M86 Pursuit Deterrent Munition (PDM) (United States), Mines less widely used

Development The M86 Pursuit Deterrent Munition (PDM), also known as the Pursuit Deterrent Mine, was developed by Alliant Techsystems Inc under the sponsorship of Picatinny Arsenal. The PDM was primarily designed for use by special forces, who required a small mine that could be laid rapidly in the path of pursuing enemy forces. In May 1988, Alliant Techsystems Inc was awarded a contract worth USD11,170,598 for the production of 42,919 M86 PDMs. The mines were produced in New Brighton, Minnesota, and the contract was completed by late September 1989. Production of a further 9,500 PDMs was undertaken by the Thiokol Corporation at the Louisiana Army Ammunition Plant, beginning in January 1991. Description The PDM is based on the wedge shaped mine used in the Area Denial Artillery Munition (ADAM) (see separate entry in this section). This small anti-personnel bounding fragmentation mine is coupled to a hand-grenade fuzing system, complete with safety pin and arming lever. To use the PDM, the safety pin is withdrawn and the arming lever released as the PDM is placed or thrown into position. After a 25-second delay a small pyrotechnic charge pressurises the seven spring-loaded tripwire capsules, expelling the wires to a maximum distance of 6 m. Barbs on the ends of the wires anchor them to the ground and surrounding vegetation. The PDM performs an electronic self-check programme and is fully armed 65 seconds after the battery is activated. The mine is initiated by a collapsing circuit when any of the lines are tripped, as the tripwire breaks a small conductor in the base of the capsule. A liquid propellant charge projects the spherical M43 fragmentation warhead 1 to 2 m into the air where it detonates, scattering approximately 600 steel fragments. The mine will self-destruct after 4 hours, and will detonate if the internal battery voltage falls below a certain level. Should the initiation functions fail, the battery should become fully discharged in approximately 14 days, rendering the mine inactive. PDMs are issued in sets of two carried in a bandolier. As a private venture, Alliant Techsystems developed a one-man portable dispenser capable of projecting a number of ADAM/PDM type munitions over an area
Plastic and steel, 1.2 lb, approx. 1 Bandolier with 2 PDMs.

M86 Pursuit Deterrent Munition (PDM)

DESCRIPTION: PDM is a manually-activated Area Denial Artillery Munition (ADAM) with a hand grenade-type release firing mechanism. It deploys up to seven trip wires and possesses the ADAM self-destruct capabilities. For safety purposes, arming will occur one minute after the firing mechanism is released. STATUS: This system was fielded in 2QFY91. EMPLOYMENT CONCEPT: This munition is employed primarily by Special Operations Forces to support hit-and-run, ambush, harassing, and urban warfare missions. PDM is also

employed by Infantry, Light Combat Engineers, and Rangers where mission warrants the use of this device. BASIS OF ISSUE: The PDM is issued as a Class V item of ammunition. TRAINING/PERSONNEL: A training support package for PDM is being developed. Since PDM is used mostly by Special Forces personnel, extensive training is not required.

The M86 Antipersonnel Mine is manually armed by removing the safety clip and then the arming strap assembly. A camming action breaks the shorting bar and forces the battery ball against the battery breaking the glass ampule containing an electrolyte which activates the reserve battery and provides power. The shorting bar hook, attached to the cam, shears the shorting bar (a safety device across the detonator). After a 60-second (nominal) electronic time delay, a piston actuator in the Safe and Arm mechanism is electrically fired, moving a slider to align the detonator with an explosive lead in the slider. At the same time, seven sensor triplines are released. Approximate three or four triplines will deploy up to 20 feet from the mine, depending upon the at-rest position of the mine. The remaining triplines may be hindered due to their proximity to the resting surface. After an additional 10- second electronic time delay, allowing the munition to return to equilibrium, the mine is fully armed electronically. Disturbance of a tripline, or the mine itself, now triggers a switch which completes an electronic firing circuit. The S&A electric detonator initiates the S&A firing train which initiates a detonating cord which then initiates

a thin layer of liquid propellant, which by gravity rests under the kill mechanism, shattering the plastic mine body and propelling the kill mechanism upwards from 6 inches to 8 feet above the ground where it detonates. The kill mechanism is a spheroid internally embossed and loaded with 21 grams of Comp A5 and when detonated, propels fragments in a high velocity spherical pattern. If the mine is not activated by tripline or disturbance mode, a factory preset self-destruct feature initiates the mine in 4 hours plus 0-20 percent.