German Tellermines, WWII Tactical and Technical Trends, No. 29, July 15, 1943 (Lone Sentry)

The following U.S. military report and sketch describing four types of German Tellermines is taken from Tactical and Technical Trends, No. 29, July 15, 1943.

[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.]

In the last issue of Tactical and Technical Trends (No. 28, p. 15), the four known German Tellermines (antitank mines), known as Tellermine Nos. 1, 2, 3, and 4, were described in some detail. An exterior view of Tellermine No. 4 is now available, and for purposes of comparison and identification the exterior views of all four mines are published herewith (see accompanying sketches). The mines are all of about the same dimensions, being approximately 12 inches in diameter and from 3 1/2 to 4 inches in over-all height. The relative scale of the 4 mines is only approximate in the sketches.

It should be noted that the pressure plates on Tellermine No. 1 and No. 3 extend over the entire top of the mines, but the pressure plates on Tellermines No. 2 and No. 4 cover only the center portion of the mine. Accordingly a tank might pass over the edge or rim of Tellermines No. 2 or No. 4 without detonating the mines, whereas the same load passing over the edge or rim of Tellermines No. 1 or No. 3 would detonate the mine. It is possible for a spread-out load of fairly low intensity covering the whole top of Tellermines No. 1 or No. 3 to detonate them, while a more heavy, concentrated load is necessary to detonate Tellermines No. 2 and No. 4.

The pressure plates on Tellermines No. 2 and No. 3 are fluted or grooved, but the pressure plates on Tellermines No. 1 and No. 4 are smooth.