TM-62M
The TM-62M is an anti-transport high-explosive mine in a metal case, which was developed on the basis of the previous model TM-57. The mine has one large central metal socket for the fuse, and an intermediate detonator in a metal case is used, which is located at the bottom of the socket for the fuse. Like all other mines of the TM-62 series, the TM-62M mine can be equipped with any of the fuses developed for the TM-62, TM-72 and TM-80 series of mines. Thus, this mine can potentially be equipped with various magnetic fuses of a certain nomenclature. The TM-62M mine is usually equipped with a push-action MVCh-62 fuse, which contains a cocked striker held by balls. The mine is put into combat position by removing the safety check from the cocking button. This starts the time delay mechanism for switching to the combat position, when the spring-loaded striker moves from a horizontal position to a vertical one, forming a single line with the detonator. Once switched to the combat position, the action of a weight of more than 150 kg will initiate the fuse. The image above shows a mine with an MVP-62 fuse with a minimum metal content installed. If the mine is installed in the field in this way, it would be a waste of the fuse and would indicate a potential lack of training or lack of other types of fuses on the part of those who installed the mine. According to confirmed data, the TM-62M has been widely used in Ukraine since 2014. It is known that, among other places, the TM-62M is also installed at checkpoints.
Designed to disable tracked and wheeled enemy vehicles. Enemy vehicles are damaged by destroying their chassis when the mine charge explodes at the moment the wheel (roller) hits the mine detonator. The TM-62M explosion breaks 3-6 tracks on the tank, rendering the tank's track roller and its balancer completely unusable. In the BTR-60, BTR-70, BTR-80, BTR-82, one of the wheels and its wheel reducer completely fail, the crew receives light and medium contusions, but the APC can continue to move under its own power. In the BMP, the body bursts at the welds and the BMP, often after the explosion, cannot be restored. The BMD, after the explosion, simply falls apart, the crew partially dies, partially receives serious injuries. After being blown up, BMD is usually not repairable.
The mine does not have a socket for installing it to prevent extraction. Quite often it is modified (by drilling a hole) to install a MUV series fuse to prevent extraction. This must be foreseen when a mine is detected.
The mine does not have self-destruction elements.
It is applied with black paint to the side and top surface of the mine and contains: – TM-62M– mine code; – A98-120-79 – manufacturer’s code– batch number – year of manufacture (the numbers may be different); – TGA– equipment code.