YaM-5 box mine

The YaM-5 (anti-tank mine 5 kilograms) was a Soviet anti-tank blast mine with a wooden case. The mine was widely used during Great Patriotic War. Wood was chosen as primary material for its availability, cheapness and ease of handling; for example, in 1942, several thousand cases were produced at Tuymen Plywood Factory by patriotic young volunteers as an after-school activity. Various types of wood were used.

The mine consists of a rectangular wooden box with a hinged lid that overlaps the front of the mine. A slot in the hinged lid's side through which an MUV pull fuse is placed. A wooden pressure bar is sometimes used on the edge of the lid above the slot. A nail is placed horizontally through the loop of the MUV fuse's striker retaining pin and two loops on the bottom of the lid's slot.

A YaM-10 was also produced; it was a scaled-up version of the YaM-5.

The wooden case was normally painted olive green, gray or white.

The mine was frequently used with anti-handling devices.

Downward pressure on the lid forced the nail downwards; withdrawing the striker retaining pin detonated the mine.