M14 AP Mine (Historical Prop)

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The M14 mine is a small (56 mm [2.2 in] diameter) anti-personnel landmine that was first deployed by the United States around 1955.[1] The M14 mechanism uses a belleville spring to flip a firing pin downwards into a stab detonator when pressure is applied, making it very difficult to detect because most of its components are plastic. However, the design was later modified to add a steel washer, glued onto the base of the mine, to ease mine clearance. The M14 mine has a simple arming indicator (an arrow embossed on the pressure plate) which can point to either A(rmed) or S(afe), giving a clear indication of its status. When the arrow points to "A", the M14 will detonate if stepped on. Disarming the M14 requires the arming steps to be performed in reverse, but due to the possibility of a booby trap or anti-handling device being fitted underneath, it is often standard demining practice to destroy land mines in situ, without attempting to remove and disarm them. The M14 has not been in active US service since 1974. However, as of 2010, the United States retains a stockpile of 1.5 million mines held in reserve for emergency use on the Korean peninsula, because they are regarded as reliable and effective weapons. This mine has been widely exported and used by various countries, so uncleared minefields containing M14s do exist. The M14 mine has been found in Angola, Cambodia, Chad, Chile, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Cyprus, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Laos, Lebanon, Malawi, Mozambique, Somalia, Vietnam, and Zambia. Copies of the M14 design have also been manufactured locally by countries such as India and Vietnam. The mine is extensively used by the local Burmese Army in Burma. Just like the VS-MK2 (33 gram explosive charge), SB-33 (35 gram charge) or PMA-3 (35 gram charge), the 29 grams of high explosive in an M14 mine is specifically designed to disable victims, not kill them. Although the blast wound from an M14 is unlikely to be fatal, assuming prompt emergency medical care is provided, it usually destroys a significant part of the victim's foot, leading to some form of permanent disability regarding their gait. The fact that the explosive charge in an M14 is slightly cone shaped focuses most of the blast upwards, increasing its destructive effects. In situations where M14 victims are barefoot or wearing sandals (e.g. in Burma), the wounds are more severe. Due to the relative simplicity of the firing mechanism, the M14 mine is not resistant to blast-clearing methods, unlike more modern antipersonnel mine designs such as the TS-50 mine. The specifications for the M14 mine include a weight of 108 grams, an explosive content of 29 grams (1 ounce) of Tetryl, a diameter of 56 mm, and a height of 40 mm. The operating pressure is between 9 to 16 kilograms.