Zimmerit

Zimmerit was a paste-like coating used on mid- and late-war German armored fighting vehicles during World War II.

Zimmerit was often left off late-war vehicles due to the unfounded concern that it could catch fire when hit.

The magnetostatic field decreases very rapidly, with the cube of distance; the non-magnetic coating holds the magnet of the mine too far from the steel of the vehicle for it to adhere.

This consisted of a shaped charge warhead connected to a metal ring holding three powerful horseshoe magnets.

The magnets not only held the mine to the vehicle but also provided the correct spacing between warhead and armor, allowing the penetrator jet to form properly.

No similar material was used on post-war tanks as the widespread use of man-portable HEAT rockets such as the bazooka made magnetic mines obsolete.