View source for Mine-clearing line charge

{{Short description|Explosive charges used for demining}}
{{More citations needed|date=July 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}
[[File:Mine Clearing Land Charge Operation Bright Star 2001 DF-SD-03-04342.jpg|thumb|An MCLC detonation in front of two armored vehicles during [[Exercise Bright Star|Exercise Bright Star 2001]]]]

A '''mine-clearing line charge ''' (abbreviated '''MCLC''' or '''MICLIC'''; pronounced {{IPAc-en|m|ɪ|k|.|l|ɪ|k}} or "mick-lick") is a device used to create a breach in [[minefields]] under [[combat]] conditions. While there are many types, the basic design is for many explosive charges connected on a line to be projected onto the minefield and then exploded, detonating any buried mines, thus clearing a path for troops to cross.

The system may either be human-portable or vehicle-mounted. Man-portable MCLCs are primarily used to clear smaller paths for dismounted [[infantry]] while the larger vehicle mounted are used to clear paths for [[Combat vehicle|combat vehicles]]. The systems do not guarantee clearance of all types of mines.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://web.etel.ru/~saper/index-texnica.html |title=Инженерная техника Советской Армии |trans-title=Engineering equipment of the Soviet Army |first=Yuri |last=Veremeyev |date=2000 |website=Cайер |language=ru |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20010508141718/http://web.etel.ru/~saper/index-texnica.html |archive-date=2001-05-08}}</ref>
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| caption1          = Japanese MCLC launch
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== History ==
The British and Commonwealth developed their systems during the Second World War. The Canadians developed "Snake", an oversized application of the [[Bangalore torpedo]] in 1941 to 1942.{{sfn|Swettenham|1968|p=217}} A more flexible development was "Conger", developed in 1944, a tube that could be fired across the minefield and then filled with explosive before detonation.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/docs/981100-schneck.htm |title=The Origins of Military Mines: Part II |first=William C. |last=Schneck |date=November 1998 |website=[[Federation of American Scientists]]}}</ref>

Conger was a 2-inch (51&nbsp;mm) woven hose launched by a five-inch (127&nbsp;mm) rocket. The tube and rocket were mounted in a [[Universal Carrier]] which had been stripped out to reduce it down to an armoured tracked trailer that could be towed by a tank, often a [[Churchill AVRE]]. The rocket was fired, trailing the hose across the area to be cleared. Compressed air was then used to pump the liquid explosive – just over a ton of "822C" nitroglycerin – into the hose before it was detonated. Conger was used in [[Invasion of Normandy|Normandy]] where there were instances of premature detonation.<ref>{{cite book |last=Fletcher |first=David |title=The Universal Tank |date=1993 |publisher=[[HMSO]] |location=London, UK |isbn=0-11-290534-X |page=94}}</ref> In October 1944 a Conger prematurely exploded in Ijzendijke, the Netherlands, killing 57 British and Canadian Soldiers.

In the 1950s the British introduced [[Giant Viper]] towed MICLIC.

In 1991, during the First Gulf War (aka the [[Gulf War|Persian Gulf War]]) MICLICs, such as the Giant Viper, consisted of rocket launched lines containing roughly 800 kilograms of explosives, stretching some 100 meters long. These MICLICs were used by Coalition forces to penetrate extensive [[Iraq]]i minefield along the Saudi-Kuwait border.<ref>{{cite book |first1=Alberto |last1=Bin |first2=Richard |last2=Hill |first3=Archer |last3=Jones |date=1998 |title=Desert Storm: A Forgotten War |location=Westport, Connecticut |publisher=Praeger |page=157 |isbn=978-0-27596-319-4}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media |people=Boulting, Roy |date=2003 |title=Modern Warfare: The Persian Gulf War |medium=DVD |publisher=Total Content Digital}}</ref>

During the [[South African Border War]], South African forces employed the use of the Plofadder system to clear paths through Angolan and Cuban minefields.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.warinangola.com/Default.aspx?tabid=1851&Parameter=4018&Parameter2=1851&Parameter3=1743 |website=War in Angola |access-date=29 October 2022|title=Equipment Details }}</ref>

== Current use ==
[[File:US Navy 111213-N-BA263-028 Lt. j.g. Jacob Mello, assigned to Commander, Task Group 56.1, prepares 25 mm high-explosive incendiary rounds for dispos.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Laid out line charge being used to destroy surplus ammunition]]
Systems in current use include the British [[Python minefield breaching system]], which can clear a {{convert|7.3|m|ft|adj=on}} wide by {{convert|180|–|200|m|ft|adj=on}} long path, and the American [[M58 MICLIC|M58 Mine Clearing Line Charge]], which can clear an 8 m wide by 100 m long path.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/m58-miclic.htm |title=M58 Mine Clearing Line Charge (MICLIC) |date=12 September 1998 |website=Federation of American Scientists |access-date=16 June 2013}}</ref> Both are large, heavy systems that are deployed in a vehicle-towed trailer.

The US Army also uses the [[Antipersonnel Obstacle Breaching System]], which clears a path 0.6 to 1.0 meters by 45 meters, and is light enough to be carried by two soldiers.

There have been reports of Russian forces using the [[UR-77 Meteorit]] MICLIC systems [[Russian military intervention in the Syrian civil war|in Syria]] as offensive weapons to destroy buildings during urban fighting.<ref name=ur77>{{cite web |title=UR 77 demining system used in urban warfare |url=https://twitter.com/200_zoka/status/1517974942473760770?cxt=HHwWhMC9gd2K95AqAAAA |website=Twitter |access-date=24 April 2022}}</ref><ref name=meteor>{{Cite web |last=Roblin |first=Sebastien |date=2022-04-26 |title=Russia's 'Meteorite' Could Be Putin's Secret Weapon to Kill Ukraine's Cities |url=https://www.19fortyfive.com/2022/04/russias-meteorite-could-be-putins-secret-weapon-to-kill-ukraines-cities/ |access-date=2022-08-17 |website=19FortyFive |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Countermeasures==
Some modern mines, such as the Italian [[SB-33 mine]], have a fuze mechanism that detonates the mine if subject to gradual, steady pressure, but locks the fuze if subject to a sudden shock. Such mines are resistant to clearing by line charges.

==Examples==
* [[M58 MICLIC]] (Mine Clearing Line Charge) vehicle
* [[M1150 Assault Breacher Vehicle]]
* [[Antipersonnel Obstacle Breaching System]] (APOBS)
* Heavy Portable Obstacle Minefield Breaching System (H-POMBS),<ref>{{Cite web |title=Heavy Portable Obstacle Minefield Breaching System H-POMBS |url=https://wescomdefence.com/product/live-systems/heavy-portable-obstacle-mine{{not a typo|ﬁ}}eld-breaching-system-h-pombs/ |access-date=2023-07-16 |website=Wescom Defence |language=en-GB}}</ref> also known as, Personnel Explosive Lane Clearing Charge (PELLC) – manufactured by Wescom Defence GmbH. A modern personnel sized version of the [[Giant Viper|Giant-Viper]]. Purchased by the Australian Army under LAND 144.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Land Warfare – Minesweeper: Land 144 close to first deliveries {{!}} ADM Oct 08 – Australian Defence Magazine |url=https://www.australiandefence.com.au/56FFFF20-F807-11DD-8DFE0050568C22C9 |access-date=2023-07-16 |website=www.australiandefence.com.au |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Python minefield breaching system]]
* Charge Line Mine Clearing (Vehicle) – Indian
* [[UR-77 Meteorit|UR-77]] Soviet Meteorit Mineclearing System (rocket launched explosive hose),<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.mod.mil.by/s55ur77_by.html |title=Устаноўка размініравання Ур-77 |trans-title=UR-77 demining unit |website=[[Ministry of Defence (Belarus)|Мiнiстэрства абароны РБ]] |language=ru |access-date=2008-04-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120211155319/http://www.mod.mil.by/s55ur77_by.html |archive-date=2012-02-11 |url-status=dead}}</ref> replacement of the UR-67 system based on the [[BTR-50]]PK chassis.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.popmech.ru/part/print.php?rubricid=7&articleid=1965 |title=Zmei Gorinich and URka |date=May 2007 |first=Yuri |last=Veremeyev |website=[[Popular Mechanics]] |language=ru |access-date=2008-04-28 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070906122639/http://www.popmech.ru/part/print.php?rubricid=7&articleid=1965 |archive-date=2007-09-06}}</ref>
*Turkish [[MKE TAMGEÇ]] and MKE TAMKAR. Tracked with [[FNSS ACV-15]] mounted on trailer.
*Japanese {{ill|Type-70 Minefield Clearing Device|ja|70式地雷原爆破装置}} and {{ill|Type-92 Minefield Breaching Rocket System|ja|92式地雷原処理車}} (MBRS)

==See also==
* [[Bangalore torpedo]]
* [[Canadian pipe mine]]

==References ==
{{Reflist}}

;Bibliography
{{refbegin}}
*{{cite book
  | last       = Swettenham
  | first      = John Alexander 
  | year       = 1968
  | title      = [[Andrew McNaughton|McNaughton]]
  | volume     = 2 (1939–1943)
  | publisher  = [[Ryerson Press]]
  | location   = Whitby, Ontario
  | isbn       = 978-0-77000-238-1
  }}
{{refend}}

==External links==
{{Commons cat}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mine-Clearing Line Charge}}
[[Category:Mine warfare countermeasures]]
[[Category:English inventions]]