M16 Mine
| Factions | Weapon | Icon | Classes | Ammo | Explosion | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Damage | Radius | |||||
 US |
 M16 Mine |
 |
 Engineer |
1 | 150 | 256 |
| Designation | Weapon Type | Explosive Weight | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| [[]] | AP Mine | kg ( lbs) | kg ( lbs) |
| Full name | Place of Origin | Date | Manufacturer | Total Length | Weapon Script Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FN | USA | 1957 | ARM | in ( mm) | weapon_m16mine |
The M16 mine is a U.S. bounding anti-personnel fragmentation mine designed to wound or kill by throwing a fragmentation canister upward before it detonates. It can be initiated by pressure or by tripwire using compatible fuzes, making it suitable for perimeter defense and obstacle protection. The M16 is best known as a “bouncing” mine type (similar in concept to the WWII German S-mine) and for its widespread employment in Cold War-era minefields, including Vietnam.
HISTORY
The M16 series was developed in the post–World War II period to provide U.S. forces with a bounding fragmentation mine that could defend positions and protect other obstacles, particularly anti-tank minefields. In function, it uses a small propelling charge to launch the inner canister upward, then detonates at about waist height to disperse fragments over a wide area. Variants such as the M16A1 and M16A2 retained the same basic concept while incorporating production and component changes, and the mine was typically issued with fuzes that allowed either pressure actuation or tripwire initiation.
During the Vietnam War, M16 bounding mines were employed by U.S. and allied forces for perimeter defense, ambush protection, and nuisance mining, especially around bases, fire support positions, and key approaches. Their bounding burst made them particularly dangerous in open or lightly vegetated lanes, and they were also used to deter breaching attempts against larger minefield systems. Like many mines used in the conflict, M16-series mines contributed to the long-term hazards of unexploded ordnance and required careful marking, reporting, and clearance operations during and after hostilities.
Sources
- Australian War Memorial – M16A1 Anti Personnel Mine (collection entry)
- U.S. Army – FM 20-32 Mine/Countermine Operations (M16 series description)
- U.S. Army – TM 9-1345-200 (M16A1 mine and M605 fuze)
- U.S. Army – TM 43-0001-36 Ammunition Data Sheets for Land Mines (M16 series)