{{short description|Series of Soviet anti-personnel mines}} [[File:27thOMSBr13.jpg|thumb|Front row, from left to right: [[OZM|OZM-72]], PMN-4, PMN-2 and PMN-1 antipersonnel mines. The two larger mines are Soviet TM-62P2 and [[TM-46]] (with a [[PFM-1]] lying on it) antitank mines.]] The '''PMN''' ({{Langx|ru|противопехотная мина нажимная|protivopekhotnaya mina nazhimnaya|lit=anti-infrantry pressure-activated mine}}) series of blast [[anti-personnel mine]]s were designed and manufactured in the [[Soviet Union]]. They are one of the most widely used and commonly found devices during [[demining]] operations. They are sometimes nicknamed "black widow" because of their dark casings.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Anderson |first=Kenneth |author2=Human Rights Watch Arms Project |author2-link=Human Rights Watch |author3=Physicians for Human Rights |author3-link=Physicians for Human Rights |year=1993 |title=Landmines: A Deadly Legacy |location=New York |publisher=Human Rights Watch |series=Volume 2156 of Human rights documents: General |isbn=9781564321138 |oclc=474490190 |pages=[https://books.google.com/books?id=EqWsbzQh0g4C&q=%22black+widow%22&pg=PA19 19], [https://books.google.com/books?id=EqWsbzQh0g4C&q=%22black+widow%22&pg=PA19 24]}}</ref>

==PMN-1== The design of the PMN-1 mine dates from the late 1950s. It is particularly deadly because it contains an unusually large [[explosive]] filling when compared to most other anti-personnel landmines. For comparison, most anti-personnel blast mines (e.g. the [[VS-50 mine|VS-50]]) contain around {{cvt|50|g}} of [[high explosive]], which typically destroys all or part of a victim's foot. In marked contrast, a PMN-1 contains {{cvt|249|g}} of explosive which can easily destroy a victim's entire leg (frequently requiring [[amputation]] high above the knee) in addition to inflicting severe injuries on the adjacent limb, which may also require some form of amputation due to [[blast injury]]. The majority of anti-personnel mine victims (e.g. those who step on an [[M14 mine]] containing {{cvt|29|g|0}} of explosive) have a very high probability of survival, though inevitably they suffer [[physical disability|permanent disability]] regarding their [[human gait|gait]]. However, the amount of explosive inside a PMN-1 mine is so large that the risk of victims dying is significantly greater and, assuming that they survive their injuries, the degree of disability inflicted is much more severe.

These mines are palm sized and cylindrical in shape. The PMN-1 has a [[bakelite]] case (brown or black in colour) with a black rubber pressure-plate and contains [[trinitrotoluene|TNT]] explosive.

The PMN-1 mine is armed by removing a steel ring-pull at the end of the horizontal fuze. When in position, the pin on the end of the ring-pull holds a [[firing pin|spring-loaded striker]] back from the stab-[[detonator]]. Pulling out the ring-pull starts an arming delay, which requires a thin steel wire (held under tension by the spring-loaded striker) to cut through a small strip of [[lead]]. The process of cutting through the lead strip takes between 2 and 12 minutes, depending on ambient temperature. After the wire has completely cut through the lead strip, the spring-loaded striker is freed and slides forward a few millimetres before stopping, blocked by the sliding gate of the pressure plate mechanism. At this point the mine is fully armed i.e. the only thing holding back the spring-loaded striker from the stab-detonator is a weak creep-spring on the pressure plate mechanism. Subsequently, any downward pressure on the pressure plate (i.e. when someone steps on the mine) overcomes the upward pressure of the creep-spring and pushes down the sliding gate that holds back the spring-loaded striker. This action frees the striker which flips forward into the stab detonator, firing both it and the adjacent [[tetryl]] [[explosive booster|booster]] which triggers [[detonation]] of the main [[trinitrotoluene|TNT]] explosive filling. It is not a [[blast resistant mine]].

*'''Height:''' {{cvt|57|mm}} *'''Diameter:''' {{cvt|112|mm}} *'''Main charge weight:''' {{cvt|240|g}} TNT (initiated by a 9 gram [[tetryl]] [[explosive booster|booster]]) *'''Total weight:''' {{cvt|600|g|lb}} *'''Fuze:''' MD-9 (stab-sensitive) *'''Operating pressure:''' {{cvt|5.8|kg}}

<gallery widths="200px" heights="155px"> Image:PMN-2_mine.jpg|Two PMN-1 mines: the first example is complete, the other shows the appearance of a PMN-1 after it has detonated Image:PMN Striker Assy.jpg|The striker assembly from a PMN-1 showing the [[lead]]-shear arming delay. This assembly would be located under the round knurled cap on the right in the previous image </gallery>

==PMN-2== [[Image:PMN (rechts) und PMN 2.jpeg|thumb|right|PMN-1 and PMN-2 mines. Both have arming pins in place, which means the [[fuze]] mechanisms are not armed]] [[Image:2011. День защиты детей в Донецке 053.jpg|thumb|right|PMN-2 mine with its arming pin in situ. This mine has not been armed]]

The PMN-2 mine casing is made from injection-molded plastic. In general, the color is leaf-green, but occasionally brown examples may be encountered. The top of the mine has a black rubber X-shaped pressure plate. The filling is an [[RDX]]/[[trinitrotoluene|TNT]] based explosive that is quite similar to [[Composition B]]. As with the PMN-1, the PMN-2 has an unusually large explosive filling when compared to many other anti-personnel landmines.

One significant difference between the PMN-1 and PMN-2 is that the PMN-2 (a mid-1970s design) contains a more modern [[fuze]] with an integral baffle beneath the pressure plate. This and the X-shaped design of the pressure plate makes the PMN-2 much more resistant to traditional explosive mine countermeasures, which use sudden overpressure to [[detonate]] mines. It can therefore be regarded as a [[blast resistant mine]]. In contrast, the PMN-1 (a 1950s design) can successfully be cleared by such methods.

The PMN-2 fuze features an arming delay of approximately 60 seconds. When the arming key is rotated and removed from the mine, the arming pin is sheared. This allows the air-bellows inside the mine to be inflated by the compression spring, which in turn lifts a "safety" bar from the path of the slide, unblocking its travel. The arming delay on a PMN-2 is significantly shorter than that of a PMN-1.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www-personal.acfr.usyd.edu.au/spns/pubcache/poster_JUL31_LN_final-small.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2011-01-21 |archive-date=2011-02-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110218091947/http://www-personal.acfr.usyd.edu.au/spns/pubcache/poster_JUL31_LN_final-small.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The PMN-2 mine played an important role in the [[2025 Cambodian–Thai border crisis|2025 Cambodian-Thai border crisis]] when PMN-2 mines detonated and injured Thai soldiers on two separate occasions resulting in a 5 day conflict.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Landmines that sparked Thai-Cambodia clash were likely newly-laid, experts say |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/landmines-that-sparked-thai-cambodia-clash-were-likely-newly-laid-experts-say-2025-10-16/ |work=Reuters}}</ref>

*'''Height:''' 53&nbsp;mm *'''Diameter:''' 120&nbsp;mm *'''Main charge weight:''' 100 g TG-40 ([[RDX]]/[[Trinitrotoluene|TNT]]) *'''Total weight:''' 440 g *'''Fuze:''' MD-9 (stab-sensitive)

==PMN-4== [[Image:27th Independent Sevastopol Guards Motor Rifle Brigade (181-27).jpg|thumb|right|A pair of PMN-4 mines]]

The PMN-4 is a delay-armed, pressure-fired blast-mine. The pressure-plate is black and the body is reddish-brown or khaki. The black rubber pressure-plate has a plastic pressure "spider" concealed underneath, shaped like flower-petals. The diameter of the mine is 95mm and the height is 46mm. The explosive charge weight is 55 grams. This comprises 52 grams of 'TG-40' (a 40/60 TNT/RDX mixture) plus a 3 gram [[pentolite]] [[explosive booster|booster]]. The total weight of the mine is 300 grams. PMN-4 mines contain a significant amount of metal components, so they are readily detectable with a mine detector. Details of the [[fuze]] mechanism are scarce, though given that the PMN-4 was designed during the early 1980s, it is logical to assume that the fuze is more sophisticated and/or reliable than the fuze in the PMN-2 (a mid-1970s design) to compensate for having a smaller explosive filling with significantly reduced destructive power. Similarly, the PMN-4 is almost certainly a [[blast resistant mine]] due to the design of the flower-shaped pressure "spider" under the pressure-plate.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://ordatamines.maic.jmu.edu/displaydata.aspx?OrDataId=1171 |title=OrData - Data Details |access-date=2011-03-23 |archive-date=2011-08-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110823195858/http://ordatamines.maic.jmu.edu/displaydata.aspx?OrDataId=1171 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Cross-sectional diagrams of the PMN-4 showing its components support the view that the PMN-4 is a more sophisticated design than the PMN-2.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://sniper-weapon.ru/snajper/227-protivopekhotnye-miny-armii-rf-pmn-pmn-2-pmn-3-ozm-72-mon-50|title=Противопехотные мины армии РФ: ПМН, ПМН-2, ПМН-3, ПМН-4, ПОМЗ-2, ПОМЗ-2М, ОЗМ-72, МОН-50, ПОМ-2Р}}</ref> Examples of the PMN-4 have been encountered in Ukraine and Southern Syria.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://armamentresearch.com/russian-pmn-4-anti-personnel-landmines-in-syria/|title = Russian PMN-4 anti-personnel landmines in Syria - Armament Research Services (ARES)|date = October 2015}}</ref>

*'''Height:''' 42&nbsp;mm *'''Diameter:''' 95&nbsp;mm *'''Main charge weight:''' 50 g TG-40 ([[RDX]]/[[Trinitrotoluene|TNT]]) *'''Total weight:''' 300 g *'''Actuation force:''' 5–15&nbsp;kg<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://saper.isnet.ru/mines-2/pmn-4.html|title=Инженерные боеприпасы (ПМН-4) - PMN-4.HTML|access-date=2022-01-10|archive-date=2018-08-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180801183012/http://saper.isnet.ru/mines-2/pmn-4.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Render-safe procedure== It is considered extremely dangerous to disarm PMN mines by removing the [[fuze]], unless they have only recently been laid and are in good condition. Even if this is the case, what appears to be a standard PMN-1 mine may in fact be the PMN-3 or MS-3 versions, which feature an integral [[anti-handling device]] which is specifically designed to kill [[deminer]]s. In any case it is very easy to boobytrap a standard PMN mine by attaching a pull-fuze to it, or by placing an [[ML-7 mine|ML-7 pressure-release antihandling device]] or an ML-8 underneath.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.saper.etel.ru/mines-3/ml-7.html |title=Инженерные боеприпасы (МЛ-7) - ml-7.HTML |accessdate=2012-09-09 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20120909055340/http://www.saper.etel.ru/mines-3/ml-7.html |archivedate=2012-09-09 }}</ref> Therefore, the standard render-safe procedure for PMN mines is to destroy them [[in situ]] using a small explosive charge.

<gallery widths="200px" heights="140px"> Image:PMN AP-mine.JPEG|'''PMN-1''' type mines found in [[Iraq]] (2003) Image:mine sweep.jpg|U.S. Army soldier with various '''PMN-1''' mines near [[Fallujah]], Iraq. </gallery>

==Variants== * '''Type 58''': Chinese copy of the PMN-1.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cat-uxo.com/explosive-hazards/landmines/type-58-ap-blast-landmine|title=Type 58 (AP Blast) Landmine|website=CAT-UXO|access-date=2023-02-17}}</ref> * '''MM 2''': [[Burma|Burmese]] copy of the PMN-1 used in [[Myanmar]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cat-uxo.com/explosive-hazards/landmines/mm-2-landmine|title=MM-2 Landmine|website=CAT-UXO|access-date=2023-02-17}}</ref> * '''[[GYATA-64 mine|Gyata 64]]''': [[Hungary|Hungarian]] copy of the PMN-1.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cat-uxo.com/explosive-hazards/landmines/gyata-64-landmine|title=GYATA-64 Landmine|website=CAT-UXO|access-date=2023-02-17}}</ref> * ''' [[PM-79 mine]]''': [[Bulgaria]]n variant of the PMN-1.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cat-uxo.com/explosive-hazards/landmines/pm-79-landmine|title=PM-79 Landmine|website=CAT-UXO|access-date=2023-02-17}}</ref> * '''MS-3''': Has existed since at least 1973. It looks similar to the PMN-1, but has a small "blister" in the centre of the pressure-plate, incorporating a spring-loaded, pressure-release [[anti-handling device]]. The explosive content is 310 grams of [[trinitrotoluene|TNT]]. The total weight of a MS-3 is 630 g. An MS-3 requires a minimum load of between 5 and 6&nbsp;kg on the "blister" to prevent detonation. As a result, armed MS-3 mines can be encountered under some sort of heavy object, such as beneath an [[OZM|OZM bounding mine]] or sometimes an anti-tank mine to act as an [[anti-handling device]]. Detonation of an MS-3 under an anti-tank mine may cause [[sympathetic detonation]] of the larger munition. An MS-3 could also be used as a conventional [[boobytrap]] device without being buried, for example deliberately planted inside a building or a vehicle with some form of weight on top such as a suitcase.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cat-uxo.com/explosive-hazards/firing-devices/ms-3-firing-device|title=MS-3 Firing Device|website=CAT-UXO|access-date=2023-02-17}}</ref> * '''PMN-3''': looks similar to the PMN-2, but incorporates a battery-operated tilt-switch [[anti-handling device]] designed to kill/wound deminers. The explosive content is 80g [[phlegmatized]] [[RDX]] i.e. RDX and [[paraffin wax]]. The total weight of the PMN-3 is 600g. This mine has been encountered in [[Chechnya]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cat-uxo.com/explosive-hazards/landmines/pmn-3-landmine|title=PMN-3 Landmine|website=CAT-UXO|access-date=2023-02-17}}</ref>

==See also== *[[Land mine]] *[[Satchel charge]]

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{commons category|PMN (mine)}} *[https://web.archive.org/web/20120214060216/http://space.newscientist.com/data/images/archive/2028/20283601.jpg Cross-sectional view of PMN-1 mine showing firing mechanism] *[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6zrA3IafT8 Animated cross-sectional view of a PMN-1 showing the arming and firing mechanisms in operation] *[http://www.nolandmines.com/minesPMN.htm NoLandMines page on PMN] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070312015341/http://www.nolandmines.com/minesPMN.htm |date=2007-03-12 }} *[http://www.nolandmines.com/minesPMN2.htm NoLandMines page on PMN-2] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070117121032/http://www.nolandmines.com/minesPMN2.htm |date=2007-01-17 }} *[http://www-personal.acfr.usyd.edu.au/spns/pubcache/poster_JUL31_LN_final-small.pdf PMN-2 Dissection article (details its components and their operation)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110218091947/http://www-personal.acfr.usyd.edu.au/spns/pubcache/poster_JUL31_LN_final-small.pdf |date=2011-02-18 }} from [http://ambidextrousmag.org/issues/04/ Ambidextrous Magazine (issue 4)] *{{ORDATA|1148|PMN-1}} *{{ORDATA|6107|PMN-2}} *[http://www.popmech.ru/part/print.php?articleid=1221&rubricid=7 Exploded views of the PMN-1 & PMN-2 (Russian language website)] *[http://dspace.dsto.defence.gov.au/dspace/bitstream/1947/4370/1/DSTO-TR-1582.pdf Evaluation of a Silent Killer: the PMN Anti-Personnel Blast Mine] *[https://archive.today/20120909055340/http://www.saper.etel.ru/mines-3/ml-7.html Russian ML-7 pressure-release antihandling device (circa 1984) for use with PMN mines]

[[Category:Anti-personnel mines]] [[Category:Land mines of the Soviet Union]]