Antitank-Mines:

According Finnish Continuation War era manuals Finnish were to have 1 - 2 antitank-mines per frontline meter. The roads were enemy was likely to use had to be mined with in depth with 10 - 50 antitank mines per road kilometre. The mines had to be camouflaged well and fake mines could also be placed among the real ones to make their clearance more difficult for the enemy. Antitank mines were useful, but they didn't do wonders. For antitank mine do its thing at least two thirds of the mine had end up under track of armoured vehicle. Even when the mine exploded the typical damage was just broken track - a relatively minor damage, which could be repaired. However, the mobility kill gave good chance for another antitank weapons. Finnish military commonly installed antitank-mines 4 meters apart from each other. During WW2 Finnish antitank mines m/36 and m/39 proved to have too small explosive charges for the to reliably break tracks of some Soviet tanks, so additional explosive charges were introduced for these mines and used with them when necessary. The pressure needed to trigger antitank mine varied between 100 - 350 kg depending their model and fuse. According Finnish manuals adding antitank-mines to existing damaged minefield was forbidden. If needed the favoured method was rather building a new minefield either in front or back of the old damaged one. Both freezing of ground and snow made already installed antitank-mines unreliable for winter. With snow on the ground the weight of tanks driving to minefield was an issue - heavy tanks triggered antitank mines even as much as 60 cm of snow on top of them, but already much less snow made antitank-mines unreliable against light tanks. Antitank mines placed on ice worked, but with variation of temperatures unless maintained they slowly sunk inside the ice and became ineffective in that way.

PICTURE: Finnish antitank-mine m/36. The blue cross painted across its lid indicates that this is training version of the mine. (Photo taken in Panssarimuseo). CLICK THUMBNAIL TO SEE LARGER PIC (48 KB).

Transport method: Wood crates each containing 4 mines. Crate size 37 cm x 43 cm x 68 cm. Fuses for the mines in locker of the crate. Weight of the fully loaded crate 48 kg.

This was the first antitank mine introduced to use of Finnish Army. Its main designer was Lieutenant-Colonel T. Raatikainen (Chief of Ordnance Department for GHQ of Finnish Armed Forces during WW2), while Lieutenant-Colonel Pylkkänen had assisted as engineer expert in this designing work. Antitank-mine m/36 had disc-shaped sheet metal body with spread out lower part, which had jagged lower surface. The jagged lower surface was likely in the mine to make sure that it would not slide on frozen ground or ice. The fuse used in the mine was the typical pressure activated kind. Side of the mine has a handle for carrying it. Pressure on top of the mine breaks the triggering pin in the fuse releasing the firing pin, which hits the primer cap setting it off, which detonates the fuse for fuse wire that explodes the whole explosive charge located inside the mine. Marking painted in bottom of the mine indicates the explosive used in it: Marking "TAN" indicates amatol while "R" indicates TNT filling. During World War 2 the 2.8-kg explosive charge contained by this mine proved too small for some Soviet tanks. For fixing this problem Finnish Army introduced two additional explosive charges, which were used with this mine. One of these two additional explosive charges for at-mine m/36 was loaf-like while the other was cylindrical, each of them contained about 2.5-kg of TNT. These additional explosive charges were placed under the actual mine when it was buried to ground. When the additional explosive charges were not available second antitank-mine m/36 could be placed upside down below the actual mine for increased effectiveness. Training-version of the mine (which contained no explosives) was marked with blue cross painted across its lid. Fuse of the mine had been desinged so, that it fit also to Finnish artillery shells, which used "is 32/41" size fuses. Theoretically this would have allowed using artillery shells as antitank mines with these fuses - resulting very similar concept as used during World War 1. But as fuse was the most complicated part of antitank mine m/36 and the extra fuses doesn't seem to have been manufactured this probably didn't happen. All the manufactured fuses got used with the antitank mines and Finnish military doesn't seem to have used antitank mines build from artillery shells d uring World War 2.

PICTURE: Structural drawing of antitank-mine m/36. CLICK THUMBNAIL TO SEE LARGER PIC (54 KB).

Finnish antitank-mine m/36 was quite a good a weapon when introduced in 1936, but unfortunately its explosive charge was too small and its structure (especially the sheet metal body) too complicated for wartime mass-production with rather limited Finnish industrial capacity. As typical in 1930's this mine was kept very secret maybe even too long. Even the permanent staff of Finnish Army didn't get training for their use until few months before beginning of Winter War in 1939. The first manual about this mine "Hyökkäysvaunumiina m/36" was published already in 1938, but very few people got to read it already that year. Only 5,000 antitank-mine m/36 were ever manufactured. They were all finished before Winter War, so when it begun their distribution policy made focus of Finnish antitank warfare quite obvious - 4,825 were issued to Finnish troops in Carelian Isthmus and only 175 to troops north of Lake Ladoga. Antitank mine m/39 replaced this mine in production already before Winter War.

PICTURE: Finnish antitank-mine m/39. (Photo taken in Panssarimuseo). CLICK THUMBNAIL TO SEE LARGER PIC (48 KB).

Transport method: Wood crates each containing 4 mines. Crate size 17 cm x 29 cm x 108 cm. Fuses for the mines in lockers placed in corners of the crate. Weight of fully loaded crate 35 kg.

PICTURE: Structural drawing of antitank-mine m/39. CLICK THUMBNAIL TO SEE LARGER PIC (59 KB).

Finnish Army introduced this antitank-mine in 1939. The first ones were not delivered until December 1939, when Winter War had already begun. Also m/39 had sheet metal body, but its structure was much less complicated. The mine actually looked quite lot like a kettle with lid. The fuse was typical pressure activated type, it was physically smaller but the basic structure was similar as in m/36. Also this mine had too small explosive charge for some of the Soviet tanks, so Finnish Army introduced additional explosive charge to be used with it when necessary. The additional explosive charge looked like a metal box with handle and contained 2.5-kg TNT charge. The additional explosive charge had markings "LISÄPANOS PS.MIINAAN m/39" (additional explosive charge for at-mine m/39) and "TÄMÄ PUOLI YLÖSPÄIN" (this side up) on top of it. When the mine was used with the additional explosive charge it was installed under the actual mine. If more powerful explosive charge was required but additional explosive charges were not available two antitank-mines m/39 could be installed on top of each other.

Production of this antitank-mine was started during Winter War. It had been designed before this war and once the war begun some 85,000 were ordered. But while it was less complicated than M/36, it still proved too complicated for immediate effective mass-production. As this would not have been enough it proved less practical to use than anticipated. As the mass-production of this mine was problematic, Finnish military needed another easier to manufacture antitank mine - that mine proved to be m/S-39, which was also introduced to production during Winter War.

PICTURE: Finnish antitank-mine m/S-39. (Photo taken in Sotamuseo). CLICK THUMBNAIL TO SEE LARGER PIC (42 KB).

PICTURE: Another Finnish antitank-mine m/S-39. When this is compared to the one above there are some obvious differences.(Photo taken in Jalkaväkimuseo). CLICK THUMBNAIL TO SEE LARGER PIC (50 KB).

Finnish metal industry with its very limited production capability could not produce rather difficult to manufacture antitank-mine m/39 in numbers large enough, so a simpler design was needed. That simpler antitank-mine design was m/S-39 developed in Ministry of Defence in October of 1939. Major A. Saloranta lead the development work so the name was partly named after him, hence the letter "S" coming from first letter of his last name in name of the mine. As the basic structure of m/S-39 was rather simple wooden box containing explosive charge. It was easier and cheaper to manufacture, while normal furniture factories and carpenters not otherwise heavily occupied with wartime production could manufacture the boxes needed for them. The industrial production of the mine started in 8^th of November 1939 in furniture factories of Lahti and Helylä, which manufactured almost 2,000 already during the first week of production. Antitank-mine m/S-40 was improved design introduced during Winter War. Unlike improvised box mines manufactured by Engineer units antitank-mines m/S-39 and m/S-40 had pressure-activated fuses quite similar to one used in earlier Finnish antitank-mines. The pin triggering the fuse breaks when certain amount of pressure is applied on top of the mine. When the pin breaks it will release the firing pin, which hits primer setting it off, which sets of fuse for fuse wire, which detonates accelerant explosive (which sets off TNT or chlorate-resin). However they safeties used (during transport and storage) in these two mine models were not similar. While m/S-39 had below lid two iron bars, which were removed after the mine had been placed and covered the m/S-40 had safety ring made from wood inside the mine, which was removed before the mine was set. When compared to earlier Finnish antitank-mines the production numbers for m/S-39 and m/S-40 were huge - over 133,000 were manufactured by end of Winter War. Due to shortage of TNT also chlorate-resin was used in m/S-39 and possibly also in m/S-40. Besides easier to manufacture than earlier at-mines M/36 and M/39 these two landmines build in wooden boxes were also much cheaper. While manufacturing even M/39 cost 500 FIM (Finnish marks) the production costs per mine for m/S-39 or m/S-40 were only about 110 FIM. Additional (likely unintended) perk related to these mines was that thanks to their wooden structure they proved difficult to mine with mine detectors (first of which Finnish Army captured from the Soviets during Winter War). During Winter War chlorate-resin was used also in many other landmines such as pipe mines. Like the name suggests chlorate-resin was mix of chlorate and resin. The boxed used in these mines were equipped with explosives in plants located to Lohja, Kouvola and Enso. During Winter War these three plants spent average 12 tons of explosives per day while installing explosives to m/S-39 and m/S-40 mines. By end of Winter War the three plants had used over 450 tons of explosives in this work.

PICTURE: Structural drawing of antitank-mine m/S-40. While the structure had some improvements when compared to box mine, it was still very complicated when compared later antitank-mine m/44. . CLICK THUMBNAIL TO SEE LARGER PIC (49 KB).

Deliveries of m/S-39 and m/S-40 to Finnish Army during Winter War:

PICTURE: Antitank-mine m/41. (Photo taken in Panssarimuseo). CLICK THUMBNAIL TO SEE LARGER PIC (34 KB).

Transport method: Crates each containing 4 mines. Size of the crate 41-cm x 44-cm x 63-cm. Crate with full load weighted about 70 kg.

PICTURE: Structural drawing of antitank-mine m/41 with old fuse. CLICK THUMBNAIL TO SEE LARGER PIC (55 KB).

This antitank-mine is German "Tellermine 35", which German military introduced to their use in 1935. Finland bought these mines in large numbers after Winter War and they saw large-scale use with Finnish military during Continuation War (1941 - 1944). To be exact two versions of this mine existed: The original "Tellermine 35" had pressure plate made from aluminium, while later "Tellermine 35 S" had steel pressure plate. Likely most if not all of the "Tellermine 35" mines were actually "Tellermine 35 S" version. The mine was disc-shaped and had sheet metal body. Like most German antitank-mine designs it had anti-lift fuse wells for fuses, to these fuse wells could be installed additional fuses, which detonated the mine if it was carelessly lifted. As usual the fuse was activated by pressure on top of the mine. However these mines with variety of fuses. Finnish manuals list two versions: "antitank-mine m/41 with old fuse" and "antitank-mine m/41 with new fuse". The version Finnish military liked to call "at-mine m/41 with old fuse" was the version equipped with rather complicated and large "Tellerminezunder 35" (T.Mi.Z 35) fuse, with which this anti-tank mine was originally introduced. The other version, which Finnish military called "at-mine m/41 with new fuse" was this mine used with either "T.mi.Z. 42" fuse or "T.mi.Z. 43" fuse also used in later German antitank-mines "Tellermine 42" and "Tellermine 43". Special steel sleeve had to be installed for the mine for it to be used with these new fuses. From these two "T.mi.Z. 42" was rather simple pressure-activated fuse, "but T.mi.Z. 43" fuse had also been equipped with anti-withdrawal system, which activated the fuse if anybody tried carelessly removed it from the mine. Finnish military manuals don't mention this characteristic with the mine, but it doesn't mean that also "T.mi.Z. 43" could not have been used also by Finnish troops as this is not mentioned in Finnish manuals with the "Tellermine 43" routinely using this fuse either. So, Finnish troops might have used only "T.mi.Z. 42" fuse in their "at-mine m/41 with new fuse" or they might have used both of the fuses. The Germans manufactured these mines from December of 1935 to end of 1943, by that time the total production of these mines was about 4.2 million. Originally these mines had TNT-filling, but Finnish manuals list only these mines only with amatol filling. If both safety pins of the old "T.Mi. 35" fuse were removed the fuse became so sensitive, that just man stepping the mine could activate it. As usual this mine had handle made from metal wire attached to its side.

PICTURE: Antitank-mine m/42. (Photo taken in Panssarimuseo). CLICK THUMBNAIL TO SEE LARGER PIC (32 KB).

Transport method: Wood frames each containing 2 mines and boxes each containing 1 mine. Fuses arrived in cardboard boxes each containing 6 fuses.

PICTURE: Transport box of antitank-mine m/42.(Photo taken in Jalkaväkimuseo). CLICK THUMBNAIL TO SEE LARGER PIC (44 KB).

This antitank-mine is German "Tellermine 42". German military introduced it to their own use in 1942. Some 9.8 million were manufactured between August of 1942 and German collapse in 1945. The mine was disc-shaped and had sheet metal body. Like most German antitank-mine designs it had anti-lift fuse wells for fuses, to which one could install additional fuses to booby-trap the mine. These additional fuses with their wires detonated the mine if it was carelessly lifted. Like usual in German antitank mines the mine had handle made from metal wire in its side for carrying it. International sources claim that this mine had TNT-filling, but Finnish manuals list it with only amatol filling. It could be used with two optional fuses: "T.mi.Z. 42" originally introduced with it and "T.mi.Z. 43" more commonly used in "Tellermine 43" antitank-mine. From these two "T.mi.Z. 42 was typical pressure-activated fuse, but besides pressure activation "T.mi.Z. 43" fuse had also anti-withdrawal system, which activated the fuse if anybody tried carelessly removed it from the mine. During Continuation War Finland bought large number of these mines and they saw large-scale use with Finnish Army. Due to shape of the quite visible pressure plate located on top of the mine US soldiers nicknamed this mine "mushroom".

PICTURE: Antitank-mine m/43. (Photo taken in Panssarimuseo). CLICK THUMBNAIL TO SEE LARGER PIC (36 KB).

Transport method: Wooden crates each containing 4 mines. Size of crate 37 cm x 37 cm x 48 cm. Weight of fully loaded crate some 45-kg.

PICTURE: Structural drawing of antitank-mine m/43. CLICK THUMBNAIL TO SEE LARGER PIC (49 KB).

This antitank-mine was German "Tellermine 43" introduced to use of German military in 1943. Some 3.6 million were manufactured during its production between March of 1943 and German collapse in 1945. Like earlier "Tellermine 43" it was disc-shaped and had sheet metal body with distinctive pressure plate on top the mine. Also, like earlier German antitank-mines with sheet metal body it had anti-lift fuse wells for fuses, to which one could install additional fuses to booby-trap the mine. These additional fuses with their wires detonated the mine if it was carelessly lifted. Also as usual this mine had handle made from metal wire on its side for carrying it. It could be used with two optional fuses: "T.mi.Z. 42" originally introduced with it and "T.mi.Z. 43" more commonly used in ealier "Tellermine 42". From these two "T.mi.Z. 42 was typical pressure-activated fuse, but besides pressure activation "T.mi.Z. 43" fuse had also anti-withdrawal system, which activated the fuse if anybody tried carelessly removed it from the mine. When compared against earlier "Tellermine 42" the largest improvement of this mine was simpler structure, which made its manufacturing easier. Foreign sources mention this mine with both TNT- and amatol filling, but Finnish manuals list it only with amatol. For storing and transport wood filling was installed inside the pressure plate to make it safe.

PICTURE: Finnish antitank-mine m/44. (Photo taken in Panssarimuseo). CLICK THUMBNAIL TO SEE LARGER PIC (41 KB).

(*) Pressure in any other part on top of the mine then in the middle likely will not activate the fuse.

Transport method: Crates each containing 4 mines. Fuses located to separate lockers inside the crate. Size of crate 37 cm x 40 cm x 61 cm. Weight in full crate some 45 kg.

PICTURE: Structural drawing of Finnish antitank-mine m/44. It makes interesing comparison to structural drawing of antitank-mine m/S-40. Compared to it M/44 was masterpiece of effective simplicity. CLICK THUMBNAIL TO SEE LARGER PIC (49 KB).

Finnish Army introduced this antitank-mine to its use in 1944. It was Finnish design, which basically had wood box, which pressure would push deeper inside wood frame applying pressure to the fuse located in between the wood box and the frame. The fuse seems to have been similar to ones used in German-made "panssarimiina m/42" and "panssarimiina m/43". Side of the mine had handle made from metal wire for carrying it. For storage and transport the fuse was replaced with a wooden plug. The upper part of mine was attached to lower part with a hinge and latch, which allowed opening up the mine for installing or removing the fuse. Finnish military used these mines in 1944.

PANSSARIMIINA m/40 (antitank-mine m/40): Only one of Finnish sources claims that this mine even existed. None of the Finnish military manuals even mention it. So, either it didn't exist or it may have been prototype, which never saw mass-production. Supposedly it had disc-shaped circular sheet metal body, its diameter was 16 cm and height 14 cm. This supposed mine weight 4.2-kg, which included 3.2-kg explosive charge. The claimed fuse was typical pressure activated type with activation pressure of 150-kg.

SOVIET TM 35 and TM 38 antitank-mines (Tankovaja Mina 35 / Tankovaja Mina 38): Finnish Army cleared huge number of these antitank-mines from Soviet minefields during Continuation War. Reportedly large number of the mines captured in this way were reused in Finnish minefields.

PICTURE: Captured Soviet antitank mine. (Photo taken in Maneesi of Sotamuseo). CLICK THUMBNAIL TO SEE LARGER PIC (53 KB).

SOURCES (FOR ALL THREE PARTS):

Pioneeriaselajin historia 1918-1968 by Eero-Eetu Saarinen

Pioneerit Suomen sodissa 1939-1944, parts 1-2

Marskin Panssarintuhoojat by Erkki Käkelä.

Aselevon jälkeen by Niilo Lappalainen

Pioneeri by E. Pyyry (1952)

Talvisodan puolustusministeri kertoo by Juha Niukkanen.

Small Arms, Artillery and Special Weapons of the Third Reich by Terry Gander and Peter Chamberlain.

Article: Miinat ja ansat (=Mines and Traps) at Kansa Taisteli magazine by Eero-Eetu Saarinen.

Article: Maamiinat osa 1 by J-P Laine in Suomen Sotilas magazine vol. 4/2004.

Article: Maamiinat osa 2 by J-P Laine in Suomen Sotilas magazine vol. 6/2004.

Article: Lapin miinasota 1944 by Kari Kuusela in Suomen Sotilas magazine vol. 6/2004.

Article: Rajan taa miinoja ja piikkilankoja purkamaan by Ilkka Ahtiainen in Helsingin Sanomat newspaper 27^th of October 2004.

Article: Post-War Mine Clearing Mission in Soviet Karelia 1944 - 1947 by Antti Laine in Journal of Military History 15.

Military manual: Jäämiinaopas (1943)

Military manual: Putkiansaopas (ansa m/43) (1943)

Military manual: Panssarimiinaopas (Ps.miinat m/36, m/39, m/41, m/43 ja m/44) (1944)

Military manual: Rasia-ansaopas, rasia-ansa m/42 (1942)

Military manual: Pommiansaopas, Ansa m/41-S (1942)

Military manual: Hv.miinat, ansat, isku- ja erikoissyttimet (1941)

Military manual: Sotilaan käsikirja (1968).

Military manual: Aseopas IV, Tykkejä ja miinoja by Päämaja (1940).

Finnish military archives, archive reference T19187

Finnish military archives, archive reference T19187/109

Finnish military archives, archive reference T19187/192

Finnish military archives, archive reference T18462

Special thanks to Panssarimuseo (Finnish Armour Museum), Parola.

Special thanks to Sotamuseo (Finnish Military Museum), Helsinki.

Special thanks to Jalkaväkimuseo (Finnish Infantry Museum), Kouvola.

Special thanks to Maneesi of Sotamuseo (Maneesi of Finnish Military Museum), Helsinki.