nuclear landmines?

Question

Do they cause a nuclear detonation if someone steps on it? If so why would anyone come up with such a stupid idea?Or do they only remote detonate?

Answer 1

There is no such thing.

Answer 2

such ammunition would provide area denying feature rather than the instant antipersonell effect. however the costs of such ammunition would severely minimize its effectivity. the landmines are so spread because of their simple design and longterm durability.

I think such devices would be quite effective to slow the advancing enemy, by forcing him to use the NBC protection and/or decontamination.

Still the landmines are usually employed at the tactical level, to protect flanks or exposed areas.

speaking of the remote detonated devices, these are not actually true landmines.

there have been the nuclear artillery shells in the US inventory, /i am not sure about the russians/ so basically these devices could have been used as an IED /like the common artillery rounds being used in Afghanistan./. anyway I would use it together with a magnetic triggering unit, to inflict the damage against the armored units, rather than against the advancing infantry scouts.

Answer 3

Nuclear mines, both land and water mines are command detonated, but can be timed or in the case of underwater mines, acoustically detonated by the sound of passing ships.
The term "landmine" is somewhat misleading, they are usually buried, or hidden somewhere in a stategic location. They are reffered to as "MAD"s or "SMAD"s. (Munition,Atomic,Demolition) or (Special Munition, Atomic,Demolition) MADs are about the size of a 55 gallon Drum, SMAD's are smaller, and usually not very well shielded.

Answer 4

According to the article at http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn3943.html, they were supposed to be remotely detonated by wire from up to 5km away or by use of an 8-day clockwork timer. They would also detonate within 10-seconds of being disturbed or damaged.

Answer 5

From what I read it would had been by remote control and done by British Army of the Rhine(BAOR) or now called British Forces in Germany(BFG) http://www.army.mod.uk/aroundtheworld/ger/index.htm

Answer 6

Not only is there no such thing, there never will be any such thing. A land mine is intended to attack people in the immediate area.

Answer 7

No such weapon, they could never be made small enough to avoid detection.

Answer 8

Newscientist is to science what a tabloid is to a legitimate newspaper.