imortal wrote:
There are several types of "real" anti tank mines. The tilt-rod design can be set off by anything tilitng the rod over, and that does not take too much pressure. There are also flat, pressure activated anti tank mines. The weight to set one off is usually about 250 - 300 pounds. Not bad, heavier than almost any healthy soldier.
It is not unusual for a soldier on a patrol to carry 75 - 85 pounds in equipment. That means almost any fully laden soldier can set off one of these mines.
But you speficied that it was an improvised system. If that was the case, it may have been sensative enough to set off just by nudging it. Not much qualituy control when you are working in a basement to build mines, you know?
Todays US Infantryman carries about 90lbs of gear. Front and back SAPI plates are about 10lbs each side SAPi's weigh in at 8lbs. Add a basic load of ammo, water, flash bang, smoke, field stripped MRE, MITCH, and the weight goes up. I don't know too many Infantryman that carry a basic load of 210 rounds. Me myself I carry 13 30 round mags, 2 frags, 2 flash bangs, and 2 HC smoke and a red smoke, not to mention in my buttpack I carry my camelback bladder, and 2 red flares, and a green star cluster flare. Sometimes I will wear my multipurpose pouch with 2 flex linear charges, and spare flex cuffs. Add that to my 210lbs frame, and I'm well over the minimum 250lbs to set off a AT pressure plate.