One Step Beyond – Mines – Cambodia – PMD-6

PMD-6 is a simple Anti-Personnel (AP) blast mine which uses a box design dating back to the Second World War. The mine consists of a wooden box with a hinged lid that overlaps the sides. The main charge is a block of cast TNT into which an MUV series fuze, fitted with a stab-sensitive MD-2 detonator, is placed. The fuze uses a spring-loaded striker retained by a `T' shaped winged pin and may incorporate an arming delay mechanism. The fuze and retaining pin protrude through the end of the mine opposite the hinge. PMD-6M has a steel leaf spring in the lid (see illustration opposite); this rests on the fuze body to increase the operating pressure. A later variant, PMD-7, was also manufactured (see Notes). These mines are normally either uncoloured wood or olive green.