Mines

I was under the impression the main function of a minefield included:

1) self defense of a position (defensive minefield around a firebase)
2) channelizing the enemy (denying him access to some route, forcing 
him to take another more favourable one which you want him to take)
3) breaking up reinforcements (FASCAM or arty scatterable minefield 
deployed behind the enemy) or withdrawals
4) Toe-poppers (small plastic leaf looking mines that injure rather 
than kill) seem to exist to cause a drain on the support 
infrastructure by creating casualties and long term care victims 
rather than killing

Essentially, as someone pointed out, creates an impenetrable (well, 
not really but if you can attain a decent Probability of Encounter 
then no one wants to chance it) bit of terrain. Even the suggestion 
of a minefield can be enough. 

Anyone know much about scatterable mines? Are they easier to sweep or 
breach (a field)? Can they be swept with FAE/Arty etc?

I believe also that if you have the time, you install anti-tamper 
gear on some of your mines to encourage people not to try to sweep 
your minefield. Some modified version of this (maybe some CDMs set 
for rat-size amidst your AT minefield) could stop the minesweeping 
rats situations from being terribly viable.