Auxiliary Mechanized Flame Throwers

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. 

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. 

The Mechanized Flame Thrower The Requirement for an Auxiliary Model... 

Patton expressed doubt about the tactical value of a mechanized flame thrower. A September 1944 demonstration of two models of the newly developed auxiliary flame thrower for the medium tank elicited no requirement for the weapon. A series of conferences on the mechanized flame thrower led Allied Force Headquarters in December 1944 also to report that no requirement existed for the auxiliary model. One of the major factors in this conclusion was the fact that the Italian terrain was most unfavorable for the use of tanks. ... 

The only American-made, mechanized flame thrower used by U.S. troops in the European theater was the E4—5, later standardized as the M3-4-3, the auxiliary model which initially had arrived without the transmission fuel tanks. Four of these flame thrower units arrived in the sununer of 1944 action with First Army in September. 

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