The M202A1 features four tubes that can load 66 mm incendiaryrockets. The M-74 rockets are equipped with M235 warheads, containing approximately 1.34 pounds (610 g) of an incendiary agent. The substance, often mistaken for napalm[citation needed], is in fact TPA (thickened pyrophoric agent).
Opened M202.
TPA is triethylaluminum (TEA) thickened with polyisobutylene, in the presence of n-hexane, preventing spontaneous combustion after the warhead rupture. TEA, an organometallic compound, is pyrophoric and burns spontaneously at temperatures of 1600 °C (2912 °F) when exposed to air. It burns "white hot" because of the aluminum, much hotter than gasoline or napalm. The light and heat emission is very intense and can produce skin burns from some (close) distance without direct contact with the flame, by thermal radiation alone. A crowd control agent round using CS gas, the XM96, was trialed, but never entered service.
Component containing the M-74
The weapon is meant to be fired from the right shoulder, and can be fired from either a standing, crouching, or prone position. It is loaded with a clip which holds a set of four rockets together, which is inserted into the rear of the launcher and can be pushed past the launching position to enable the launcher to be carried while loaded more easily.
Marines prepare to test-fire an M202 in South Vietnam, 1970
The M202A1 was rated as having a 50% chance of hit against the following targets at the noted ranges, assuming all four rockets were fired at the same time:
Weapons position or stationary vehicle: 200 meters
Squad-sized troop formation: 500 meters
History
The United States Army issued M202s as needed, with each rifle company's headquarters being authorized a single launcher, generally issued as one per rifle platoon. While vastly more lightweight than the M2 flamethrower it replaced, the weapon was still bulky to use and the ammunition suffered from reliability problems. As a result, the weapon had mostly been relegated to storage by the mid-1980s, even though it nominally remains a part of the U.S. Army arsenal.
In USMC service, the M202 was issued to dedicated teams of 0351 Assaultman at the battalion level. The Weapons Platoon's assault section contained three squads, each with a launcher team.[4] With the introduction of the SMAW in the mid 1980s, the M202 was phased out and replaced by SMAW launchers.
The M202A1 has been among weapons listed on the inventory of U.S. units in the War in Afghanistan.[5]
^Hambling, David (May 15, 2009). "U.S. Denies Incendiary Weapon Use in Afghanistan". Wired.com. Accessed 27 May 2010.
References
US Army Manual, TC 23-2, 66 mm rocket launcher M202A1, April 1978
TM 3-1055-456-12 M202A1 Operator's Manual.
U.S. Patent 4,230,509: Pyrophoric flame composition
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to M202.
M202A1 Flame Assault Shoulder Weapon (Flash) at Gary's U.S. Infantry Weapons Reference Guide]
66 mm Incendiary Rocket M74 at Designation Systems
TC 23-2 66 mm Rocket Launcher M202A1—US Army Manual, April 1978
M202 FLASH grenade launcher / flamethrower at Modern Firearms
M202 FLASH on Youtube
This Rocket Launcher Was the U.S. Army’s Last Flamethrower War is Boring
February 24, 2023
m202, flash, flame, assault, shoulder, american, rocket, launcher, manufactured, northrop, corporation, designed, replace, world, vintage, flamethrowers, such, that, remained, military, standard, incendiary, devices, well, into, 1980s, xm202, prototype, launch. The M202 FLASH Flame Assault Shoulder is an American rocket launcher manufactured by Northrop Corporation designed to replace the World War II vintage flamethrowers such as the M1 and the M2 that remained the military s standard incendiary devices well into the 1980s The XM202 prototype launcher was tested in the Vietnam War as part of the XM191 system 3 Launcher Rocket 66mm 4 Tube M202TypeMultishot incendiary rocket launcherPlace of originUnited StatesService historyUsed bySee OperatorsProduction historyDesignedc 1970ManufacturerNorthrop Corporation Electro Mechanical Division 1 Produced1978VariantsM202 M202A1SpecificationsMass11 5 lb 5 22 kg empty 26 6 lb 12 07 kg loadedLength27 in 686 mm closed34 75 in 883 mm extendedCartridgeM235 Incendiary TPACaliber2 6 in 66 mm ActionSingle shot each rocket has its own firing pin Muzzle velocity375 ft s 114 m s Effective firing range22 yd 20 m minimumMaximum firing range820 yd 750 m area target 219 yd 200 m point target Feed system4 rocket clip 2 SightsReflex Contents 1 Description 2 History 3 Operators 3 1 Current operators 4 See also 5 Notes 6 References 7 External linksDescription EditThe M202A1 features four tubes that can load 66 mm incendiary rockets The M 74 rockets are equipped with M235 warheads containing approximately 1 34 pounds 610 g of an incendiary agent The substance often mistaken for napalm citation needed is in fact TPA thickened pyrophoric agent Opened M202 TPA is triethylaluminum TEA thickened with polyisobutylene in the presence of n hexane preventing spontaneous combustion after the warhead rupture TEA an organometallic compound is pyrophoric and burns spontaneously at temperatures of 1600 C 2912 F when exposed to air It burns white hot because of the aluminum much hotter than gasoline or napalm The light and heat emission is very intense and can produce skin burns from some close distance without direct contact with the flame by thermal radiation alone A crowd control agent round using CS gas the XM96 was trialed but never entered service Component containing the M 74 The weapon is meant to be fired from the right shoulder and can be fired from either a standing crouching or prone position It is loaded with a clip which holds a set of four rockets together which is inserted into the rear of the launcher and can be pushed past the launching position to enable the launcher to be carried while loaded more easily Marines prepare to test fire an M202 in South Vietnam 1970 The M202A1 was rated as having a 50 chance of hit against the following targets at the noted ranges assuming all four rockets were fired at the same time Bunker aperture 50 meters Window 125 meters Weapons position or stationary vehicle 200 meters Squad sized troop formation 500 metersHistory EditThe United States Army issued M202s as needed with each rifle company s headquarters being authorized a single launcher generally issued as one per rifle platoon While vastly more lightweight than the M2 flamethrower it replaced the weapon was still bulky to use and the ammunition suffered from reliability problems As a result the weapon had mostly been relegated to storage by the mid 1980s even though it nominally remains a part of the U S Army arsenal In USMC service the M202 was issued to dedicated teams of 0351 Assaultman at the battalion level The Weapons Platoon s assault section contained three squads each with a launcher team 4 With the introduction of the SMAW in the mid 1980s the M202 was phased out and replaced by SMAW launchers The M202A1 has been among weapons listed on the inventory of U S units in the War in Afghanistan 5 The XM191 MPFWOperators Edit Map with M202 operators in blue Current operators Edit South Korea Republic of Korea Army United States United States ArmySee also EditFHJ 84 RPO A Shmel Bumblebee Notes Edit Authorization for Military Procurement Research and Development Fiscal Year 1971 and Reserve Strength 1970 https www google com books edition 4zIuAAAAYAAJ hl en amp gbpv 1 US Army Manual April 1978 DTIC AD0868942 XM191 Multishot Portable Flame Weapon ENSURE 263 March 1970 Marine Infantry Battalion FMFM 6 3 PDF United States Department of the Navy 1978 Hambling David May 15 2009 U S Denies Incendiary Weapon Use in Afghanistan Wired com Accessed 27 May 2010 References EditUS Army Manual TC 23 2 66 mm rocket launcher M202A1 April 1978 TM 3 1055 456 12 M202A1 Operator s Manual U S Patent 4 230 509 Pyrophoric flame compositionExternal links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to M202 M202A1 Flame Assault Shoulder Weapon Flash at Gary s U S Infantry Weapons Reference Guide 66 mm Incendiary Rocket M74 at Designation Systems TC 23 2 66 mm Rocket Launcher M202A1 US Army Manual April 1978 M202 FLASH grenade launcher flamethrower at Modern Firearms M202 FLASH on Youtube This Rocket Launcher Was the U S Army s Last Flamethrower War is Boring Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title M202 FLASH amp oldid 1125636382, wikipedia, wiki, book, 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