Armored Force

Accdg to Ref 1, p 210 Ref 2, p 203, although the use of Land Mines by the Japanese Forces was not as extensive as it was in Europe, they were important defensive weapons in the Pacific War. Also, because of the Japanese lack of effective A/Tk Artillery and the inequality of Armored Forces, mining and similar tactics became a mainstay of defense against mechanized equipment... 

Armored Force Bd, Rpt of Conf on Mechanized Flame Thrower, E12-7R1, 23 Mar 43. CWS 314.7 Mechanized Flame Thrower File. 

In the zone of interior the Armored Force Board had never been enthusiastic about any flame-throwing tank that was a special-purpose weapon, that Is, if it had the flame thrower as its main armament, or if it had a distinguishing silhouette. The British Crocodile met the first requirement, but its fuel-carrying trailer certainly made it readily identifiable. In any event, the board urged the Chemical Warfare Service to concentrate its efforts on the auxiliary model, one that main- tained the normal armament of the vehicle, which was then under development. The result was an auxiliary flame thrower which was interchangeable with the bow machine gun of either the light or medium tank. 

For these reasons, the armored forces made but sporadic gestures at... 

When this list of British equipment was submitted to the U.S. arms and services in an effort to establish their requirements, representatives of the Navy, Armored Force, Quartermaster, Field Artillery, and Engineers expressed an interest in almost every item, the Infantry and Medical Corps indicated interest in several items only, and the Signal and Ordnance wanted almost none. ... 

The CWS turned out more than a half million frangible grenades mostly with IM fillings. They were hardly worth the trouble involved. When it came to dealing with enemy armored forces, American troops preferred antitank guns, bazookas, cannon, and other weapons. 

---