Mining (military)

Explosion of the mine beneath Hawthorn Ridge Redoubt on the Western Front during World War I (July 1 1916)

Mining, landmining or undermining is a way of attacking a walled city, fortress or castle during a siege. It has been used since before the Middle Ages. During the Middle Ages, mines or tunnels were dug underneath castles to let soldiers into the castle or to destroy the walls.

The Siege of Petersburg included a "Battle of the Crater" inside a crater made by a big mine explosion. In World War I, trying to break the stalemate of trench warfare, soldiers tunneled under no man's land and put explosives beneath the enemy's trench. On 7 June 1917, as part of the Battle of Messines, the Allies set off hundreds of tonnes of high explosive in 19 mines at the same time. About 10,000 German troops were killed.

Mining (military) Media

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  Diorama of defensive tunnels dug during the Second Sino-Japanese War

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  A Confederate counter mine burrow at Fort Mahone, Petersburg, Virginia

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  Example of a mine gallery with timber roof support

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  Explosion of a mine, as seen from a French position in 1916

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  Plan of British tunnels, galleries and ventilation on a front in World War I

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  One of the tunnel systems in Sydney (Lower Georges Heights Commanding Position)

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  Finance office in Lateral 12, Malinta Tunnel, Corregidor, the Philippines

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  Vịnh Mốc tunnels, which were used to shelter people from the intense bombing of Son Trung and Son Ha communes

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  The Tunnel of Hope was established in June 1993 to link Sarajevo with Bosnian territory.

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  A Hezbollah tunnel that reaches a depth of 80 metres (260 ft).