Parachute mines

[bill norman]

If a parachute mine was being used against a land target, why did it need a parachute?

[Tapper]

Hi Brian,
Just a guess here,but they were very thin cassed and slamming into the ground would probably have prevented it going off. Remember they were originally intended as a sea mine only.
I have no knowledge on the type of fuse used but again i would imagine it was the original sea fuse, again not designed for intense impact.

Cheers
Jon

[Bruce Dennis]

Hello Bill,
This is not official, but here is the explanation given to me some time ago by a knowledgeable bod. The reason for using the 'mine', rather than a bomb, was to achieve greater blast damage in the target area. This was the result of the mine exploding at ground level and producing a shock wave that spread straight outwards through, for example, residential or industrial buildings, rather than burrowing a hole before detonating, which creates a crater and funnels much of the blast upwards. The practice of bombers dropping a mix of HE and incendiary was based on the same idea.

The German mine used against UK land targets evolved throughout the war, but I believe it was originally adapted simply because it was the largest explosive device the LW could deliver. Much as Jon says, the mine was not intended for use as a bomb so would shatter if allowed to hit the ground without a parachute to slow it down. Also, dropping mines or bombs from very low level also included a great risk of blast damage to the aircraft, which was greatly reduced by the use of a ‘chute.


Perhaps someone with more direct knowledge of the ordinance involved can correct anything I have misrepresented, but this is how it was described to me.

Regards,
Bruce

[bill norman]

Thanks. Tapper and Bruce. Incidentally, Bruce. Did you get the email I sent you a few days ago?

[Bruce Dennis]

Hi Bill, yes, I am just catching up on the mail that came in while I was away, will respond soon.

Regards,
Bruce

[Flitzer]

The mines could be fused for land targets or as sea mines while the delivering aircraft was in the air. Prior to take off a specialist would go to each aircraft and make small adjustments to the mines. Does anyone know what those adjustments were for? PW Stahl's book, The Diving Eagle, details quite a few of these missions where the mines were carried.

[Observer1940]

I believe what the thread is referring to here is known as an "Aerial Mine".

As aircraft were approaching at a given height, our aircraft would attempt to release these aerial mines above and across in front of the approaching aircraft (released in a row).

The parachute would hold suspended, quite a length of cable and at the bottom of the cable would be the mine or bomb.

The idea is that an aircraft wing might strike one of the cables and draw the bomb up, as the cable above the wing with parachute was pulled behind the aircraft.

If hitting the cable and dragging the parachute behind was not enough to damage or down the aircraft, then they hoped the mine which was impact fused / impact time fused to blow near the aircraft would damage the aircraft.

In reality they actually caused more damage where they fell and therefore could only be released over the English Channel or Sea areas. I understand they were discontinued in WW2 for this purpose, as it was difficult to get in position in time to sow them, or to time their release height / distance, across the approaching aircraft. They fell too short, or had fallen out of the way, or the approaching aircraft flew between them.

[Chris Goss]

Wrong type of mine-what Bill is asking about is the Luftwaffe mine. What you write about are the mines dropped by Harrows of 93 Sqn

[Observer1940]

Chris

Yes, I was referring to the British aerial mine.

Mark

[Bombphoon]

I agree with Bruce's answers re. greater blast effect and that the thin aluminium casing would not have survived the drop.

That said, the Cookie - although not aluminium - was also thin cased and it did not require a parachute... hmmmm....