Egitto Libia Gilf Kebir - grazie ad Andras Zboray
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I PRIMI CONTRIBUTI IN TEMA MINE - Thank you, Andras!
The ones I have personally seen at Jebel Uweinat in November 1998 are, Mouth of Karkur Talh, at 22* 02' 45"N 25* 07' 52"E. Mine field marked by posts and barbed wire perimeter plus an arabic sign from the north, a stone cairn with a sign coming from south (from the wadi), the mines are large anti tank mines, partially uncovered by the wind. The mine field is circumventable with a vehicle accross the sand drift by its east side, or foot along its west side. Accross track at pass leading to Lybia between northern spur of Jebel Uweinat and smaller chain of hills, at 25* 02' 49N 22* 04' 33". The field is marked with posts and barbed wire perimeter, and arabic sign from the east. Probably same type as at Karkur Talh. I can confirm that contrary to reports the el 'Aqaba pass in the central Gilf Kebir (entrance of pass at 23* 24' 20" N 25* 41' 40" E) is clear of mines. From secondary sources, I consider the following to be accurate: Mine field (probably of Uweinat type) at western entrance of Wadi Wassa, at 23* 00.175' N 25* 51.300E, confirmed by the unfortunate accident of the Germans in February 1999. Inferred from above, PROBABLY there is a similar mine field blocking the western entrance of Wadi el Firaq at 22* 53' 30"N 25* 50' 40" E. Mine field somewhere at western entrance of Wadi el Gubba at 24* 29' N 25* 08' E. PROBABLE mine field(s) in area between Umm Ras (23* 39'N 25* 02' E) Abu Ras (23* 47'N 25* 07'E) though in 1993 a party with egyptian military guide has made the trip from Wadi Sora to Wadi Abd-el Melik along this route, with a portion of the track leading into Lybia POSSIBLE mine field at pass between Jebels Peter Paul and hill to the west, at 22* 25' 45"N 25* 23' 00" As a general rule, it seems that mines may be expected at any place within 50 -100 km of the Lybian frontier where an obvious easy track leads through a narrow blockable pass. It seems that Egyptian mine fields are marked, however the circumstance of the Feb' 99 accident is not clear (whether they tried to go around a marked field, or there was no marking whatsoever ). It is sensible to follow recent vehicle tracks when in close vicinity to the border (which means anywhere south and west of the Gilf Kebir, and west of the Sand Sea in the north), and explore narrow passes before driving in. If one sees any obviously man placed object (pile of stones, big slab, steel drum, etc.) directly accross the track, that is likely to be a sign for mines ! The Western Desert was the scene of one of the fiercest fighting in WW II., and the northern part, between El Alamein and the Lybian border, as well as the Qattara depression, was heavily mined. The mines have been collected between the coastal road and the sea, but further inland any number may remain. The Qattara depression was never cleared, and both the German and the British armies have mined the northern parts, below the cliffs, to prevent the other from getting behind their lines. Given this situation, all parts of the Qattara depression outside travelled roads and tracks are better left in peace. The Long Range Desert Group was also active further south, and they have mined most of the tracks leading to Kufra and Uweinat on the Lybian side. There are no substantiated reports of them having laid any mines on the Egyptian side, however.
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Wadi Gubba Mine Filed Coordinates incorrect! by Reinhart Mazur, 2000, Oct 15
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