Volcano mine system

Mine delivery system developed by the United States army

The M136 Volcano Vehicle Launched Scatterable Mine System is an automated mine delivery system developed by the United States Army in the 1980s. The system uses prepackaged mine canisters which contain multiple anti personnel (AP) and/or anti tank (AT) mines which are dispersed over a wide area when ejected from the canister. The system, commonly referred to as Volcano, is also used by other armies around the world.

The primary purpose of Volcano is to provide the employing force with the capability to emplace large minefields rapidly under varied conditions. Volcano minefields are ideal for providing flank protection of advancing forces and for operating in concert with air and ground units on flank guard or screen missions. When fitted to aircraft, the system is referred to as Air Volcano and when fitted to ground vehicles is referred to as Ground Volcano. The principles and procedures of Volcano minefield emplacement are significantly different for air and ground delivery systems; the differences can be summarised as follows:

Air Volcano is the fastest method for emplacing large tactical minefields. Although mine placement is not as precise as it is with ground systems, Air Volcano minefields can be placed accurately enough to avoid the danger inherent in minefields delivered by artillery or jet aircraft. Air Volcano is the best form of an obstacle reserve because a minefield can be emplaced in minutes. Air Volcano minefield should not be planned or dispensed in areas under enemy observation and fire as the dispensing helicopter is extremely vulnerable to anti aircraft fire while flying at a steady altitude, speed and flight path required to successfully emplace the minefield. Close coordination between aviation and ground units is required to ensure that Volcano dispensed mines are emplaced accurately and quickly.

Ground Volcano is designed to emplace large minefields in depth and tactical minefields oriented on enemy forces in support of manoeuvre operations and friendly AT fire. It is ideal for use as an obstacle reserve, employed when enemy forces reach a decision point that indicates future movement. Obstacles can then be emplaced in depth on the avenues the enemy is using, leaving other avenues open for friendly movement. Ground Volcano is normally employed by combat engineer units. Emplaced minefields are vulnerable to direct and indirect fire, and must be protected when close to the forward line of own troops (FLOT).

Volcano munitions are transported and handled in accordance with regulations for Class V mines and explosives. in enemy forward areas minefields are not marked. in friendly forward areas, minefields are marked on the sides facing friendly forces only. in the rear areas (considered friendly) minefields are marked on all 4 sides. in forward areas where minefields cannot be formally marked, improvised hazard markers such as rocks or branches should be used if their location or pattern of placement could warn the enemy of the existence of the minefield. where a previously unmarked minefield located in enemy territory comes under the control of friendly forces action must be taken to appropriately mark the minefield as soon as practically possible. Marking is by way of hazard signs attached to signposts and where appropriate, surrounded by boundary fences constructed from standard fencing materials such as barbed wire, concertina wire, and pierced steel planking. Fence sections should be attached to steel or concrete fence posts set sufficiently into the ground to discourage locals from removing them for their own use. Hazard marking begins no less than 20 meters from the outer perimeter of the minefield with warning signs placed at regular intervals outside of the fenced area. : the U. S. Army decommissioned the system from active units during the late 1990s and placed the components into storage, but began reusing the system in 2017.
: in 2022 the U. S. State Department approved the sale of the system to Taiwan. It was later stated that the first 7 systems will be delivered to Taiwan by the end of 2023, with the rest by the end of 2026.

: in 2019 and 2020 the U. S. Army demonstrated the system to the Polish Army.

: from 1999 the British Army used the Volcano in its Shielder minelaying system, fitted to modified Alvis Stormer AFVs. These vehicles were withdrawn from service in 2013/14.