Flame throwers, mechanized

Rad, CG COMZ to CG lath Army Group, 22 Feb 43, lub Flame Throwers, Mechanized, E12-7R1. i2th Army Group Reds, 470.71—Apparatus. 

Development and Field Use of E7-7 Mechanized Flame Thrower, NDRC Div 11, Report No. OSRD 6012, 12 Sep 45. (2) Flame Thrower, Mechanized, E7-7, in Light Tank, M5A1. NDRC Div 11, Report No. OSRD 5125, 29 May 45. 

A full account of the development of the auxiliary flame thrower in Hawaii may be found in History of Chemical Section, U.S. Army Forces Middle Pacific, 7 Dec 4l-2 Sep 45, vols. II and III. (2) Tentative Instruction Book for Flame Thrower, Mechanized POA-CWS Periscope H (E4R2) A-HlA and HlB, prepared by CWS Central Pacific Base Command, 24 Feb 45, ETF 550-344. (3) CW Supply Catalog, List of Service Parts and Spare Parts for Flame Thrower, Mechanized, POA-CWS Periscope H (E4R2) A-HlB, prepared by Hq Central Pacific Base Command, 1 Jul 45, ETF 550-484A. 

Flame Throwers and Projectors. One advance ia flame throwers siace World War II was a mechanized flame thrower kit for a variety of armored vehicles other than the main battle tank. The multishot, lightweight, shoulder-fired, four-tube flame system capable of firing one to four flame rounds semiautomaticaHy is replacing the portable flame thrower. Indeed the mechanized flame thrower is expected to become obsolete because of the family of large-cahber flame rounds. 

For portable American throwers, such as M-1A1 orM-2, 4.2g of Napalm were dissolved in 95.8g of ordinary gasoline at a temp above 15.5°(60°F). For "mechanized (tank) flame throwers, as for instance Model E9, a 10% solution of Napalm was used... 

Table under Flame Throwers—Liquids and Gels . The patent of Bertrand and Grebert (Ref 4) claims that solid proplnt primers of low safety hazard and good mechanical properties can be obtd by including 1% of Al stearate in a mixt consisting of Al 25-35, K perchlorate 44—59, polytetrafluorethylene 5—20 and ZrO 10%. The inventors report that a typical primer consisting of Al 35, K perchlorate 54, polytetrafluorethylene 10 and Al stearate 1% has a combustion temp of 4070° with a gas... 

Mechanized or Tank-type Flame Throwers, During WWII a 3td type of flame dirower was developed, the so-called tank-mounted or "mechanized flame thrower, which at first was intermediate in size between the stationary and portable types but later surpassed the W WI stationary types in size. Although tank-mounted throwers were effective at... 

In the Portable Flame Thrower, the original electrical ignition has been replaced by a mechanically actuated safety-type match. The fiie-produdng mixture (Formula 19) is in a tiny metal cup and is actuated by a blunt steel pin coated with phosphorus mixture, which is pushed by a lever action into the cup. 

Other weapons and ammunition furnished by the CWS ETO to the combat forces included the flame thrower, smoke pots, and smoke grenades. The CWS ETO had acquired a sufficient supply of the portable flame throwers, and chemical units had mixed a substantial quantity of thickened fuel. No American tank-mounted flame thrower was available, but fuel had been mixed for use in British models on loan in limited numbers to the United States forces. Soon after the invasion, St. John reported critical shortages of both portable and mechanized flame throwers and of fuels as well as of mortars and mortar parts, but subsequent experience did not warrant the critical designation since flame throwers were not popular in Europe. ... 

The U.S. Army in World War II used two types of flame throwers, the portable, carried on the soldier s back, and the mechanized, mounted on an armored vehicle, usually a tank. Because flame could penetrate ports and apertures and could be made to turn comers, these special-purpK)se weapons proved extremely useful in overcoming a determined enemy in strong, stubbornly held defensive positions, invulnerable in most cases to conventional weapons. 

For a discussion of the research and development of mechanized flame throwers, see Brophy, Miles, Cochrane, From Ltbortiory to Field. 

The poor results of flame thrower improvisation in the Pacific theaters was no cause for criticism of the responsible chemical officers and tank commanders the portable flame thrower was basically unsuited for tank adaption. If nothing else, these efforts clearly indicated that improvisation was not the answer and underlined the real need for a mechanized flame thrower in the Pacific fighting. 

After the experience at Tarawa, General Richardson, Commanding General, U.S. Army Forces in Central Pacific Area, asked the War Department if mechanized flame throwers were available in the zone of interior. Upon receiving a favorable reply, Richardson requisitioned... 

In an auxiliary mechanized flame thrower the flame weapon supplemented the normal armament of the vehicle in a main armament mechanized flame thrower, as the name implies, the flame thrower was the principal armament. 

A few logistical difficulties arose during these flame operations in the Marianas. Planners for the invasion had estimated that the daily expenditure of each flame tank would be one load of fuel actually, two loads were required. A shortage of napalm meant that most of the flame fuel was either diesel oil mixed with Bunker C fuel obtained from the vessels, or, at times, straight Bunker C. A postcampaign recommendation called for adequate amounts of thickened fuel for future operations to insure a longer, more effective range for the mechanized flame thrower. ... 

Ltr CO 3d Tank Bn to CG 3d Marine Div, 12 Nov 44, sub Rpt and Recommendations on Flame Thrower 4—3 in M4A2 Tanks by This Battalion in Guam Opn. CWS 3M 7 Mechanized Flame Thrower File. 

Mechanized flame throwers experienced the usual difficulties of tank-infantry communications. Close contact between the two was particularly important because of the limited visibility in the mountains where infanrymen often had to guide the tank to its objective. A power telephone on the rear deck of the tank was rigged to the turret, allowing the turret operator to conunvinicate with the infantry but only at the cost of cutting off turret traversing power whenever he spoke. ... 

USAFFE Bd Rpt No. 296, 17 May 45, Rpt of Opns of Flame Throwers E7-7 in Light Tanks MjAi. CWS 3x4.7 Mechanized Flame Thrower File. 

The flame tanks had varying success in the subsequent fighting on Luzon. Sometimes they burned out the enemy other times they were stymied by their vulnerability to the heavier Japanese weapons. There were few mechanical difficulties and, in spite of heavy rains, no ignition failures. Although infantrymen and tankers were enthusiastic about the flame tanks ability to rout the enemy from strong positions, these combat tests indicated that the thinly armored light tank was not a satisfactory mount for the flame thrower. ... 

May 43, sub Combat Testing of Flame Throwers E7—7 in Light Tanks. Qted in McKinney Mechanized Flame Thrower Opns, p. 149. 

The preinvasion preparations of the three Marine divisions earmarked for Iwo included work with both the portable and the mechanized flame throwers. For the smaller weapon this preparation consisted mostly of integrating the flame throwers with the assault teams. It was 3d Marine Division policy to have in each of its battalions an assault platoon made up of 6 men from each rifle company and 2 men from the battalion headquarters company. These 20 men, specially trained in the use of flame throwers, rocket launchers, and demolitions, were placed under the immediate control of the battalion commander. The commander in turn could attach the whole platoon, or a part of it, to his assault companies as the situation required. Other Marine divisions devised similar platoons. Regiments of the 4th Marine Division organized 3 9-man platoons which were attached to each battalion landing team. Squads from these platoons were then assigned to companies for specific missions. ... 

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