Operation
A sustained downward force of approximately ten kilograms on the pressure plate for a minimum of 0.10 seconds compresses the firing spring and cocks the striker. Continuous downward movement allows the trigger assembly to pivot, slowly forcing the air out of an anti-shock bladder and flips the striker down into the stab sensitive M41 detonator, at which point the mine explodes.
The air pressure delay mechanism effectively blocks detonation if the force on the pressure plate is short, since air does not have to leave the small anti-shock bladder. This has two direct applications, it allows the mine to be dropped from helicopter mine scattering systems, and it dramatically increases the mine's resistance to explosive based mine clearance techniques. It can therefore be regarded as a blast resistant mine.
Read more about this topic: VS-50 Mine
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