What's an "anti-personnel device"?

Question

Can you give an example?

I used the old Jedi mindtrick on you, masteryoda. You INSISTED in letting me have it.

Answer 1

A landmine

Answer 2

Although any weapon that kills people can be termed "anti-personnel" - everything from a bow and arrow up to nuclear weapons and poison gas, the usual accepted definition applies to weapons which can cause injury and death to unprotected humans (as opposed to those in bunkers or armoured vehicles, for example). Weapons such as rifles and machine guns, mortars and hand grenades are usually also not included as these are more generally referred to as "infantry weapons".

In this definition, weapons such as land mines (particularly small ones designed specifically to kill people as opposed to destroy vehicles) and booby traps are classical anti-personnel weapons.

An example from WWII was the German Butterfly Mine. It was about the size of a cigarette packet and when stepped on would spring about 6ft into the air and explode at head height, with obvious consequences for anyone nearby. More modern but similar devices can be scattered in their hundreds by aircraft as "area denial" weapons - in other words no-one will go there once they know the area is covered with these things.

Other anti-personnel weapons are used to directly attack troops who are not under cover or protected by armour - small "bomblets" or "flechettes" (basically darts) which are dispensed by shells, rockets or air-dropped cluster munitions. These weapons again will do minimal harm to vehicles or property but personnel are in serious danger from such devices.

Answer 3

Anything used to kill or stop a foot soldier can be considered. But, it usually means a mine of some sort. A land mine, a claymore mine, an improvised explosive device like the insurgents use in Iraq could be considered one. Anything used to kill the "personnel" of the opposing force.

Answer 4

A "Bouncing Betty' is a good example of an 'anti-personnel' device. It is also a landmine, one of the nastiest, most infamous landmines in history.

Answer 5

Anything used to kill someone. A land-mine is a common one.

Answer 6

a land mine...

anti personnel is anything devised to attack infantry (people on foot)

other examples include -

Grenades
Knifes
Guns
etc etc etc

Answer 7

Does a landmine count?

Answer 8

a Land Mine

Answer 9

A mine and a lightsaber are one. Hey what are you doing with my lightsaber? Do you have the Force as strong as me?

Answer 10

any device that doesn't need a person to activate it to cause destruction

eg landmine