A-M18A1 Claymore mine

The M18A1 Claymore mine is a command-detonated directional antipersonnel mine prepackaged for rapid deployment.

The mine is a curved rectangular olive drab casing bearing the words "FRONT TOWARD ENEMY" and containing 700 steel balls and 1.5 pounds (0.68 Kg) of C-4 explosive. Two sets of folding scissor-legs allow a stable placement of the mine in most soil types.

The standard issue is with one mine, a line testing set, an electric blasting cap on a 30m wire, and a firing device in a nylon bandoleer. The mine is designed with two blasting cap wells for allowing two separate firing systems&mdash;such as a command detonator and a booby-trap initiator&mdash;or the ability to "daisy-chain" mines to allow a single detonator to simultaneously fire multiple mines. Major Kawalsky emplyed this tactic on the initial mission to Chulak.

The Claymore has a danger area of at least 16m to the rear of the mine for friendly personnel. The primary affect is to the front of the mine in an arc about 60-degrees wide and 100m to the front of the mine. Even outside this range, there is the potential for damage.

Most Claymore mines issued to the SGC come equipped with a remote detonating system for use with a short range remote. This allows flexible placement of the mine without the potential for identifying the team via following the cord.