Marine Rifle Squad

CHANGE 1 9-28
Section IV. Mine Warfare and Demolitions
9401. Mine Warfare
Mine warfare is the employment of mines against an enemy and the countermeasures
employed against the hostile use of mines. In both offensive and
defensive combat, employment of minefields, covered by fire, helps a commander
accomplish the mission.
The United States military does not employ non-seif-destructing/deactivating
antipersonnel/antitank iandmines (NSDAPLs/NSDATLs) in accordance with the
President's policy on landmines as outlined in Protocol II to the Convention on
Prohibitions or Restrictions on the use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which
May be Deemed to be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects
(otherwise known as the CCW Convention). SeIf-destructing/deactivating
antipersonnel/antitank landmines (SDAPLs/SDATLs) are found only in the family
of scatterable mines (FASCAM). It is imperative that each Marine rifle squad
be adequately trained to protect itself from enemy mines. Because of the relatively
cheap price and simplicity of use, the landmine has become one of the
most common threats to all military operations. Due to the broadened scale of
enemy employment, mine warfare is no longer an exclusive engineer responsibility.
Each Marine must be trained to gain confidence in dealing with both
friendly and enemy mines.
a. Purpose of Minefieds. A minefield is designed to counter armor, personnel,
or a combination of the two. To prevent the enemy from bypassing the
minefield, it is tied in with other obstacles, both natural and artificial, and/or
supported by fire. Minefields are laid to—
• Delay the enemy.
• Canalize or guide the enemy to areas where fires may destroy him.
• Harass and/or demoralize the enemy.
• Supplement other weapons and obstacles.
b. Classification of Minefields. Minefieldsare classified according to their
tactical purpose.