Mines used by the BEF in France 1940

Discussion in '1940' started by Drew5233, Feb 24, 2011.

  1. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Couldn't really find an apt thread so thought I'd start one in the 1940 section to do with Allied mines and their use.

    This is taken from a report about the 1 Welsh Guards preparing the defences in Arras.

    Blocks were established on all the main roads leading into Arras, houses were loopholed, weapon pits dug and sandbagged to cover the Blocks. These were subsequently strengthened by a liberal supply of small anti-tank mines supplied by the R.E. and placed in position by a number rather nervous NCO's, supervised by a number of equally nervous officers, as the mines were alledged to be extremely sensitive.
     
  2. leccy

    leccy Senior Member

    dbf likes this.
  3. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Thanks for that-Looking at the images it seems hard to think of which one, if any, you would use on a road block. I'm assuming they would have just been placed on top of the metal road.

    I thought it was quite funny the RE would have said something like, 'ere are' and left them to it.
     
  4. leccy

    leccy Senior Member

    Generally mines were laid in the verges while the road would be cratered if time. You may have no need to mine the road as you can use the mines to help protect your flanks as well so channeling the enemy into your killing zone.
    When doing FIBUA we would lay mines amongst obstacles to help slow down the clearance (plus try and get some of the opposing engineers.

    The types of mines used up till 1943 by the various armies can be found in
    'War Department Field Manual FM5-31 Land Mines and Booby Traps 1943'

    Unfortunately I cant remember where I downloaded it from (can find it on pay sites but not the free one)
     
  5. leccy

    leccy Senior Member

  6. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

  7. chrisgrove

    chrisgrove Senior Member

    Thanks for that-Looking at the images it seems hard to think of which one, if any, you would use on a road block. I'm assuming they would have just been placed on top of the metal road.
    .

    I was a bit surprised to see the Hawkins grenade (No 75) described as an anti personnel mine. My impression was that these were often used at road blocks, strung together on a rope so they could swiftly be pulled across the road to stop any vehicles, or moved aside to allow them to pass.

    Chris
     
  8. Wills

    Wills Very Senior Member

  9. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Cheers for the 1939 one - not fussed about the others in here though ;)
     
  10. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Here you go Les - Infantry, RA and Motor Battalions were trained on laying them aswell as RE units.

    [​IMG]

    See Wills last post for the whole pamphlet.
     
  11. Bram1940

    Bram1940 Junior Member

    Hello,

    What type of mines were used in Belgium during the 1940 Campaign by the BEF (mark I, II or III or all of these types)?

    In the training pamphlet of 1939 is also mentioned the French model 1936 mine. Did the BEF use this type of mine as well during the 1940 Campaign?

    Regards,

    Bram.
     
  12. Wills

    Wills Very Senior Member

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