PFM-1 AP MINE (Historical Prop)

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PFM-1 (Russian: ПФМ-1) is a Soviet-produced land mine that bears striking resemblance to the US Army's BLU-43. Both devices share similar shape and principles, but utilize different explosives. In operation, the PFM-1 functions as a plastic container housing explosive liquid. A pin secures a detonating plunger within the mine. When the arming pin is removed, the spring-activated plunger slowly moves forward until it strikes the detonator, arming the device. This process takes anywhere from one to forty minutes, allowing for manual deployment or air-dropped delivery. The mine's soft plastic skin deforms under pressure, triggering the detonation of the mine through a cumulative pressure primer. Handling the mine poses significant risk due to its single-pressure primer; a mere 5 kg press can activate the device. Although the charge is typically non-lethal, it is sufficient to cause foot damage if stepped on. The PFM-1's design derives from optimizing space within dispenser casings, resulting in an attractive shape and vibrant coloration that has led Western media to speculate that the mine was deliberately designed as a toy. The Soviets have consistently denied this claim. The plastic body can be molded into various colors for camouflage purposes; existing stocks were primarily green, making them easily visible during their initial use in 1980s Afghanistan. The "green parrot" name is a result of their distinctive coloring and shape, which has been mistakenly identified as a toy by children. This led to the device being used extensively in the Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan, resulting in a high number of child casualties due to its resemblance to a toy. The mine's explosive force often caused hand and head trauma, frequently leading to lethal outcomes. The PFM-1 is employed via both helicopter deployment and infantry dispersal methods. In the latter variant, multiple mines are scattered over a 15-meter radius. Once the fuze on a PFM-1 is armed, it cannot be disarmed. A self-destructing variant, the PFM-1S, has been developed to destroy itself after one to forty hours, with 85% of mines destroyed within eighty hours. Standard render-safe procedures involve detonating a small explosive charge adjacent to the mine. The PFM-1 played a significant role in the Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan, resulting in numerous child casualties due to its mistaken identity as a toy. The device's characteristic trauma patterns made it a primary target for the International Campaign to Ban Landmines. Specifications: Weight: 75 g Filling: 37 g of VS6-D or VS-60D liquid explosive Fuze: MVDM/VGM-572 Length: 120 mm Width: 20 mm Height: 61 mm Operating pressure: 5–25 kg