Valmara 69 AP Mine (Historical Prop)

grabcad

Valmara 69 or V-69 is an Italian bounding anti-personnel mine manufactured by Valsella. Developed from the V-59 mine, it's no longer produced in Italy, but several copies have been made elsewhere, like Singapore's "SPM-1". South Africa also produced a version called the J-69, identical to the Italian one, and even created a single center prong model. Today, South Africa doesn't produce this mine anymore due to compliance with the Mine Ban Treaty requirements. The Valmara 69 has a short tubular olive green or sand colored plastic body containing its steel bounding body. On top of the mine is a round fuse cap with five prongs, which triggers the mine when it tilts due to pressure on one of the prongs or a pull on an attached tripwire. The tilting fuze mechanism remains unaffected by overpressure. When triggered, a spring-loaded firing pin ignites a percussion cap inside the fuze, launching the propellant charge at the base of the mine into the air. As the mine reaches about 50 cm above ground, its integral tether wire tugs on a spring-loaded firing pin in the body of the mine, detonating the main explosive charge. Embedded in a plastic fragmentation sleeve surrounding the main charge are approximately 1,000 pre-cut steel fragments projected at high velocity in all directions. The Valmara 69 has a lethal radius of 25 m, and its fragments remain hazardous beyond that distance, potentially causing deeply penetrating eye wounds. The time from triggering to detonation is roughly one second, leaving no opportunity for cover from the blast. This mine contains significant metal content, making it detectable with a metal detector. However, most of the Valmara 69 remains hidden underground and can be difficult to spot, especially in dense undergrowth. Additionally, it may be laid alongside other mines like the VS-50, making clearance more complicated. Valsella also produced an electronic anti-handling device called the VS-AR, specifically designed for use with Valsella products such as the VS-50, Valmara 69, and VS-1.6/VS-1.2 anti-tank mines. The VS-AR4 has a series of fuse adapters allowing it to be attached to these mines and features a 10-minute mechanical arming delay followed by a 30-minute electronic arming delay. Powering the VS-AR are two 1.5 V batteries, providing an operational life exceeding one year.