‘Mine Detectors. A survey ..’ is a new project and a work in progress showing the
currently known types and versions of mine detectors developed and used by the British
Army spanning the period from 1939 until the late 1950s. Included will be development
models and experimental types which were eventually abandoned, and a selection of
similar instruments developed in other countries notably Germany, USA and Russia.
The emphasis will be laid on the development history, difference in operation, circuit
diagrams and technical details.
Although I already had gathered quite a lot of information on this topic over the
years, there are still a number of gaps, not confirmed or unreliable information,
and lack of some specific primary data.
This is an appeal for help in the form of scanned documents and in some cases better
quality photographs, drawings and circuit diagrams.
I have already done a thorough search on the Internet where some good reliable information
was gathered, but also was noted many repeating (partly) incorrect, and misleading
facts. I was fortunate to have access to the relevant publications available from
‘The Wireless-Set-No19 Group Royal Signals’ www.royalsignals.org.uk
Update Februari 2015:
Progress is slow, but the amount of incoming information is growing steadily, particularly
in development models and detectors developed in other countries.
Currently I have requirements for the following items:
- Circuit diagrams of Detector Mine No. 3A (Polish), No. 4, No. 5A and No. 6.
- More information and circuit diagram of 1939 Russian IMVETA detector and the DIM
186 wide sweep detector. Good quality scans of circuit diagrams -if possible complete
manuals- of Russian VIM 210, VIM 203, VIM 625, VIM 625 B2 and VIM 695 heterodyne
mine detectors. Almost anything I required on Russian detectors was supplied by Valeriy,
RA3CC, director of the Walt Gromov Radio Museum (previously RKK Radio Museum). I
am still looking for a circuit diagram of the IMVETA detector and any additional
information and photos.
- Confirmation on local development, production and technical details including a
circuit diagram of the ‘Magnetic Detector’ Mk.I to Mk.IV by Middle East Forces in
1940 and 1941, probably in Palestine, before the introduction of the Mine Detector
No. 2 (Polish).
- EMER’s (workshop manuals) with the following numbers:
B 320-324 Detector, Mine, No. 2 (Polish) Old series
B 330-337 Detector, Mine, No. 3 (Polish) Old series
B 350-354 Detector, Mine, Nos. 5 and 5A Old series
B 360-364 Detector, Mine, No. 6A Old series
B 370-374 Detector, Mine, No. X7 Old series
B 380-382 Locator, Mine, No. 1
- Operator Instruction Cards for the Detector Mine No. 3A (Polish), No. 4C and No.
6. See an example HERE.
- Handbook of Mine Detectors, Part I, II, III and V, The War Office. Published 1944/45.
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