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guy ropes. The bowl may still be attached when it reaches the ground, or may be found some distance away.
The parachute is usually of sea-green artificial silk. It is some 27 ft. in diameter, has thick silk cords, and allows the mine to fall at about forty miles per hour. Two other types of parachute are also used with mines. Both are of dark khaki-coloured artificial silk ribbon 2 in. wide. In one type the ribbons radiate slantwise from the apex to form a lattice work (see Figure 25) and in the other they are laid circumferentially and held together by the cords, which are carried right through to the apex of the parachute (see Figure 26). A white artificial silk drogue is used with the first type and is drawn off when the mine is released. It will usually be found surrounding the guy ropes attached to the tail-bowl of the mine.
There is usually little difficulty in distinguishing between a parachute mine and a bomb since the former has no tail vanes and its rear end is likely to be found open. There is, however, obviously more likelihood of confusion with the parachute bomb, and the distinguishing features to be borne in mind are the latter's oval shape and its characteristic parachute, which is of a different shape, size and colour from that used for mines (see Section I (a) (vi) and Figures 9A and 9B).
(b) Type "G " Mines
Another type of mine is known as the type "G" (see Figures 24, 27, 28 and 29). It has no parachute,[1] but on to the tail unit cover are fitted tail fins and a ring of brown bakelised material painted light blue on the outside which easily break off on impact. General dimensions are as follows:—
Length overall, 6 ft. 4 in. (omitting the tail fins).
Diameter of body, 2 ft. 2 in.
Total weight about 2,160 lb.
This weapon is a mine of the magnetic or acoustic type and is usually painted light blue.
Any heavy vibration of the ground or any iron or steel object, e.g. a spade, taken into the immediate vicinity might cause detonation.
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Figure 27.—Diagram of a Type "G" Mine
- ↑ Recently this mine has also been used with a parachute about 4 ft. across instead of the tail unit.
