M18A1 Claymore, Anti Personnel Mine

In battlefield, mine is considered to be a weapon for ‘cowardice’. Designed as a lethal weapon for anti-personnel use, mine is considered to be dangerous because the effect often exceeds its expiry. Civilian casualties caused by anti-personnel mine is not an extraordinary news. Former conflict territories such as Myanmar, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Kosovo, and Serbia have noted a number of casualties caused by anti-personnel mine that keeps adding up; even though those territories have been stabled from civil war and war.

The problem is, with small amount of explosive, the shrapnel caused by the mine detonation often do not have enough lethal force; and results in heavy casualties for the victims that leads to amputation. Permanent physical damage caused the victims to not have the ability to make a living, even after the war has ended. The late Princess Diana has been UN ambassador in an effort to restrict the usage of land mine as a weapon in war.

However, war is an event that does not consider humanity. Liked because it is undetected and can be easily hidden, mine has become an inseparable part of war ever since it was used in World War II. However, anti-personnel mine has its limitation. With its 360 degrees explosion, the shrapnel will spread evenly to all directions. This limits the use of anti-personnel mine as a defensive weapon and in securing friendly-territory.

On the other hand, mine is accounted as immobile weapon. Once planted and activated, mine is very difficult to be detonated. It takes a special unit such as EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) to deal with it. The sweet taste of weapon manufacturing business has resulted in many countries that specialize in manufacturing anti-personnel mine. Italy is one of the countries that own a few famous companies in manufacturing anti-personnel mine.

In the midst of anti-personnel mine controversy, the US as one of the most advanced countries owns one type of a flexible weapon: M18A1 Claymore. With same design since 1958, Claymore is the only weapon in the US military that hasn’t been changed for five decades. M2HB that was considered as the ‘elder’ of weapon has gone through changes to M2HB QCB (Quick Change Barrel). With its deployment and command detonating characteristic, M18A1 has the same function as AP mine, but it is not included in the list of controversial weapon and can even be considered as individual weapon, as long as it is not deployed using tripwire.

However Claymore’s popularity does not merely come because it is not included in mine class. With its compact shape, waterproof (as long as it is not under water for more than 2 hours), Claymore becomes an item that must be carried by special troops that move in enemy’s territory. With precise deployment, Claymore can completely eliminate or hold the enemy’s from pursuing and even change the number of enemy. It is obvious why there are many countries who intentionally copy M18A1. Even the Soviet Union clearly released 4 variants starting from MON-50 until MON-200. Without competitor and replacement program, M18A1 Claymore will still be used and met in battlefields.