Claymore mine
From the Metal Gear Wiki
| M18A1 Claymore Antipersonnel Mine | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Name | M18A1 Claymore Antipersonnel Mine |
| Origin |  United States
|
| Designer | Norman Macleod and others |
| Manufacturer | Various |
| Appearances | MGS MGS2 MGS3 MGS4 |
| Weight | 3.5 lb |
| Length | 216 mm |
| Width | 38 mm |
| Height | 124 mm |
| Caliber | 700, 1/8 inch steel balls |
| Muzzle Velocity | 3,995 ft/s (1,200 m/s) |
| Max Range | 250 m |
- "The M18A1 Claymore is a new type of anti-personnel directional mine developed in the US after the Korean War."
- — Sigint
The M18A1 Claymore was developed in the U.S. after the Korean War. The curved casing is packed with a pound and a half of powerful explosives. The side facing the enemy is lined with 700 steel ball bearings, so when the mine explodes, the ball bearings simultaneously burst out of the casing. The mine is triggered by an electric detonator. When the mine is planted, it reacts to anything that comes close and automatically explodes.
M18A1 Claymore anti-personnel mine's are used for ambushing an enemy without exposing the explosive itself to the enemy. Because they can be difficult to detect, sensors have to be used to avoid them. Crawling over them allows Snake to pick them up safely.
The Claymore mines in Metal Gear Solid and Metal Gear Solid 2 were enhanced with built-in Stealth Camouflage, and utilizes a short ranged 90º laser sight to trigger the detonation. In Metal Gear Solid 4 they work the same way, but are not Stealth-equipped.
[edit] Counter measures
- Thermal Goggles make Claymore Mines visible;
- Mine Detectors are obviously useful for locating them. Early versions of this sensor would vibrate as you got closer to a mine. Later versions would display the location of mines on the Soliton Radar. (The earliest versions - in the first Metal Gear- actually revealed the mines.)
- Unlike the previous games, in Metal Gear Solid 3 you can spot a Claymore Mine with your naked eye. They can be tough to spot, though.
- In MGS4, you can send the Metal Gear MK.2/3 to scout ahead for mines, You need to press X to disarm them though.
