wire and metal rods, such as welding rods, have also
9. Near bodies or souvenir materials, such as
pistols, field glasses, and bottles of liquor.
been used. The spikes are driven through small
lengths of board and placed on the ground in dense
10. In likely bivouac or assembly areas and in
grass and undergrowth. Stepping on one of the devices
buildings suitable for use as command or observation
causes a serious foot wound requiring evacuation of
posts.
the victim.
In spite of a high incidence of mine and boobytrap
DEADFALLS. Various devices are suspended in
activity and ingenious methods and techniques,
the dense foliage above jungle paths and trails,
effective defensive measures can be developed and
designed to fall or swing in an arc so as to strike
applied in the field. The enemy is not infallible; he does
intended victims as they pass below. They are released
make mistakes, and the material used in mine and
when unwary victims step on or strike with their foot
booby-trap activities is rarely 100 percent reliable. But
do NOT help the enemy by making careless mistakes of
a trip wire stretched across the path. Some of the
your own, such as throwing caution aside when going
devices used include the mace (a spike-studded log),
to the aid of shipmates who have become mine
the spike ball (a concrete or mortar ball into which
casualties. Learn ways to defend yourself against enemy
spikes have been cast), and other deadfalls equipped
mines and booby traps.
with spears or spikes.
SAFEGUARD MATERIAL. From ports of entry to
the most remote battle areas, the enemy makes every
COUNTERMEASURES
effort to obtain needed material and equipment. Enemy
efforts can be thwarted by proper safeguards and
Individual mines and booby traps are most often
policing of the battle area. You can do little to prevent
detected by visual means, by probing, or by electrical
the enemy from picking up artillery and mortar dud
detection. Knowledge of the mining practices of a
shells, but you need not litter the battle area with
discarded hand grenades, ammunition, mines, and other
particular enemy often aids in locating mines. The
items that the enemy can convert to his own use in mine
following are likely locations for mines or booby traps:
and booby-trap activities.
1. Potholes, road patches, or soft spots in surfaced
SAFE INTERVALS. Enemy success in mine
roadways.
warfare is drastically reduced when safe intervals are
2. Under the edges of road surfacing at the
maintained in the movement of troops and vehicles. The
junction of the surfacing and the road shoulder.
effect of many antipersonnel mines and most hand
grenades is such that more than one individual can
3. On road shoulders where mines are easily laid
become a casualty within the effective casualty radius.
and camouflaged.
Well-placed antitank or antivehicular mines can be
4. At locations that block logical bypass routes
equally effective against vehicles in convoy that follow
around a blown bridge or cratered road.
too closely.
5. Around the edges of craters and ends of
TRACK VEHICLES. Wheeled and tracked vehicle
damaged bridges or culverts. Antipersonnel mines are
operators should follow in the tracks of the vehicle
sometimes placed in craters if the craters are likely to be
ahead when the vehicle is in sight. This reduces the
used as shelter from enemy artillery fire or air bombing.
possibility of detonating a pressure-activated mine that
the vehicle ahead may have missed. On the other hand,
6. In barbed-wire entanglements, wire fences, and
old tracks should be avoided if possible because mines
similar obstacles. In any other type of obstacle, such as
may well be placed in old tracks.
abandoned vehicles or among felled tree trunks or limbs
across roads or trails.
CONTROL VEHICLE SPEEDS. Though battles
have been won through rapid and violent attacking
7. Near an unusual object that may have been
maneuvers, speed of itself does not ensure success. It
placed by the enemy for his own use, such as a minefield
can just as well cause you to become careless or reckless,
marker.
which is what the enemy relies on in his employment of
8. In places where it is natural to drive a vehicle,
mines and booby traps. The speed and spacing of
such as turnouts, parking lots, in front of the entrances
vehicles should be varied to make the timing of
to buildings, narrow alleys, and airfield runways.
controlled detonated mines difficult.
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