TMN „Kroton“ – the Polish modern point mining device

“Kroton” point mining device - a Polish mining system, installed at the base of the armored transporter “MT-LB”, designed for the rapid construction of anti-tank or anti-personnel mine barriers for tactical engineering units. It is produced in Poland by the ‘Huta Stalowa Wola” plant. The “Kroton” codename system was developed at the Wrocław Institute of Military Engineering in 1993 in response to a request from the General Staff. An extended version of the “SPG-2” (licensed version of the USSR armored vehicle “MT-LB”) with seven pairs of wheels was used as a chassis, leaving an armored cab and an engine compartment, and four rotating starter blocks at the rear was mount. The model was manufactured in 1994 and the qualifying tests were completed in 1995. The army's development plans included 81 such machines, but due to lack of funds in 1997, the program was frozen. The combat vehicle was presented to the public in 2001 at the MSPO showroom in Kielce. Only in 2002 the army ordered two pilot mining devices. Some modifications have been made to the base of the machine, folding side armored panels, partially protected starter blocks and a service platform loader have been installed. 2003 in the summer, a modified prototype was completed and sent for testing. Due to the mass production of point mines and cluster munitions themselves, Poland has not signed an international convention, banning the use of this type of weapon. This system was not implemented on a larger scale - until 2019, the Polish army purchased and used only 6 TMN “Kroton” equipment. The first four were delivered in 2004-2006. In 2005 “Huta Stalowa Wola” has also developed a version on the “STAR 1466” wheeled chassis with the same number of 4 mining blocks. Mainly used in 2004 developed anti-tank mines MN-123 with a double-sided warhead with an explosive detonator, capable of piercing 60 mm thick steel armor. The device is equipped with an electromagnetic explosive detonator, the cartridge contains four mines with instantaneous and one with delayed operation.

A complex, well-graphically designed and interesting model of an armored mining device, used in the Polish Army's land forces, without internal equipment with light weathering. The model is intended for intermediate and experienced modelers.