Invisible and silent: what mines are supplied to Ukraine by Germany and Poland

Alexander Sychev

Germany and Poland tried to carry out these deliveries without excessive publicity in the press. Their appearance in Ukraine was supposed to come as a surprise to the Russian armed forces. The calculation is to inflict as many losses as possible on an unprepared enemy. We are talking about the German anti-tank missile DM22 and the Polish light mortar LMP-2017.

In fact, the DM22 is a mine, but not quite an ordinary one. The DM22 differs from ordinary mines that are buried along the intended route of movement of enemy troops in that it is set aside, camouflaged in bushes, among stones, and so on.

Outwardly, the German mine resembles a rocket, which consists of two parts: a cumulative anti-tank warhead and a lever with a starting charge in its rear part. A rocket is fired from a barrel mounted on a tripod. The system is installed within a few minutes and deployed perpendicular to the intended trajectory of the target. With the help of an elementary sight, the rocket is aimed at the approximate position of armored vehicles. Calculation for a strike on the side, where the thickness of the armor is less than in the frontal part.

Three methods of activation can be used on a mine: a cable about 40 meters long, which is laid in a zigzag pattern on the route of movement of equipment, and if it is necessary to increase the actuation distance, acoustic or infrared triggers. The blow can be delivered from distances from 5 to 100 meters. A cumulative 128mm grenade is capable of penetrating armor about 100mm thick. The unit can be programmed for 40 days of waiting. All this time she will sensitively guard her target.

Off-route mines appeared in a number of NATO member countries back in the 60s of the last century. With their help, it was planned to counteract the advance of Soviet armored vehicles in the event of an armed conflict. Germany was especially fond of them. Throughout the 1980s, Germany produced the L14A1 mine, similar in design to the current DM22. In the early 1990s, the DM12 appeared.

The modern version of the mine was one of the first deliveries of weapons from Germany. It was first discovered in the area of the city of Izyum. The Germans reportedly sent 1,600 DM22s to Kiev, as well as 3,000 conventional DM31 anti-tank mines.

And Polish mortars lit up during the assault on Popasna. Then the fighters of the People's Militia of the LPR for the first time reported the use of mines by Ukrainians, which, when approaching, did not make a characteristic sound due to the constructive solution in the plumage of the grenade. The lack of sound during the flight does not allow you to orient yourself in time and go to cover. But, as it turned out, good bulletproof vests protect vital organs from shrapnel damage.

The light infantry mortar LMP-2017 is manufactured by Zakłady Mechaniczne "Tarnów" SA. Similar mortars are produced in Germany - Fly-K, France - LGI Mle F1, China - QTL89 and Russia - 2B25 "Gall". All of these products use a unique firing mechanism.

For the Territorial Defense Forces and the Polish Land Forces, the company produced a total of 780 mortars, which are used to equip platoons. The plant offers mortars in two calibers: 59.4 and 60.7 millimeters, but the Polish army is armed with 59.4 caliber mortars.

Silent fragmentation grenades O-LM60, designed to destroy manpower, firing positions, tactical headquarters and unarmored vehicles that are in optical visibility, are produced by the Polish company Dezamet SA. When detonated, the grenade breaks up into 1500 small striking elements. According to some reports, Kyiv received up to a hundred LMP-2017 with 1.5 thousand ammunition.