PFM-1 colours

[batonroundcollector]

I have seen both Green and Brown plastic ones - was the type deployed colour-matched to the terrain to be dropped on for camo (given that these sat on the ground rather than buried like other mines), or was the colour just changed over the course of production or according to manufacturer etc?

 

[HAZORD]

The PFM-1 was aerodynamically patterned after the U.S. BLU 43 and 44 Dragonstooth mines (BLU stands for Bomb Live Unit) that were dropped by the millions over Vietnam. The Dragonstooth was made in three colors, Brown, OD Green, and White for use in snow. I haven't ever seen a Russian white version, but I have seen the Green and Brown colored ones, just like their MON-50 mines. In a brief look on the internet, I came across the photo of Chinese manufactured PFM-1's that includes a white mine and a blue training mine.

Since the are plastic, they can be made easily in any color. They will also fade in color over time. The Y in the wing designates practice.

 

[Ivashkin]

I have seen both Green and Brown plastic ones - was the type deployed colour-matched to the terrain to be dropped on for camo (given that these sat on the ground rather than buried like other mines), or was the colour just changed over the course of production or according to manufacturer etc?

PFM-1/PFM-1S are producing only in two colours: Green and Brown. Blocks of mines with different colours have different manes. Names are the same, bu different words in the end of index.

 

[EOD]

Hazord, is it possibe that those "Chinese" ones are just training aids which were ordered by western customers like Miltra and others?
I have never seen the PFM-1 having been made in China (that may not mean much) but by no the Chinese were not observd to use Russian (Cyrillic) markings to mark their inert ammuntion. Also blue as a color marker for pactice ammuntion is nothing really Chinese.

 

[US-Subs]

Seems like more than two colors, at least green, brown and OD. Here are some of mine.

 

[HAZORD]

I just typed PFM-1 in google and under the images section was the Chinese photo, and when I translated it, it was from Sten Arsenal Ltd. Just assumed live. You know how they like to copy things that they are incapable of designing. You could be right though. Why would the Chinese make white ones as training aids if real white ones don't exist?

 

[EOD]

I think that is a private/commercial thing and not related to anything military or official Chinese. I know people who do business with China where I could order such stuff when I provide them the measurements.

The markings on your white one shall resemble Russian but they are plain wrong as done by people wo have no clue about Russian markings and ammo.

 

[batonroundcollector]

thanks for replies guys.

I have two green prac PFM-1s - never seen inerted 'live' ones for sale - would like a brown prac if anyone has a spare?

 

[EOD]

Here one more Russian color (original). So far observed only as inert variant:

http://img-fotki.yandex.ru/get/4307/vad-earthen.2/0_31b71_c27f684a_L

The darker color is not another tone but the black filler liquid (old engine oil to what I been told) which shines through the mine body.

 

[trrrr]

PFM-1 dummy was produced in yelow colour too.

 

[Slick]

Could the white ones be produced for use in snow covered areas?

 

[EOD]

No white ones documented in Russia (still).

 

[Ivashkin]

Could the white ones be produced for use in snow covered areas?

White PFM-1/PFM-1S haven`t produced in USSR or Russia. CZ produced their own claster mines in white colours, but it isn`t PFM.

 

[HAZORD]

Since the dragonstooth came in Brown, OD Green and White, maybe these companies that make the dummies just assumed that the Russians made white ones.