War on Terror Crap
British Personal Mine Extraction Kit - (Afghanistan)
Manufacturer: NIC Instruments Ltd, England
Model: Personal Mines Extraction Kit - PMEK
NIC Part Number: EOD009702
NATO Stock number: 4240-99-458-9732
Pouch pattern: Desert camo
Country: UK
Armour Compatible: Osprey
Year: ?
Production Run: 2000's - Present
Issue: Currently issued to British Army personnel
Condition: Brand new and sealed
Vendor: Private seller on eBay
Price: £10 free shipping
First impressions
Model: Personal Mines Extraction Kit - PMEK
NIC Part Number: EOD009702
NATO Stock number: 4240-99-458-9732
Pouch pattern: Desert camo
Country: UK
Armour Compatible: Osprey
Year: ?
Production Run: 2000's - Present
Issue: Currently issued to British Army personnel
Condition: Brand new and sealed
Vendor: Private seller on eBay
Price: £10 free shipping
First impressions
Every now and again I like to buy some a little out of the ordinary. Whether that be military or not .
Late one night last week I was scanning around for gas masks of a bizare nature when this equally bizarre mine extraction kit came along.
Judging by the amount of interest in the auction at that point I thought I might end up winning it for a tenner.....and so I did.
Is this authentic gear?
Sure enough this kit has the authentic NATO stock numbers and Royal Engineers Cheat Sheet. Apparently issued to all British soldiers stationed out in Afghanistan.
The PMEK kit is available in Molle or Osprey compatible armour fittings - this one happens to fit on the Osprey style.
The seller said it was brand new and sealed so I was expecting something good for my £10.
What's in the Bag?
Cyalume Lightstick Markers
Nothing more than the mini glow sticks you see fishermen with, these are intended to be night time illuminated markers for the stakes.
As the soldier gingerly prods his way through the mine field his trail can be seen as either a green or red lights for others to follow. Really simple idea.
Unfortunately both the green and red packets of glow sticks expired in 2010. Doubt they would work now.
Red and white marker stakes
And these are the all important marker stakes. The come in red and white for obvious reasons. The same kind of 'Dibbers' used by gardeners.
20x White (Safe) Markers
5x Red (Bad) Markers
Apparently the marker stakes can be laid down flat on the ground should it prove too difficult to stick them in hard ground.
Trip wire feeler tool
I have absolutely no idea how this thing works. Quite how a length of hose with a wire in it would find a trip wire is beyond me but it obviously works somehow.
I will update the review if and when I find out.
Multi sectioned mine prodder
The kit is no good without the prodder and what a prodder it is.
It comes in three sections which are screwed together to make a long looking skewer.
The handle is made from cheap shit plastic I'm sorry to say and it feels crap. Not that important though.
Next is the two part non-magnetic metal rods. They seem to be similar in diameter to steel nitting needles.
Everything then screws together neatly, ready to prod some dirt.
This method of prodding the ground for mines with a stick is an old and trusted method of getting yourself out of a minefield. Similar kits were issued to soldiers during the second world war so it's far from new technology.
This system is effective if the person using it knows what they are doing
Aide Memoire/Cheat sheet
In amongst the bit and pieces is a rather helpful cheat sheet. One side is detailed drill instructions authored by the Royal Engineers and the other is instructions and inventory by the manufacturer.
The Aide Memoire card is made from a thin sheet of plastic rather than laminated card. It's very flexible and doesn't look like it would tear or anything. Handy for soldiers who drag themselves around on their stomachs - prone I think is the correct name for the position. It will still be in one piece after a being bent and flattened in normal conditions.
How to spot I.E.D's etc...It's all here..
Overall the instructions are well put together and explained in an easy to understand way.
It's understandable why the army stuck these in the pack. In the heat of a situation it's good to know the drill and the correct way of dealing with the threat. - Especially when a land mine or IED is inches away.
It doesn't take up any room in the pouch
I really like the card
Overall I quite like this kit. Yeah the glow sticks have long since expired but who cares really.
As I'm not likely to encounter a mine field at any point in the near future I think this piece will be decommissioned and put away in the cupboard. - a curiosity to flog in the future maybe.
Rating: ✅✅✅✅ 4 out of 5
Not everyone's cup of tea but certainly a cool looking £10 indulgence.
Late one night last week I was scanning around for gas masks of a bizare nature when this equally bizarre mine extraction kit came along.
Judging by the amount of interest in the auction at that point I thought I might end up winning it for a tenner.....and so I did.
Is this authentic gear?
Sure enough this kit has the authentic NATO stock numbers and Royal Engineers Cheat Sheet. Apparently issued to all British soldiers stationed out in Afghanistan.
The PMEK kit is available in Molle or Osprey compatible armour fittings - this one happens to fit on the Osprey style.
The seller said it was brand new and sealed so I was expecting something good for my £10.
What's in the Bag?
Cyalume Lightstick Markers
Nothing more than the mini glow sticks you see fishermen with, these are intended to be night time illuminated markers for the stakes.
As the soldier gingerly prods his way through the mine field his trail can be seen as either a green or red lights for others to follow. Really simple idea.
Unfortunately both the green and red packets of glow sticks expired in 2010. Doubt they would work now.
Red and white marker stakes
And these are the all important marker stakes. The come in red and white for obvious reasons. The same kind of 'Dibbers' used by gardeners.
20x White (Safe) Markers
5x Red (Bad) Markers
Apparently the marker stakes can be laid down flat on the ground should it prove too difficult to stick them in hard ground.
Trip wire feeler tool
I have absolutely no idea how this thing works. Quite how a length of hose with a wire in it would find a trip wire is beyond me but it obviously works somehow.
I will update the review if and when I find out.
Multi sectioned mine prodder
The kit is no good without the prodder and what a prodder it is.
It comes in three sections which are screwed together to make a long looking skewer.
The handle is made from cheap shit plastic I'm sorry to say and it feels crap. Not that important though.
Next is the two part non-magnetic metal rods. They seem to be similar in diameter to steel nitting needles.
Everything then screws together neatly, ready to prod some dirt.
This method of prodding the ground for mines with a stick is an old and trusted method of getting yourself out of a minefield. Similar kits were issued to soldiers during the second world war so it's far from new technology.
This system is effective if the person using it knows what they are doing
Aide Memoire/Cheat sheet
In amongst the bit and pieces is a rather helpful cheat sheet. One side is detailed drill instructions authored by the Royal Engineers and the other is instructions and inventory by the manufacturer.
The Aide Memoire card is made from a thin sheet of plastic rather than laminated card. It's very flexible and doesn't look like it would tear or anything. Handy for soldiers who drag themselves around on their stomachs - prone I think is the correct name for the position. It will still be in one piece after a being bent and flattened in normal conditions.
How to spot I.E.D's etc...It's all here..
Overall the instructions are well put together and explained in an easy to understand way.
It's understandable why the army stuck these in the pack. In the heat of a situation it's good to know the drill and the correct way of dealing with the threat. - Especially when a land mine or IED is inches away.
It doesn't take up any room in the pouch
I really like the card
The only Mines to be found in Manchester
Overall I quite like this kit. Yeah the glow sticks have long since expired but who cares really.
As I'm not likely to encounter a mine field at any point in the near future I think this piece will be decommissioned and put away in the cupboard. - a curiosity to flog in the future maybe.
Rating: ✅✅✅✅ 4 out of 5
Not everyone's cup of tea but certainly a cool looking £10 indulgence.