Think Defence hopes to start sensible conversations about UK defence issues, no agenda or no campaign but there might be one or two posts on containers, bridges and mexeflotes!
4 thoughts on “Miraculous Contraptions in the Fight Against Landmines”
STV
I can’t be the only person to think this is dumb. One side of it gets blown off and then it becomes useless.
They say that it might clear 4 mines before it is no longer usable but I suspect that that may be generous.
It also occurs to me that if you have one of these things lying in a minefield on it’s now flattened side, not only does it impede further de-mining but it will also need retrieving which may be extremely dangerous should it come to lie over the top of an unexploded device.
SteveD
@STV
I don’t think this is a mine-clearance device, as much as a path-laying method. Follow the ground disturbed by the ball and you know you won’t be blown up.
It’s impractical for more mundane reasons, such as how you transport it, or indeed, how you get it to mark a path in any direction but downhill.
John Hartley
Now that tougher community sentances are wanted, what about using serial hoodies riding spacehoppers?
Observer
That also doesn’t cover the point where the “footprints” seem to leave gaps between them that a mine can slip through, or the fact that on solid terrain, there is no route marking that indicates where the clear lane is.
All in all, I’d still prefer a line charge. With holes blown in the ground, you can tell where it is really safe to put your feet.
I can’t be the only person to think this is dumb. One side of it gets blown off and then it becomes useless.
They say that it might clear 4 mines before it is no longer usable but I suspect that that may be generous.
It also occurs to me that if you have one of these things lying in a minefield on it’s now flattened side, not only does it impede further de-mining but it will also need retrieving which may be extremely dangerous should it come to lie over the top of an unexploded device.
@STV
I don’t think this is a mine-clearance device, as much as a path-laying method. Follow the ground disturbed by the ball and you know you won’t be blown up.
It’s impractical for more mundane reasons, such as how you transport it, or indeed, how you get it to mark a path in any direction but downhill.
Now that tougher community sentances are wanted, what about using serial hoodies riding spacehoppers?
That also doesn’t cover the point where the “footprints” seem to leave gaps between them that a mine can slip through, or the fact that on solid terrain, there is no route marking that indicates where the clear lane is.
All in all, I’d still prefer a line charge. With holes blown in the ground, you can tell where it is really safe to put your feet.