PTM-3 Antitank Mine

The mine’s combat operating time, depending on ambient temperature, is 8-24 hours, after which the mine self-destructs by detonation.

The mine is brought into the armed position automatically 60-100 seconds after ejection from the canister.

The mine’s main fuze is part of the mine’s design; it is magnetic and responds to the magnetic field of a tank, APC, or vehicle. The mine fuze also responds to a person approaching the mine if they are carrying metal objects weighing more than 50-100 grams, in which case it becomes an antipersonnel mine.

In the armed position, the mine cannot be rendered safe, because in addition to the main magnetic fuze the mine is equipped with an auxiliary fuze that functions when the mine’s position changes. The auxiliary fuze responds to movement of the mine or its tilting in any direction from the initial position. Intentional or accidental movement of a mine in the armed position is interpreted by the fuze as a change in the magnetic field, and it functions.

In terms of explosive charge-to-weight data, the mine is relatively weak. The best effect is achieved when the mine detonates under the bottom of a tank. The mine creates a hole in the bottom 20-25 cm long and slightly less than 1 centimeter wide. In this case, the crew suffers severe blast concussion or dies from the high pressure generated in the tank’s fighting compartment when the shaped-charge jet penetrates it. Tank systems may be disabled, and a fire may also occur. When the mine detonates under a tank track, one, rarely two, track links are destroyed. An BTR-80 wheel running over the mine causes damage only to the tire. The APC itself fully retains its mobility.

The mine is emplaced on the ground by remote minelaying systems (PKM-1, VSM-1, UMZ, UMZ-K) that use KPTM-3 canisters. One PTM-3 mine and an expelling propellant charge are contained in the KPTM-3 canister.

PTM-3 mines are also used to equip 9M59 "Tumannost" rockets of the 9K57 "Uragan" MLRS (9 mines per rocket) and 9M55K4 rockets of the 9K58 "Smerch" MLRS (25 mines per rocket).

The 9M59 rocket has a flight range of 10 - 35 kilometers.

The 9M55K4 rocket has a flight range of 20 - 70 kilometers.

It is also possible to mount KPTM-3 canisters on Geran-2 unmanned aerial vehicles.

Coloring

The mine may be painted green, gray-green, yellow-gray, or brown-gray.

Marking

Applied in black paint on the side face near the fuze and includes:

PTM-3 - mine code.

D676-2-89 - manufacturer plant code - lot number - year of manufacture.

TG-40 - filling code.

On the end face of the fuze, the marking is standard, in black letters:

VT-06 - mine code.

D676-2-89 - manufacturer plant code - lot number - year of manufacture.