Experiences of the German Army with marking, monitoring and protection of

mined areas

CDR Udo H. SchmidtCDR Udo H. Schmidt

DA German EmbassyDA German Embassy

General Information :

Following the Ottawa Convention:• The German Army does not have any

Anti Personal Mines ( except a small number for trial purposes)

• The three types of Anti Tank Mines of the German Army are in accordance with the Ottawa Convention

• The German army has in war time the order to mark, to fence and to guard every mine field to protect the civilian population and the own troops. Additionally the civilians have to be warned.

Agenda

• Difference Military Demining / Humanitarian Demining

• Mine clearing vehicles of the German Army

• Testing Project Minebreaker Kabul 2002

• The future intents of the German Armyin this field

Difference Military Demining / Humanitarian Demining

Time pressure, possible casualities, day and night, every season, a reduced clearing rate sometimes will be accepted

Time pressure, possible casualities, day and night, every season, a reduced clearing rate sometimes will be accepted

No time pressure, carefully planed, not in winter time, a clearing rate of 99,9 %

No time pressure, carefully planed, not in winter time, a clearing rate of 99,9 %

Mine clearing vehicles of the German Army

KEILER Mine Breaching Tank

Height over cross arm: 3,20 m

Total length: 10,95 mWidth: 4,51 m

Weight: 49 toSpeed: max 4km/h

Demining depth 0 - 50cm

Demining speed: 1-20 m/min

clearing path: approx. 4,60 m wide

clearing rate: nearly 100 %

clearing speed: 120 m / 10 min

MINEBREAKER Mine Clearing Vehicle

Protection and Fencing Equipment

Metal sticks sticks

Warning plates

Plastic strings

General Information about GPS

The effectiveness of GPS depends on the used GPS system and on the conditions of the area. Some GPS systems are very exact with a limit of tolerance under 1 cm, others do have a limit of tolerance of some meters.

The effectiveness of GPS depends on the used GPS system and on the conditions of the area. Some GPS systems are very exact with a limit of tolerance under 1 cm, others do have a limit of tolerance of some meters.

Testing Project Minebreaker Kabul 2002

The only project where the German Army conducted mine clearing according to humanitarian demining standards including reporting the results with GPS.

The only project where the German Army conducted mine clearing according to humanitarian demining standards including reporting the results with GPS.

cleared area by the Minebreaker cleared area by the Minebreaker

At this project the vehicle cleared more than 1000 AP and approximately 100 AT mines without any serious damage.

At this project the vehicle cleared more than 1000 AP and approximately 100 AT mines without any serious damage.

Original Daily Report:

Mine clearing vehicle “Minebreaker”

Kabul 2002

Grids of the GPS have been transfered with the System PC-Map directly inside a digital map

Clearing area north of the bridgeClearing area north of the bridgeZone 42 E 525408 N 3866997Zone 42 E 525408 N 3866997

Date: 05th of December 2002

Cleared area: 400 m²:No detonation

Cleared area: 300 m²:No detonation

Original digital map:

Produced with GPS and PC MAP

Kabul 2002

Experience of the German Army reporting mine fields with GPS

 

The GPS system did not work while military operations with support of the Air Force have been conducted.

The GPS system did not work while military operations with support of the Air Force have been conducted.

The future intents of the German Armyin this field:A system, which can be used + mounted under protection

+ at every daytime and every weather conditions+ for digital distanced survey – for locating the position+ for digital interception, processing and transfer of recce results

+ mounted under protection+ at every daytime and every weather conditions+ for digital distanced survey – for locating the position+ for digital interception, processing and transfer of recce results

The aims: 

91 cm

Locate and identify of explosive ordnance :

•By daylight up to 7000m

•By night up to 5000m

•Magnification 2x –30x

Locate and identify of explosive ordnance :

•By daylight up to 7000m

•By night up to 5000m

•Magnification 2x –30x

Possible Survey

• without reflector

• up to 3000m

• Deviation 1cm per 500m

Possible Survey

• without reflector

• up to 3000m

• Deviation 1cm per 500m

This project would include the possibility to produce digital reports of minefields.

This project would include the possibility to produce digital reports of minefields.

Questions ?