Jump to content

Remote Anti-Armor Mine System

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Remote Anti-Armor Mine System
RAAMS cutaway
TypeArtillery shell with anti-tank mines
Place of originUnited States
Service history
Wars
Production history
DesignedAround 1980[1]
Specifications
Mass5 lb (2.3 kg) (mine)[1]

Caliber155 mm (6.1 in)
Maximum firing range17.6 km (10.9 mi)
FillingPBX 0280 (95% RDX, 5% Estane)[2]
Filling weight1.26 lb (0.57 kg)[2]

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]

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]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ Major Mark T. Kimmitt (1988-11-18). "Rethinking FASCAM" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on August 13, 2014. Retrieved 2014-08-13.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ "$725 Million in Additional Security Assistance for Ukraine". U.S. Department of Defense. Retrieved 2022-10-15.
  6. ^ "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.
[edit]