Are all other anti-tank mines in the world depleted? - Yuri Gudyimenko

Well, here we go.

Yesterday, an article by Sergey Zgurts appeared on the "Espresso" website regarding the procurement by the Defense Procurement Agency, in coordination with the Ministry of Defense, of a large batch of American M6A2 anti-tank mines for over €200 million.

Given the overall shortage of anti-tank mines in the Defense Forces, there are several points worth noting beyond the amount spent:

1. These mines are very, VERY old. They were first produced during World War II and ceased production in the 1960s.

2. These mines were typically supplied to U.S. allies in countries with humid, hot climates, which poses risks associated with improper storage.

3. There is still no consensus among scientists (as noted in the article) regarding how many years TNT retains its properties.

4. These mines have already been used in Ukraine in relatively small quantities, but it is unclear how many have failed during use and what the defect rate is.

So far, for me personally, as a former commander of a sapper unit, it appears that we can only procure these specific mines if all other anti-tank mines in the world have run out. This is due to their age, the lower amount of TNT compared to the standard Soviet TM-62, and the risks from improper storage – all of which are concerning.

Stay tuned for updates, because if the news indicates that nothing better than World War II-era mines is available, it means we will soon have to form crossbow brigades and hold a tender for catapults. And if there are better options out there that we somehow can't see, then we'll need to figure out who suddenly went blind, and our cavalry might just trample someone.

In short, here we go. Go, go, go!