American cluster bombs have only 2% failure rate. Given that Ukrainian lands are full of ruSSian mines, could cluster bombs be used for demining fields? Sappers would have much less work to do with defusing only those 2% which failed to explode.
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Yes and no, but no, it’s not worth it, we have demining cluster-mortars designed for this that work fine and should have fewer side effects.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mine-clearing_line_charge
The main reason you don’t use cms is that a: you need a long but not wide corridor usually (arty makes this harder) and 2: with cms you’re replacing enemy mines with friendly mines which isn’t always what you want.
Also cms are more expensive in logistics for distance/depth cleared.
But the friendly mines are friendly! They are kind to you when taking off your leg and they never lie to you!
Just turn off friendly fire smh
with cms you’re replacing enemy mines with friendly mines which isn’t always what you want.
But they’re friendly. It says so right there in the name.
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I was listening a podcast about Ukraine using MCLCs and I thought that potential use of CMS for humanitarian/defensive reasons is noncredible enough to be posted here :)
if you want to use artillery or air dropped bombs for mine clearing, it better be thermobaric. otherwise, MCLIC or UR-77 are things that already are known to work
with DPICM you’d need to basically hit mine head on with DPICM element. otherwise, even near miss won’t do anything. soft targets will be defeated by fragments, mines are usually lightly buried and in any case in ground, most of fragments go to the sides. letting grass grow, then waiting until it’s dry and setting it on fire might work in some situations, but also waiting for fire to get down gives time for remote re-mining with things like ISDM zemledelye
Both Russians and Ukrainians have used artillery for demining purposes. It’s effectiveness is a matter of fierce debate. Cluster munitions would likely be at least somewhat better for this purpose then unitary warheads would be.
Except cluster munitiont would be terrible to use for demining, as the duds (around 2%) are pretty much new mines, so after a shot, there are probably only more mines to get rid of.
Aren’t cluster bombs meant to be illegal? :P
Why do you want to criminalize having fun?
