C3A1 mine The C3A1 and C3A2 ( collectively known as the Elsie ) are Canadian minimum metal anti - personnel mine s . The differences between them are very minor and hard to distinguish visually . Elsie mines were first deployed by Canada in 1962 , by the USA in 1965 and by Japan in 1967 . Appearance . The mine resembles a short , stubby carrot in appearance . Generally , Elsie mines are either coloured black or khaki for use in desert environments . Elsie mines can easily be spray painted to blend in with an arctic or jungle scenario . Training ( i . e . inert ) versions are coloured blue . Operation . An Elsie mine has a small raised pressure plate on the top surface of the mine which is covered with a small pad of flock material . The flocking material is designed to act as camouflage . Sustained downward pressure on the small pressure plate ( by the victim ' s foot ) cocks a spring - loaded striker . When the pressure plate has been pressed down approximately 2 . 5 cms , a single retaining ball bearing flips side - ways into a recess . When the ball bearing flips side - ways , it frees the striker ( held under tension by a coiled spring beneath it ) which snaps upwards into the stab detonator , thereby detonating the explosive charge . Construction . An Elsie mine is constructed mainly from plastic , which makes it difficult to detect . The mine comprises two separate items ; the body and charge . The body is fitted with a protective dust cap , which is removed in order to insert the charge . Around the shaft of the charge there is a restraining safety clip to prevent it moving downwards whilst in transit , which could accidentally trigger detonation . The safety clip is removed when the mine is emplaced , at which point the mine becomes armed and will detonate if someone steps on it . Elsie mines are supplied with an aluminium detector ring fitted . However , the ring is designed to be easily removed , and without it the mine becomes a minimal metal mine . Interestingly , the Elsie mine is one of very few anti - personnel mines which use a shaped charge . As can be seen from the specification below , the explosive filling is unusually small ( i . e . weighs 9 . 45 grams ) compared to most other anti - personnel mine designs , which generally contain a minimum of 30 grams of high explosive s . However , the shaped charge in the Elsie mine ensures that most of the force of detonation is directed upwards . As a result it can penetrate a 12 ply vehicle tyre or 3 / 8 inch ( approx 9 mm ) mild steel plate . A person who has been injured by an Elsie mine generally has a small , deep , circular penetration wound which extends all the way through the bones of their foot and out the other side . The wound is generally severe and debilitating , though rarely fatal - assuming that prompt emergency medical care is provided . In contrast to other anti - personnel mines ( e . g . the PMN series ) , the Elsie is designed primarily to disable its victims , rather than kill them . Due to the simplicity of the firing mechanism , the Elsie mine is not resistant to blast - clearing methods , unlike other designs such as the VS - MK2 mine . The Elsie mine was formerly in service with the Canadian and British armed services , and was manufactured by both nations . However , all stocks of anti - personnel mines ( and equipment related to their manufacture ) have been destroyed by Canada and the UK , in order to comply with the Ottawa Treaty .