Anti-Tank Mine TM-62M

Enemy vehicles are damaged by destruction of their running gear when the mine charge detonates at the moment a wheel (road wheel) runs over the mine fuze. The detonation of a TM-62M breaks 3-6 track links of a tank and renders the tank’s road wheel and its balancer completely unusable.

On the BTR-60, BTR-70, BTR-80, and BTR-82, one of the wheels and its wheel reduction gear are completely disabled; the crew sustains mild or moderate concussions, but the APC may still continue moving under its own power. On an IFV, the hull cracks along the weld seams; after detonation, the IFV is often beyond repair. After detonation, a BMD simply breaks apart; part of the crew is killed and part sustains severe injuries. After detonation, a BMD is generally beyond repair.

The mine may be emplaced either on the ground or in the ground, in snow, or underwater, manually or by mechanical means — PMZ-4P towed mine layers, GMZ-3 tracked mine layer, and VSM-1 helicopter mine-laying system. The mine has no self-destruct elements. The mine also has no socket for fitting an anti-lift device. It is readily detected by all types of metal detectors (mine detectors), probes, and mine detection dogs.

Unlike TM-46, TM-56, and TM-57 mines, this mine has no pressure covers, and the size of the target sensor is determined by the design features of a particular fuze. The mine is used with the following fuzes: MV-62, MVZ-62, MVCh-62, MVP-62, MVP-62M, MVD-62, MVSh-62, VT-17, MZK, DU-62, MVN-62, MVN-72, MVN-80.

The MVSh-62 fuze is analogous to the MVSh-46 fuze.

The MVD-62 fuze is a two-action fuze, actuated by two successive pressure applications within no more than one second. In this regard, it has increased resistance to roller mine-clearing devices and the detonation of mine-clearing charges. That is, it actuates under the second road wheel of a tank or the wheel of an APC.

Unscrewing the plug on the MVCh-62 and MVP-62M is prohibited! A detonator is secured in the plug.

TM-62M with DU-62 fuze and MZK switch

Instead of the standard fuze, the MZK mine switch is also used, with EDU-2 electric detonators screwed into the DU-62 fuze, which is intended for the simultaneous detonation of two mines.

The distance between the centers of adjacent sensors is 500 mm. When a sensor is run over, a circuit closes and both mines are actuated. The MZK is emplaced in soil of medium hardness or on the surface.

TM-62M with MVN-62 fuze

The MVN-62 fuze is a non-contact magnetic fuze. It has an operational life of 1-3 months (in cold weather the power batteries discharge faster), after which the mine becomes non-explosive. It actuates under the projection of a tank at a speed of more than 5 km/h, or under a motor vehicle at a speed of more than 9 km/h.

A mine with an MVN-62 fuze is emplaced in soil (snow) in such a way that the fuze is above ground level, because it is highly sensitive to low and high temperatures, dampness (power sources fail), and to the freshness of the power sources. Emplacement of a mine with this fuze is by manual means only.

The MVN-62 fuze has very high sensitivity to changes in the magnetic field and may cause the mine to detonate when a person carrying metal objects (helmet, weapon, footwear with nailed soles, etc.) approaches it, or even as a result of moving the mine itself across terrain closer than 200 meters to high-voltage power lines, operating radars, and high-power radio stations. Any electromagnetic effects (magnetic field, radio emissions from a mine detector) will invariably cause the fuze to actuate.

Mine detection is generally carried out by visual observation. Persons searching for mines with MVN-62 fuzes and placing them into transport condition must not carry any ferromagnetic items: weapons, shovels, helmets, knives, probes, etc., and their footwear must not have steel heel plates or nails.

Mines with the MVN-62 fuze are best cleared by trawling. Trawling such mines does not cause problems. The EMT trawl operates reliably and detonates the mines at a safe distance from the vehicle.

Prohibited:

1. Bringing ferromagnetic objects close to mines that have been placed in the armed position, or removing such objects from them.

2. Searching for mines placed in the armed position with probes (even non-steel ones).

3. Manually rendering safe mines emplaced with the fuze concealed (the camouflage layer may contain ferromagnetic objects).

TM-62M with MVN-72 fuze

The MVN-72 fuze is a non-contact magnetic fuze. It has an operational life of 1-3 months (in cold weather the power batteries discharge faster), after which the mine becomes non-explosive. It actuates under the projection of a tank or motor vehicle when it passes over the mine.

A mine with an MVN-72 fuze has the same characteristics and prohibitions as the MVN-62.

The MVN-72 fuze usually has a gray-black color with black markings on the upper surface.

TM-62M with MVN-80 fuze

The MVN-80 fuze is a non-contact/contact fuze operating on the magnetic principle, intended for equipping TM-62 series anti-tank mines and TM-72 mines, and ensures their detonation under the full projection of moving targets. With this fuze, the mine may be emplaced either manually or by helicopter and self-propelled mine layer. It has a remote arming mechanism with an actuation force of 30-300 kg and an arming time of 20-400 s.

A mine with an MVN-80 fuze has the same characteristics and prohibitions as the MVN-62.

Detection and removal of mines emplaced with an MVN-80 fuze is permitted only with the use of the PUV-80 control device.

Persons searching for mines and placing them into transport condition must not carry any ferromagnetic items: weapons, shovels, helmets, knives, probes, etc., and their footwear must not have steel heel plates or nails.

Coloring of TM-62M mines

Dark green or olive green color.

Marking of TM-62M mines

Applied in black paint to the side and upper surface of the mine:

TM-62M - mine code.

A98-13-86 - manufacturer’s plant code - batch number - year of manufacture.

TGA - filling code.