JIG-J
The JIG-J (Menghean: 지뢰, 대인, 공중폭발식 - 작은, Jiroe, Dae-in, Gongjungpokbalsik - Jagŭn, "mine, anti-personnel, bounding - small") is a type of compact bounding anti-personnel mine developed in Menghe. At only 40 millimeters in diameter, it is comparable in size to the Chŏl-u dual-purpose submunition, though 1.5 times as long, and its self-righting variant is compatible with many of the same dispensers.
Design
The JIG-J consists of a steel cylinder with an external diameter of 38 millimeters. This contains a fusing section in the base, a small explosive charge above it, and the main mine section on top, held in place by three narrow pins that shear off when the bounding charge fires. It is a bounding mine, designed to launch the main explosive section upward and spread shrapnel over a wider area.
When one of the fuse lines is tugged or disturbed, this detonates a small booster charge at the base of the mine, separating the top half (or "projectile section") from the base and propelling it up into the air. A wire linking the two halves pulls taut when the projectile section passes 70 centimeters, setting off a trigger that detonates it at waist height. This spreads shrapnel over a wider area than a ground detonation. To increase the destructive effect, the projectile section is surrounded by a prefragmented outer sleeve. The projectile section itself is 38 millimeters in diameter and 45 meters tall, comparable in size to a hand grenade.
Menghean sources on the JIG-J list a kill radius of 5 meters, but also note that significant injuries are still possible at greater distances. Kevlar helmets and body armor can protect against damage to the torso, but the soldier's face, arms, and legs remain vulnerable to the steel fragments. Menghean Army manuals have noted that despite its small explosive power compared to the JIG-K, the JIG-J still has a potent intimidation effect, forcing a unit to slow its advance in order to await engineer support or clear mines manually.
An anti-handling fuse in the base will also detonate the bounding charge and projectile section if the mine is disturbed after settling down, complicating mine clearance efforts. A variable-setting self-destruct timer in the base of the mine, however, automatically detonates it 2 hours to 7 days after arming, reducing the unexploded ordnance risk to friendly forces and civilians.
JIG-JS
The more basic version of the mine, given the "S" suffix (for 수동의, Sudong-e, "manual") is deployed by hand, usually by engineer units at the battalion or regimental level. It has a special base section with a metal rod that connects to the base and rises about two centimeters above the mine's top. This allows an engineer to bury the mine completely, with a thin layer of soil over the top, and still attach tripwires. Rod caps with one, three, and six horns for tripwire connections are available. Once the tripwires are fixed, the minelayer rotates a tab on the rod 90 degrees and pulls it out, arming the fuse. Once the mine is armed, tugging force on any of the tripwires or direct contact with the rod cap will all be sufficient to detonate it, as will lifting the mine out of the ground.
JIG-JJB
The JIG-JJB is a version of the mine which can be remotely deployed from rockets, bombs, or artillery shells. The added suffix indicates 자동 복원형, Jadong Bogwŏnhyŏng, "self-righting"). It adds a folding ring of six metal panel-like legs which run alongside the mine's sides in storage. After the mine strikes the ground, a sensor in the base of the mine releases the legs, which then fold 90 degrees outward under pressure from torsion springs. This tilts the mine upright, so that its bounding charge fires in the correct direction. The JIG-JJB also has a distinct hemispherical "cap" on top of the projectile; this does not affect the weapon's functioning, and only prevents it from landing perfectly on its head, at which point the legs cannot right it.
Once the mine is upright, six ten-meter-long tripwires shoot out of the base, also under pressure from springs. These are more sensitive than the tripwires on the manually deployed JIG-JS. From this point onward, the operation of the two mines is identical.
On all JIG-JJB mines, the self-destruct timer is automatically set to 12 hours, and cannot be adjusted. Like the Chŏl-u, it is armed by a spring-loaded peg which is allowed to push outward when the projectiles are no longer stacked.
Specifications
JIG-JS
- Diameter: 38 mm
- Height: 79 mm (109mm including probe)
- Weight: 440 g
- Kill radius: 5 m
- Tripwire length: varies with operator's needs
- Self-destruct time: 2 hours to 7 days (variable)
- Anti-handling fuse: yes
JIG-JJB
- Diameter: 40 mm including folded fins
- Height: 108 mm standing upright
- Weight: 440 g
- Kill radius: 5 m
- Tripwire length: 10 m
- Self-destruct time: 12 hours
- Anti-handling fuse: yes