Journal of the Society for Army Historical Research 99/397

MINE CLEARANCE AT EL ALAMEIN , 1942

199

would be required to counter the much-enhanced mobility that the tank had introduced onto the battlefield. However, little progress had been made in mine development prior to the outbreak of World War 2; very few mines had been manufactured and the study of their use had been purely academic and therefore wholly unsatisfactory for practical employment on a large scale. Though some thought had been given to the use of mines in defence mode, none had been given to the equally difficult problem of their removal in attack. In the defence of the United Kingdom, after the withdrawal from France, mines were laid in considerable quantities in beach defences, and some general rules as to their layout and the recording of their positions had been formulated. But no experience had been gained in actual fighting as to their efficacy, or in their removal for the formation of gaps for armour and infantry to advance through minefields. Thus, at the start of the campaigns in the desert, little was known about this form of warfare, and more importantly how to put it into operation. In the Western Desert, which was almost completely devoid of obstacles to the movement of armoured fighting vehicles, some form of artificial and quickly constructed anti-tank obstacle was obviously of the highest importance. Thus, early attention was directed to the use of mines. However, it was not until after experiencing their use by the Axis forces during General Wavell’s offensive in the winter of 1940-41, that any extensive use was made of them by British forces between Mersa Matruh and Sidi Barrani. During Wavell’s offensive, the Germans and Italians were found to have laid considerable minefields in front of various defensive positions, and these included not only the Teller-anti-tank mine, but also a limited number of anti-personnel ‘S’-mines. In response to this, the most elementary means of detection, marking, and removal of enemy mines had been developed. 14 Detection was carried out by inspection of the ground for signs of surface disturbance, then by prodding with bayonets, or by feeling with fingers. Removal had to be affected manually and there was no standardised system of marking of minefields or the cleared passages or lanes. To make up for the shortage of mines, the manufacture of locally-designed mines made from materials available on the spot was undertaken by Royal Engineers workshops in Egypt. The explosive used initially was gelignite, but later TNT from shell fillings was employed. 15 The first of these, the Egyptian Pattern Mark I (EP-1) required considerable care in handling and there were accidents when they came into the hands of unskilled troops. An improved mine (EP-2) was later produced in large quantities. At the same time use was also made of mines recovered from enemy minefields. 16

14 Ibid., p. 367. 15 Tri-nitro-toluene or more specifically 2, 4, 6-trinitrotoluene, is a chemical compound with the chemical formula C6H2(NO2)3CH3. 16 Pakenham-Walsh, p. 367.