Landmines are an unfortunate part of Libya’s past and present. As such, the author discusses the various types of mines that have been found so far, providing a technical overview of each. With his landmine analysis, King warns of the difficulties that lie ahead as deminers begin to address the problem

King, Colin

English

James Madison University

Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction Volume 15 Issue 3 The Journal of ERW and Mine Action Article 13 October 2011 Landmines in Libya Colin King Fenix-Insight Ltd. Follow this and additional works at: https://commons.lib.jmu.edu/cisr-journal  Part of the Other Public Affairs, Public Policy and Public Administration Commons, and the Peace and Conflict Studies Commons Recommended Citation King, Colin (2011) "Landmines in Libya," The Journal of ERW and Mine Action : Vol. 15 : Iss. 3 , Article 13. Available at: https://commons.lib.jmu.edu/cisr-journal/vol15/iss3/13 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Center for International Stabilization and Recovery at JMU Scholarly Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction by an authorized editor of JMU Scholarly Commons. For more information, please contact dc_admin@jmu.edu. 44         notes from the field | the journal of ERW and mine action | fall 2011 | 15.3 15.3 | fall 2011 | the journal of ERW and mine action | notes from the field         45Landmines in LibyaLandmines are an unfortunate part of Libya’s past and present. As such, the author discusses the vari-ous types of mines that have been found so far, providing a technical overview of each. With his land-mine analysis, King warns of the difficulties that lie ahead as deminers begin to address the problem.by Colin King [ Fenix-Insight Ltd. ] Until recently, the primary threat from mines in Libya originated from the Western Desert Campaigns of the Second World War (June 1940–February 1943) and a series of conflicts with Chad between 1978 and 1987. During the recent civil war, it emerged that Libya also has substantial landmine stockpiles, and that both anti-personnel and anti-tank mines had been laid during the hostilities. In addition to the common Cold War legacy weapons found in many countries, there have been some unexpected finds, in-cluding landmine types of which little was previously known.What follows is a brief technical overview of the mines and mine threats recently found in Libya, including some of the questions raised by these findings.Type 84Perhaps the most significant recent find is the Chinese Type 84. For many years those working in demining knew about this rocket-dispensed scatterable munition (84 repre-sents the approximate year of introduction), but there were no reports that the mine had ever been deployed and little tech-nical detail was available. Suddenly, in May 2011, these mines were used against the port of Misrata, and for a time a number remained unexploded in the streets before they were cleared.The Type 84 used in Libya differs slightly from those shown in Chinese sales literature, but key features remain, includ-ing a parachute, three folding prongs (designed to stick into the ground on impact) and electronic magnetic influence fuze. Initiation using magnetic influence is particularly significant to deminers since these fuzes can be highly sensitive to both the proximity of small magnetic objects and to movement. It is unknown whether this Type 84 variant incorporates a self-destruct feature but, if so, it has clearly failed in a num-ber of cases. As the explosive-ordnance disposal community has learned over the years, this is hardly a surprise; so-called back-up fuzes not only fail with alarming regularity, but also provide another potential means of accidental initiation.TAB-1The TAB-1 is a Brazilian AP blast mine that has already been responsible for a number of casualties in Libya. It was also used in Ecuador and Peru, but little was known of its make-up until it was examined recently.Although not a true minimum-metal mine, the metal con-tent of the TAB-1 is low, with the only metallic components being the mild steel firing pin (0.36 g) and the aluminum det-onator capsule (estimated at 0.15 g). The main charge is ap-proximately 60 g of Pentolite (PETN/TNTmixture1, 2). There is also a small booster pellet, which appears to be PETN, in the base of the fuze. The simple mechanical fuze screws into the central well of the mine body and is actuated by a pressure of approximately 20 kg. There is no safety or arming device. Also noteworthy is that the TAB-1 is used as the initiator for an AT mine (also designated TAB-1). The two tend to be sup-plied and used together; therefore, there is a distinct possibil-ity that the AT mine may also be present in Libya.The Chinese Type 84 is a scatterable AT mine initiated by a magnetic influence fuze.All photos courtesy of the author.Belgian M3 and M3A1The most common mines in Libya appear to be the Belgian M3 and M3A1—around 250,000 are stockpiled in Benghazi alone. Although a relatively simple and basic AT mine, the M3 is notable for its minimal metallic content (which makes it very difficult to detect) and powerful 6 kg charge of TNT, RDX3 and aluminum.Unlike the M3, the M3A1 incorporates two auxiliary fuze wells for booby trapping; one in the side and one in the base. This capability is particularly relevant given that compatible anti-handling devices have also been seen in Libya. Even more worrying is the prospect that, without the pressure-plate as-sembly fitted, either of these mines could be initiated by the weight of a person, thereby converting the AT mine into an oversized AP mine.Type 72 SP The Chinese Type 72 SP metallic AT mine was featured in numerous videos from Libya, with large stocks held in Benghazi and probably elsewhere. The Type 72 (one of sev-eral Chinese mines with this designation) is externally simi-lar to the Russian TM-46, but uses a completely different fuze, which incorporates an effective blast-resistant mechanism. It also has a spring-loaded pressure plate to allow the fuze to re-set after being subjected to overpressure.Use of the SP suffix was previously unknown, and this is believed to refer to an export version for tropical use. In this variant, sand-colored paint had been sprayed over the ol-ive green used on most Chinese mines; this is clearly visible around the internal voids and wells. There is a large auxiliary fuze well in the base for booby trapping, but there have been no sightings of the anti-handling devices used with this mine. The Brazilian TAB-1 is a low-metal AP mine, also used to initiate an AT mine of the same designation.The Belgian M3 is a minimum-metal mine with a powerful charge of TNT, RDX and aluminum.The M3A1 is a variant of the M3 which incorporates two auxiliary fuze wells. The Chinese Type 72 SP AT mine, with blast-resistant fuze to the left.1King: Landmines in LibyaPublished by JMU Scholarly Commons, 201146         notes from the field | the journal of ERW and mine action | fall 2011 | 15.3 15.3 | fall 2011 | the journal of ERW and mine action | notes from the field         47Kabul City Clearance Project After decades of conflict in Afghanistan, the Kabul City Clearance Project is addressing the dan-gers of mine and unexploded ordnance that pose a threat to the safety and livelihood of Kabul’s expanding urban population. KCCP is an 18-month collaborative project that utilizes the resources of Afghan Technical Consultants, a local clearance nongovernmental organization, to implement a mine-clearance plan in 36 impacted communities. by Mohammad Akbar Oriakhil [ Mine Action Coordination Centre of Afghanistan ]Decades of conflict have left Kabul City, Afghanistan rav-aged by war and contaminated with landmines and unexploded ord-nance. Despite the great achievements of mine-clearance operations to date, 92 confirmed hazardous areas (which were recorded in a polygon survey) remain within Kabul’s city limits, rendering only approximately six square kilome-ters (2.32 square miles) available for pas-turing, farming and housing. More safe land is urgently needed by a rapidly grow-ing urban population. Thousands of people have lost their lives or become dis-abled in mine and unexploded-ordnance accidents in the city, and currently ap-proximately two people every month are fatally or seriously injured.The KCCP is working to clear Kabul City of mines based on a two-phase plan. Phase 1, which is underway, consists of 44 of the confirmed hazardous areas; Phase 2 consists of 48 additional CHAs and will be implemented in early 2012. If the KCCP continues clearance at the current rate of progression, meeting or exceeding their target timeline, and they receive adequate funding for the second phase, they could completely remove all known hazards in Kabul City within an operating period of 18 months.Kabul City’s History of ContaminationKabul City has experienced prolonged and intense conflict resulting from:1•	 The Russian invasion and its sub-sequent regime from 1978 to 1990•	 Mujahedin conflicts between 1991 and 1994•	 Northern Alliance and Taliban fight-ing from 1995 to September 2001•	 Aerial campaign by Coalition and NATO Forces commencing Octo-ber 2001Historical Achievement  of Mine ActionMine and UXO survey and clear-ance, which was commenced in 1994 by several organizations including ATC, Organization for Mine Clearance and Afghanistan Rehabilitation, The HALO Trust, Mine Clearance Planning Agen-cy and Mine Detection Dog Center in Kabul City. After some years, two more national and international mine-clear-ance organizations—Demining Agency for Afghanistan and Danish Demining Group—became involved in this pro-cess. The mentioned organizations are supported by the United Nations Volun-tary Trust Fund, the Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement in the U.S. De-partment of State’s Bureau of Political-Military Affairs (PM/WRA) and other bilateral donors. Since then, significant Figure 1. Map showing the extent of landmine contamination in  Kabul City, Afghanistan.Map courtesy of MACCA.Other MinesOther mines present in Libya include the Belgian NR 413 stake mine and NR 442 bounding mine, both of which are AP fragmentation weapons with signifi-cant ranges.The NR 442 is normally buried and uses a pressure fuze to initiate a propel-lant charge; this fires the mine body out of the ground before detonation occurs at a height of about a meter. The mine contains 2,500 steel fragments that are lethal within 25 m but can cause injury or death at far greater ranges. The NR 413 is normally mounted on a steel stake and initiated by any of four tripwires. At a time when the tripwire threat in most countries has virtually disappeared, clearance teams in Libya may once again be forced to adopt la-borious and time-consuming tripwire search procedures in areas where this mine is suspected.The NR 109 trip flare, also present in Libya, is easily confused with the NR 413. Despite the similarity of the fuze and body, the components of these two devices have different threads and are not interchangeable.Two other mines, neither of which was previously associated with Libya, have also been found in Benghazi. Both the Yugoslav TMA-5 and the Czech PT Mi-Ba-III are minimum-metal AT blast mines that can be difficult to detect. These are large mines capable of immo-bilizing main battle tanks, and would completely destroy any civilian vehicle. The PT Mi-Ba-III fuze incorpo-rates a cocked striker, meaning that the mechanism is spring-loaded and there-fore capable of functioning at any time. The plastic collar retaining the striker is vulnerable to deterioration in hot dry conditions, making this mine extreme-ly dangerous to handle. This mine was believed to have been responsible for a number of casualties during the First Gulf War (1990–1991) and is definitely a blow-in-place item.ConclusionThe mine threat in Libya could cre-ate a significant challenge for demin-ers, with a combination of unrecorded minefields, difficult detection, the The Belgian NR 413 fragmentation mine can be initiated by any of four tripwires.presence of tripwires and the poten-tial deterioration of fuze mechanisms. Demining nongovernmental organiza-tions have already begun clearance op-erations with the United Nations Mine Action Service Joint Mine Action Coor-dination Team, working to coordinate operations. In addition to the standard process of survey, minefield delineation and clearance, a major stockpile de-struction program will also be needed. Sadly, despite widespread adop-tion of the AP Mine Ban Convention,4 mines have once again played a role in modern conflict. They bring with them the dangerous, costly and laborious process of demining, along with the dis-heartening prospect of long-term socio-economic impact on the communities where they are found.See endnotes page 83Sectioning a live NR 413 AP mine for examination.Colin King served 14 years in the  British Army, mostly in explosive ord-nance disposal, including operations in the Bosnia ,Falklands, Gulf, and Kosovo; he also led the first British team to train Afghan deminers. He worked as a British EOD school instructor and an EOD intel-ligence analyst before his final tour with the Gurkhas and later starting his EOD consultancy. Recently, he has been in-volved in mine clearance on the Falkland Islands, studies into the effects of land-mine aging and assistance to regional cluster-munition stockpile-destruction programs. King also writes two refer-ence yearbooks, Mines and Mine Clear-ance and Explosive Ordnance Disposal, for Jane's Information Group. This article is based on King’s brief visit to Libya in July 2011, where he disassembled and examined a selection of landmines.Colin King  Director Fenix-Insight Ltd. Email: ck@fenix-insight.co.uk Website: www.fenix-insight.co.uk2Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction, Vol. 15, Iss. 3 [2011], Art. 13https://commons.lib.jmu.edu/cisr-journal/vol15/iss3/13

Landmines in Libya

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Landmines in Libya

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