The following report on sympathetic detonation of German mines was originally printed in Tactical and Technical Trends, No. 5, August 13, 1942. [DISCLAIMER: The following text is taken from the U.S. War Department publication Tactical and Technical Trends. As with all wartime intelligence information, data may be incomplete or inaccurate. No attempt has been made to update or correct the text. Any views or opinions expressed do not necessarily represent those of the website.]

SYMPATHETIC DETONATION OF GERMAN TELLERMINES Tellermines, the most common type used by the Germans, may often be neutralized by sympathetic detonation, thus avoiding personnel casualties caused by antilifting devices, faulty firing mechanisms, or simple carelessness. The results of tests made by exploding 3 or 4 pounds of guncotton near Tellermines buried 4 to 6 inches underground showed that the sympathetic detonation took place at about 30 percent greater distances when the guncotton was 4 feet above the ground than when it was exploded at ground level. COMMENT: Guncotton is the standard British explosive. TNT would give the same results.

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