The Remote Anti-Armor Mine System (RAAMS) are two types of 155 mm howitzer projectiles containing nine anti-tank mines each. They were developed for the United States Army around 1980.[1]
| Remote Anti-Armor Mine System | |
|---|---|
_-_a_cut-away_diagram.jpg) RAAMS cutaway | |
| Type | Artillery shell with anti-tank mines |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Service history | |
| Wars | |
| Production history | |
| Designed | Around 1980[1] |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 5 lb (2.3 kg) (mine)[1] |
| Caliber | 155 mm (6.1 in) |
| Maximum firing range | 17.6 km (10.9 mi) |
| Filling | PBX 0280 (95% RDX, 5% Estane)[2] |
| Filling weight | 1.26 lb (0.57 kg)[2] |
Each round contains either the M718 or M718A1 (RAAM-L) mines, which have a self-destruct time over 48 hours; or the M741 or M741A1 (RAAM-S) mines, with a self-destruct time of approximately 4 hours. Both projectiles are used with the M577 or M577A1 Mechanical Time and Superquick (MTSQ) fuze, which triggers the ejection mechanism of the mines above enemy territory after a preset time.[2]
These mines can be delivered at ranges from 4 to 17.6 kilometres (2.5 to 10.9 mi) from the artillery battery position using the M109, M198, or M777 howitzers.[3]
The United States sent about 10,200 RAAMS rounds to Ukraine between the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and January 2023.[4][5][6]
See also
edit- Area denial artillery munition (ADAM), the anti-personnel equivalent of the RAAMS
- Family of Scatterable Mines (FASCAM)
References
edit- ^ a b c Chase, Martin B. (March–April 1980). "A Unique New Capability: Scatterable Mines" (PDF). army.mil. U.S. Army. p. 6. Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 February 2023. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
- ^ a b c "Army Ammunition Data Sheets for Land Mines" (PDF). US Army. Archived (PDF) from the original on 22 January 2023. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
- ^ Major Mark T. Kimmitt (1988-11-18). "Rethinking FASCAM" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on August 13, 2014. Retrieved 2014-08-13.
- ^ Oleg Danylov (2022-10-05). "New US aid package: plus 4 HIMARS, 16 155mm M777 howitzers and precision rounds for them". Archived from the original on 2022-10-06. Retrieved 2022-10-07.
- ^ "$725 Million in Additional Security Assistance for Ukraine". U.S. Department of Defense. Retrieved 2022-10-15.
- ^ "Fact Sheet on U.S. Security Assistance to Ukraine" (PDF). U.S. Department of Defense. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2023-01-06. Retrieved 2023-01-08.
External links
edit
Media related to Remote Anti-Armor Mine System at Wikimedia Commons
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