The M2 SLAM (Selectable Lightweight Attack Munition)

Greeting ATS'ers. This has apparently been around for a while. I thought perhaps we would have a refresher for those who don't know it personally.

Chances are, if you come across this little gal, you've already felt it, but in case you haven't, you should try to avoid it. :p


Here's a picture, so you can pin it up in your locker.

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/9c145acc6980.jpg[/atsimg]

Ain't she purty? It's hard to believe she can penetrate 40 mm of steel. for those of us that don't speak metric, that's 1.575 inches

Description

The M2 selectable lightweight attack munition (SLAM) is a multipurpose munition with an anti-tamper feature. The SLAM is compact and weighs only 1 kilogram, so it is easily portable. The SLAM is intended for use against APCs, parked aircraft, wheeled or tracked vehicles, stationary targets (such as electrical transformers), small fuel-storage tanks (less than 10,000-gallon), and ammunition storage facilities. The explosive formed projectile (EFP) warhead can penetrate 40 millimeters of homogeneous steel.

This is an illustration of how the Explosive Formed Projectile (EFP) is brought to life. It needs about 6-8 inches (roughly) to come out of it's cocoon.

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/4c445c029c68.gif[/atsimg]

The SLAM is produced in three versions:
M2 - Solid green, with no labels, which silently self-neutralizes at the end of its active period (either 4, 10 or 24 hours)
M3 - Can only be used in the command detonated mode.
M4 - Green with a black painted warhead face, which self destructs at the end of its active period (either 4, 10 or 24 hours)

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/76999e890e5c.gif[/atsimg]

The SLAM will detonate when an attempt is made to change the selector switch's position after arming.

(In case you need someone to tell you....if you haven't blown up already when you see one, don't jack with the selector switch!)

An excerpt from a .mil TEXT FILE that addressed some accidents with the SLAM below:

B. SUMMARY OF PROBLEM: TWO ACCIDENTS RECENTLY OCCURRED DURING M2 SLAM TRAINING EXERCISES RESULTING IN SERIOUS INJURY. THE INCIDENTS INVOLVE SOLDIERS APPROACHING AN UNDETONATED SLAM. BECAUSE OF THE FIRST INCIDENT, USASOC SUSPENDED ALL USE OF THE SLAM (REF 1) PENDING THE RESULTS OF THE ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION. SUBSEQUENTLY, USASOC AUTHORIZED THE SLAM FOR CONTINGENCY/OPERATIONAL USE (REF 2). THIS AUTHORIZATION EMPHASIZED THAT OPERATORS SHOULD BE AWARE OF THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THIS MUNITION, ESPECIALLY THE ANTITAMPERING AND MAGNETIC SENSING CHARACTERISTICS OF THE MUNITION WHEN IN THE MINE MODE (THESE CHARACTERISTICS ALSO APPLY TO THE SIDE ATTACK MODE), AND THEY SHOULD ALSO BE AWARE THAT ONCE THE MUNITION IS ACTIVATED, THE MODE ORIGINALLY SET CANNOT BE CHANGED. IN RESPONSE TO THE SECOND ACCIDENT, USASOC AGAIN SUSPENDED USE OF THE SLAM (REF 3). PROCEDURAL ERRORS WERE FACTORS IN BOTH ACCIDENTS; NO SPECIFIC MATERIAL FAILURE ISSUES WERE VALIDATED; HOWEVER, IT IS UNCLEAR IF MATERIEL FAILURE ISSUES WERE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS.

Here is an expert from FM 20-32 (ch 4)

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/d84c356f9d98.gif[/atsimg]

MODES OF DEPLOYMENT

Bottom Attack

The SLAM has a built-in magnetic sensor, so it can be used as a magnetic- influenced munition against trucks and light armored vehicles. It can be concealed along trails and roads where target vehicles operate and can be camouflaged with dry leaves, grass, and so forth without affecting EFP performance. Mud, gravel, water, and other debris that fill the EFP cup have minimal impact on EFP formation and effectiveness as long as the debris does not extend beyond the depth of the EFP cup. The magnetic sensor is designed to trigger detonation when it senses a vehicle's overpass. For the EFP to form properly, it needs a minimum of 13 centimeters from the point of emplacement to the target. The bottom-attack mode is active when the selector switch is set to 4, 10, or 24 HOURS and the passive infrared sensor (PIRS) cover is in place. The SLAM will self-destruct (M4) or self-neutralize (M2) if the selected time expires before the SLAM is detonated by a vehicle.


Side Attack

The SLAM is equipped with a PIRS that was specifically developed for the side-attack mode. The PIRS detects trucks and light armored vehicles by sensing the change in background temperature when vehicles cross in front of the PIRS port. The PIRS is directional and aligned with the EFP when the device is aimed. The side-attack mode is active when the SLAM selector switch is set to 4, 10, or 24 HOURS and the PIRS cover is removed to expose the PIRS. The SLAM will self-destruct (M4) or self-neutralize (M2) if the selected time expires before it is detonated by a vehicle.


Timed Demolition

The SLAM's built-in timer will trigger detonation at the end of a selected time. The timed-demolition mode is active when the SLAM selector switch is set to 15, 30, 45, or 60 MINUTES. In this mode, the magnetic sensor and the PIRS are inoperable, and the SLAM will detonate after the selected time has expired.


Command Detonation

This mode provides manual warhead initiation using standard military blasting caps and a priming adapter. The command-detonation capability bypasses the SLAM's fuse and safing and arming (S&A) assembly.

If you find a few of the new in the box, cool beans.

This sees like it could be a pretty handy thing to have, provided it hasn't been used already.

Tread lightly, friends.







Here are my sources that haven't already been linked to.



www.realitymod.com...

www.atk.com...

www.globalsecurity.org...

en.wikipedia.org...

this looks identical to the wall mine from splintercell and is named like the LAM from deus ex


stealing ideas from videogames... pricelss

reply to post by okamitengu


It's probably pretty much the same thing. The have been in use for quite a while....around fifteen years, if I'm not mistaken.

The Tom Clancy stuff seems to be pretty realistic sometimes. I guess the good thing would be that if you played the game, you would know how to use them, huh?

these were great in Halflife 2 Garry's mod. Oh the countless hapless folks that surcame to my tripwires.

looks to me like just a shaped charge in a purty green box, which was designed by someone from the video game industry. Apart from the "high-tech" detection devices this differs no more than the explosives used to bring down steel structures in controlled demolitions.

Some IED's used on troops in Afghanistan and Iraq employ this exacts same concept but on a much larger scale, they are termed EFP's (explosively formed penetrator) and are said to be able to penetrate anything we have. Scary



www.sri.com...

www.defensetech.org...

[edit on 26-9-2009 by Retikx]

Originally posted by Retikx
Some IED's used on troops in Afghanistan and Iraq employ this exacts same concept but on a much larger scale, they are termed EFP's (explosively formed penetrator) and are said to be able to penetrate anything we have. Scary



www.sri.com...

www.defensetech.org...

[edit on 26-9-2009 by Retikx]

Thank you very much for that. It's amazing, and indeed very scary to think about the technology that can be slapped together with bubble gum by 'savages' that don't have access to the trillions we spend on R&D and to feed our Military Industrial juggernaut.

Thanks for the pic.

reply to post by funny_pom


A shape charge a la RPG has to have the perfect standoff distance in order to work. The difference between SLAM and a shape charge is that the material in the depression is actually formed into a projectile instead of just a jet of burning gas.

In other words, a shape charge has to be within contact or a few inches of the target material or it won't work, hence the effectiveness of slat armor that is used on trucks and strykers now. If the shaped charge is too far away at detonation, there is no penetration.

EFP actually forms a projectile during explosion that is effective from close in out to some meters away.



[edit on 28-9-2009 by hotrodturbo7]

Russian RKG-3 grenade is an EFP and has been used in combat since 1973. It is hand-thrown and deploys a parachute, thrown over target armor and the EFP shoots down at a 90* angle. Is still effectively used today, especially by insurgents.

reply to post by Dimitri Dzengalshlevi


RKG-3 is not an EFP style weapon, the standoff portion of the grenade has to actually come in contact with armor for it to penetrate, just like RPG. The latest version has a copper shield in the shape charge but still has to be within inches of armor to penetrate, basically it can penetrate more armor but still at contact distance. EFP style weapons like the SLAM can penetrate armor from a considerable distance, no contact required.

An EFP is formed by placing a shaped charge behind a copper (or similar) concave disc. When the charge blows, the heat coupled with the explosive force causes the inverted cone of metal to collapse outwards (sort of inside out, if that makes sense) and to fly off at very high speed. The charge is shaped in such a way as to be able to predict the direction that the copper is launched. When it impacts metal the projectile acts in much the same way as a SABOT round does from a tank; i.e. it punches a small but deep hole in the side of armour.

This is quite distinct from a 'traditional' shaped charge warhead on something like the RPG. These use the Munro effect to bore a hole in the armour and inject hot gas/molten metal through the armour. For these to have an effect the blast has to be detonated a certain distance from the armour to fully utilise the effect, usually within a few inches. An EFP on the other hand can be detonated from several metres away and still penetrate.

reply to post by hotrodturbo7


Thanks, I didn't know the RKG needed to make contact. After watching a few videos of Iraqi insurgents using them I understand how they work.