Ukrainian Engineers Disguise Antitank Mines With Birch Tree Bark

Stacks of birch logs are common in many of the areas where Ukrainian troops are fighting the Russians. 

Camoflaging an antitank mine with tree bark not only makes it harder to identify, but also disguises it from mine detectors and thermal imaging. JL

The Kyiv Post reports:

Ukrainian forces disguised a PTM‑3 anti‑tank mine as a lifelike tree stump. It was hidden among the numerous stacks of similar logs that are a common feature of the forested areas where much of the fighting in the Kursk and Kharkiv regions take place. The use of natural materials, such as tree barks, not only makes the PTM-3 difficult to identify visually but also provides another barrier to identifying it using conventional mine detectors, which is already difficult because of its limited metal content or thermal imaging.

A video recently published by Russia’s Ria Novosti showed how Ukrainian forces had disguised a PTM‑3 anti‑tank mine as a lifelike tree stump.

Ria Novosti claimed the log was discovered in Russia’s Kursk region, where Ukrainian troops continue to hold certain positions as of early July. It was likely hidden among the numerous stacks of similar logs that are a common feature of the forested areas where much of the fighting in the region takes place.

 

The presence of such an ingenious camouflage method has likely raised concerns among Russian troops about what might await them as they move along tracks through wooded areas, as the report suggested.

 

“On one side is the ammunition, on the other side is the wooden frame. It turns out to be maximally disguised and unnoticeable for professionals,” Bogdan Mironov, the deputy commander of a Russian demining unit who showcased the mine, told RIA Novosti.

The PTM-3 anti-tank landmine was originally designed to be scattered in front of advancing armored vehicles from helicopters, by multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) such as the BM-30 Smerch and BM-27 Uragan, UMZ remote mining machine, and the PKM portable mining kit. It can also be laid manually.

The landmine contains approximately 4.5 kilograms (10 pounds) of high explosive, arranged as a linear shaped charge capable of penetrating 100mm of armor. It is initiated by a magnetic influence fuse that is activated when a vehicle comes close enough to trigger it.

 

Commentators suggested that this use of the mine was another example of Ukraine’s creative, out-of-the-box approach to asymmetrical warfare. The use of natural materials, such as tree barks, not only makes the PTM-3 difficult to identify visually but also provides another barrier to identifying it using conventional mine detectors, which is already difficult because of its limited metal content or thermal imaging.

 

The presence or even the possibility of such camouflaged munitions will – if nothing else slow down Russian troops – perhaps force them to change their tactics as they move through, reconnoiter or demine areas where Kyiv’s troops have operated, particularly if they have no or only limited access to mine detection tools.