Volcano Mine system

av8rmongo · Post by **av8rmongo** » Wed Aug 01, 2007 11:42 pm

Anyone out there with real world experience with this system? Documents I've seen say that it can be fitted to any 5T truck, M548 and HEMTT trucks. Does anyone know how often they would use HEMTT vehicles for this? All the pictures I've seen show regular 5T trucks - but no one makes one with the cargo bed open.

Paul

MTB · Post by **MTB** » Thu Aug 02, 2007 6:55 am

Paul,

The system is also used on various helicopters:

M139 MINE DISPENSER (VOLCANO)
G-7. The Volcano is a rapid deployment system for launching a mixture of antitank and antipersonnel mines (up to 960 mines) from 5-ton wheeled tactical vehicles and UH-60 helicopters. The system consists of the M139 dispenser (LIN D30897), mounting hardware kit (one air system kit: LIN M78551, or one ground system: LIN M17999, for use on ground and air), canister mine XM87 (expendable module containing gator-type, five each AT and one each AP, mines) and/XM88 (expels dummy mines). More information on the installation, operation, and maintenance of the Volcano can be found in TM 1-1520-237-10, TM 9-1095-208-10-1, TM 9-1095-208-23-1&P, and TM 9-1095-208-23-2&P.

The US has recently adopted a policy of no longer using "land mines" unless they are of the type that "self-destruct" after a predetermined time.

Mitch

av8rmongo · Post by **av8rmongo** » Thu Aug 02, 2007 12:21 pm

Mitch,

Thanks. I was aware of the UH-60 mount, its just that I'm looking to kitbash a couple of trucks for this purpose and since I can't get my hands on a 5T truck with an open bed I was looking to mount it on a HEMTT. I know it CAN be mounted on a HEMTT I just want to know if it IS / WAS used in this way. I'll check out the references you suuggested.

Paul

Ben · Post by **Ben** » Thu Aug 02, 2007 1:37 pm

Hi Paul,

just want to let you know that the Brits use this system as well - on their Shielder Minelayer.

Cheers Ben

MTB · Post by **MTB** » Thu Aug 02, 2007 7:07 pm

Paul,

Just checked the Army's electronic inventory of technical manuals - there isn't one for the HEMTT. The M139 VOLCANO system can be transported by the HEMTT and the palletized loading system (PLS), however, there was no referecne to the M139 being mounted to the vehicle for use in deploying the mines.

Of course, its always possible that there is (was) a prototype out there. Its also possible that the tech manual hasn't been posted.

I'll keep my eyes open.

Mitch

av8rmongo · Post by **av8rmongo** » Fri Aug 03, 2007 1:20 am

Mitch,

Thanks, I was a little afraid of that. I'll try to build up a system I guess and then figure out how or what to mount it on.

Paul