Flame throwers, portable

Ltr, CG USAFFE to CG Sixth Army, 21 Aug 43, sub Flame Throwers, Portable, MiAi, Sixth Army Reds, 470.71 Flame Throwers. 

In the new method of multiple designation used here, the first "2 referred to the gas and fuel reservoirs, the second "2" to the flame gun. (2) CWTC Item 935, Standardization of Flame Thrower, Portable, M2-2, Kit, Service, for Portable Flame Thrower, M2-2, and Cylinder, Ignition, Portable Flame Thrower, 17 Mar 44. 

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... 

PBA 4627)(1944)(Chemical ignition of flame throwers) G) Standard Oil Development Co, OSRD 3574(PBL 4187)0944) (Development of Portable Flamethrower E2)... 

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In the Portable Flame Thrower, the original electrical ignition has been replaced by a mechanically actuated safety-type match.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. ... 

In September 1943, two months before the first Central Pacific forces assault on Makin Atoll, the CWS presented the first course of instruction in the operation of the portable flame thrower. Many similar courses followed since in the Central Pacific as in the South and Southwest Pacific, the flame thrower became a valued infantry weapon and a particular favorite of the Marine Corps. From January to May 1944, Unmacht s immediate staff prepared a total of thirty-two courses, including, for the first time in February 1944, a course on the vehicle-mounted flame thrower developed and manufactured by the CWS, Navy, and Marines in Hawaii. 

In the actual Marshalls operation, the tactical commander held resupply offshore until he could determine that it could be landed without clogging the beaches. The only CWS supply problem arising in the Marshalls was that so many portable flame throwers were provided that not all could be used. The allowance p>er division for subsequent operations was cut from 192 to 141 weapons. The physical condition and handling of supplies otherwise met demands, demonstrating that the CWS had learned to operate its share of the theater supply... 

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. 

The prototype for the portable flame thrower was devised by German engineers sometime between 1900 and 1910. Introduced in World War I against the French at Malencourt, it saw some service on the Western Front where it proved to be a startling, if unreliable, assault weapon. The British and French developed flame throwers of their own by 1916, but the weapon, because of its short range, vulnerability, and lack of tactical doctrine, had limited combat success. It was never used by American troops. ... 

The Portable Flame Thrower in the South Pacific Guadalcanal... 

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