Electronics pack

6. Mounted over this mechanical section is the detonator and booster and over this is an electro magnetic coil assembly. The main charge is packed around this coil assembly. Battery compartment (empty)

Booster Base of mine with electronics pack fitted Electromagnetic coil

Mine base

Electronics pack in place

Coil in place 7. It is believed that the mine can have up to three fuzes:

casing in place

a. A magnetic influence fuze. The range and influence required to activate this fuze is unknown but anecdotal evidence has described the mine functioning as technicals have driven past. b. A Self Destruct (SD) fuze. The mine is stated to have the capacity of a SD time from 5 72 hours. Having examined the mines and the carrier the author has not seen anyway the SD time could be set by the user and believes that the time is set by the manufacture, at the request of the buyer or they are randomly set. A number of mines have functioned 72 hours after they have been ejected from an ammunition store following an explosion. c. An antidisturbance fuze. None of the mines have functioned whilst being moved semi-remotely. However all Render Safe Procedures (RSP) carried out by the author have been completed after a seventy-two hour primary soak. Based on this it is believed that even if the antidisturbance fuze is a mechanical component it must initiate the detonator electrically. 8. The main charge consists of approximately 700-750 gm of a granular high explosive. This explosive (possibly TNT) is pressed as opposed to moulded. The booster is approximately 5 gm of the same explosive. The mine has a MisznaySchardin EFP, which is designed to disable MBT.

Render Safe Procedure 9. One of the two RSPs are recommended depending on circumstances: a. High Velocity Kinetic Attack. Suitable for Battlefield Area Clearance (BAC). The use of a 12.7 mm (.50 in) rifle is recommended as the first choice. Limited success has been achieved using 7.62 mm, but has also lead to the incident in which a British NGO lost his hand. Use of calibres less than 12.7 mm is not recommended and an alternative RSP should be used. b. Explosive Attack. Suitable for recently deployed mines or mines that have been subjected to an explosive event. A MINIMUM PRIMARY SOAK OF 73 HOURS MUST BE APPLIED BEFORE ANY EOD ACTION IS UNDERTAKEN. The first action is to remotely or semi-remotely move a heavy ferrous object as close to the mine as practicable. After a secondary soak the operator can either: (1) Place two 50 gm PE charges as close to the mine without disturbing it, having sandbagged if required. One charge on the EFP and the second on the body. If there is adequate environmental protection from the EFP then the one charge for the body will be sufficient. (2) Dig a hole next to the mine, then either remotely or semi-remotely move the mine into the hole. Wait another secondary soak and then place one 50 gm PE charge on or as close to the body without disturbing the mine.

c. A charge weight of 150 gm is sufficient to ensure propagation through the carrier rocket casing. 10. As none of the 27 mines dealt with by the author have functioned whilst carrying out the remote phase of the RSP, it is probable that after 72 hours, if the mine has not self destructed, it is designed to Fail Safe1. 11. Other explosive techniques have had the following results: a. Charge Demolition Linear Cutting (CDLC) 250 gm/mtr. This has proved successful in dealing with mines that are still in the carrier. Each tube contained 2 mines. One the first one mine high ordered, the second suffered from mechanical breakup. This was due to a sizeable air gap between the carrier body and the mine. On the second
1

Fail Safe is a design system which ensures when an action does not work it locks into a state that will always prevent the action from functioning from that point forward.

carrier section one mine high ordered the second partly deflagrated and completely burnt out.

b. Vulcan. Fitted with a magnesium EFP, 50 gm PE7 and 100 mm stand off. This configuration was chosen as it was believed that the mine body was 3 mm thick. Further investigation has found that it is only 1-1.5 mm thick. A charge weight of 20 gm is recommended for future procedures. c. Destructor Incendiary (DI). Three DIs have been used against an empty body to gauge their effectiveness. Due to little surface area contact with the curved section of the side wall of the mine the DI barley managed to burn through the metal. Some form of containment would have to be in place to prevent the incendiary filling just poring off the mine body. One DI was placed in the EFP where it burn through without much trouble, however, due to the shape of the mine, it is very unlikely that it will be found in this orientation.

Mal Quigley M E Quigley British Embassy EOD Team 6