M67 / M72 Area Denial Anti-personnel Mine (ADAM)

M692 long-destruct

M731 short-destruct

Area Denial Anti-personnel Mine (ADAM) mines are delivered by 155mm howitzer. ADAM should not be planned on hard surface roads or airfields as the mines will shatter or break when hitting asphalt or concrete.

ADAM is an antipersonnel mine activated by deployed trip lines. There are 36 wedge-shaped mines contained in the 155-mm projectile. Minefield density can be selectively determined by altering the number of rounds applied. There are currently three densities: low, medium, and high. The mines are expelled from the projectile (approximately 600 meters) over the designated target. Shortly after ground impact, up to seven trip line sensors are released out to a maximum length of 20 feet. The detonators are armed to fiction in the event of any small disturbance. The ADAM mine has lethality out to 15 feet. Self-destruct times are 4 hours for short self-destruct (M731) and 48 hours for long self-destruct (M692).

The Area Denial Artillery Munitions (ADAM) is used for rapid, remote emplacement of point or tactical minefields used to restrict personnel movement. ADAM is a wedge shaped mine that fits efficiently into a 155mm projectile. When the projectile reaches the target area, 36 mines are expelled and shortly after impact with the ground they release trip lines and arm themselves. If not triggered by one of the trip lines, the mines will detonate at a predesignated self-destruct interval or if the battery reaches a level that impairs their proper functioning. When the mine detonates, a small charge propels the kill mechanism upward and then the kill mechanism detonates to optimize its effect against personnel.

The ADAM and PDM are not of the kinetic energy "penetrator" type design. These munitions contain an extremely small amount of DU and not categorized as "DU ammunition". The resin which forms the body of the ADAM mine wedge contains a small amount of DU in the "hardener" portion of the resin. The DU is less than 0.15% (0.024 oz) of the total resin and is present only as a chemical agent that allows the resin to cure at less then 160�F in less then 12 hours. These cure characteristics are required to efficiently produce the mine and to protect the electronic components during manufacture.







