DESCRIPTION: The FLIPPER is a manually fed dispenser operated by one soldier that will dispense Ground Emplaced Mine Scattering System (GEMSS) mines at a minimum rate of one mine every 10 seconds. The dispenser weighs approximately 120 pounds, and can be attached to the M113 Armored Personnel Carrier, M548 Tracked Ammo Transporter, the Commercial Utility Cargo Vehicle (CUCV), the High Mobility Multi-Purpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) and the 2-1/2 and 5 ton Dump/Cargo Trucks. The system will use the host vehicle power source. The FLIPPER will initiate the mine arming sequence, set the self-destruct time (5 or 15 days), and launch the M75 anti-tank (AT), M74 anti-personnel (AP) and M79 inert GEMSS mines to a distance of 20-30 meters from the host vehicle.
STATUS: FLIPPER was type classified in Nov 86 and fielded in FY91. One hundred seventy four (174) FLIPPERs have been procured. Thirty (30) of these FLIPPERs have been sold to the USMC. The remainder will be kept in war reserve for dispensing GEMSS mines.
EMPLOYMENT CONCEPT: FLIPPER is ideal for light units that do not have an organic scatterable mining capability. Three (3) FLIPPERS provide a scatterable mining capability equivalent to GEMSS.
BASIS OF ISSUE: One FLIPPER is authorized for each combat engineer platoon; one additional authorized for each company equipped with GEMSS. 240 M79 Practice Mines are authorized per FLIPPER.
TRAINING/PERSONNEL: The U.S. Army Engineer Center at Fort Leonard Wood will introduce active and reserve Combat Engineers to the FLIPPER. The FLIPPER operator will be trained at unit level. The Engineer School will familiarize officers and noncommissioned officers during their basic and advanced courses on the employment of FLIPPER.