Type anti-tank mine Wars World War II | Place of origin United Kingdom Height 4 inches (100 mm) | |
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Variants Mine G.S. Mk V
Mine G.S. Mk VC Weight 12.5 pounds (5.7 kg), Mk. V
8 pounds (3.6 kg), Mk. VC | ||
The Mk 5 or Mine G.S. Mk V was a cylindrical, metal-cased U.K. anti-tank blast mine that entered service in 1943, during the Second World War. It was replaced in British service with the Mk 7 mine. Two versions of the mine were produced, the Mk. V and the Mk. VC with the same external dimensions. The only difference was that the Mk. VC had a half-sized explosive charge.
The mine used a spider pressure plate that makes it resistant to blast overpressure. The spider rests on a central Mk 3 fuse (sometimes referred to as No.3 Mk I), which contains a spring-loaded striker held in place by a shear pin. The mine, being made largely of steel tended to rust making its activation unpredictable.
It is found in Angola, Egypt, Jordan, Libya, Mozambique, Sudan, and Zimbabwe.