HB 876 mine

The HB 876 mine was an air dropped area denial weapon. It was used as part of the JP233 runway denial system and 'Hades' BL755 cluster bomb. As a result of the anti-personnel mine ban it was withdrawn from British Army service.

Description

The mine is a cylinder consisting of three sections. The top section contains the warhead, consisting of a upward facing Misznay-Schardin effect warhead that generates an explosively formed penetrator capable of punching through heavy bulldozer blades. The patterned sides of the cylinder generate a pattern of fragments capable of penetrating steel plate beyond 20 meters and aluminium plate beyond 50 meters. The middle section of the mine contains the battery, safety and arming mechanism and electronics. The bottom contains the parachute and self-righting mechanism.

After the mine is ejected from either the 'Hades' cluster bomb or JP233 dispensor a drogue parachute is deployed to slow the mine. The drogue parachute is quickly followed by the main parachute. After impact and a brief delay the mine self rights and after another delay it arms itself.

The mine is then either triggered by movement or electronically self-destructs after a pre-set delay of a few minutes to more than 24 hours.

Specifications

• Diameter: 100 mm
• Height: 150 mm
• Weight: 2.4 kg
• Explosive content: 590 g of RDX/TNT

Variants

• HB 876
• HB 876IF Influence sensor version of the mine

See also

• Area denial weapons
• Anti-personnel mine
• Land mine
• Cluster bomb