How powerful is a claymore mine?

Testing concluded that the mine was effective out to approximately 110 yards (100 m), being capable of hitting 10% of the attacking force. At 55 yards (50 m), this increased to 30%.

How many ball bearings are in a claymore mine?

700 steel ball bearings
A Claymore mine is a military weapon containing approximately1. 5 pounds of C4 plastic explosive and embedded approximately 700 steel ball bearings. It is engineered as a directional antipersonnel weapon to inflict death or serious bodily injury over a large area.

Can you own a claymore mine?

The United States first produced Claymore mines in 1960 and has since produced 7.8 million of them for a cost of $122 million. When used in command-detonated mode, Claymores are permissible under the Mine Ban Treaty. When used in victim-activated mode, usually with a tripwire, they are prohibited.

Are Claymores a war crime?

“Directional fragmentation devices” such as Claymore “mines” are prohibited by the convention if they are victim activated (e.g., by a tripwire). If they are “command detonated” by the action of a soldier, they are not covered by the convention.

Does a Claymore mine have a back blast?

The forward danger radius for friendly forces is 250 meters. The backblast area is unsafe in unprotected areas 16 meters to the rear and sides of the munition. Friendly personnel within 100 meters to the rear and sides of the munition should be in a covered position to be safe from secondary missiles.

Do Claymores have lasers in real life?

For some reason, claymore mines in video games are always set to go off when someone walks in front of the little lasers attached to the front. In real life, mines like those do exist, but they aren’t used on the battlefield. Laser tripwire mines are highly discouraged by the Geneva convention.

Are anti tank mines illegal?

Anti-personnel landmines are prohibited under the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction (or Mine Ban Convention), adopted in 1997.

Are butterfly mines a war crime?

This civilian-combatant distinction is a cardinal principle of international humanitarian law, intended to minimise harm to civilians by keeping violence a matter for combatants. Because anti-personnel mines explode no matter who stands on them, using them violates this principle.

How far behind is Claymore?

The Claymore fires steel balls out to about 100 m (110 yd) within a 60° arc in front of the device. It is used primarily in ambushes and as an anti-infiltration device against enemy infantry. It is also used against unarmored vehicles….M18 Claymore mine.

M18A1 Claymore
In service 1960–present
Used by United States, United Kingdom

Why is the mine called a Claymore?

Its inventor, Norman MacLeod, named the mine after a large medieval Scottish sword. Unlike a conventional land mine, the Claymore is command-detonated and directional, meaning it is fired by remote-control and shoots a pattern of metal balls into the kill zone like a shotgun.