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M2 flamethrower

The M2 flamethrower was an American, man-portable, backpack flamethrower that was used in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. The M2 was the successor to the M1 and M1A1 flamethrowers. Although its burn time was around 7 seconds long, and the flames were effective around 20–40 meters, it was still a useful weapon. With the arrival of flamethrower tanks, the need for flamethrower-carrying infantrymen to expose themselves to enemy fire had been greatly reduced.

M2 Flamethrower
A soldier from the 33rd Infantry Division uses an M2 flamethrower.
TypeFlamethrower
Place of originUnited States
Service history
In service1944–1978
WarsWorld War II
Korean War
Vietnam War
Sino-Vietnamese War
Production history
DesignerUS Army Chemical Warfare Service
Designed1940–41
No. built14,000 (M1A1)
VariantsM2A1-2, M2A1-7
Specifications
Mass43 lb (19.5 kg) empty
68 lb (30.8 kg) filled
Crew1

Rate of fireAround 0.5 US gal (1.9 L) a second
Effective firing range65+12 ft (20.0 m)
Maximum firing range132 ft (40 m)
Feed systemTwo, 2 US gal (7.6 L) Napalm/gasoline tanks (fuel)
One Nitrogen tank (propellant)
SightsNone
United States Marines demonstrate an M2 flamethrower (2012)

Though some M2s were sold off, the majority were scrapped.

Combat use

Second World War

The M2 flamethrower saw combat use in the Pacific theater, being deployed to combat strongly fortified and entrenched Japanese positions. Following the success with the M1 flamethrower, the M2 was developed and put into combat use in 1943. Towards the end of the conflict, later models of the M2 were equipped with the fuel-thickening agent known as napalm.[1]

Variants of the M2

The M2, which was the WWII model, had hexagonal gas caps and hourglass frames. It was also called the M2-2, M2 for the tank groups and -2 for the wand type.

The M2A1-2 is the variation of the M2 devised during the Korean War. These had straight sided backpack frames, vented gas caps, a cylinder sized regulator and a safety valve. These are much more common today than WWII models.

M2A1-7 was a flamethrower used by the American troops during the Vietnam War. It is the updated version of the M2A1-2 unit used during The Korean War.

It has four controls:

  • Back of the rear grip: firing safety catch.
  • Front of the rear grip: firing trigger.
  • On top of the front part: igniter safety catch
  • Under the front part: igniter trigger.

The M9A1-7 was the most common model used in Vietnam and is much lighter and easier to use. Tanks for this weapon are commonly[when?] found[where?][by whom?], but most wands were destroyed after the Vietnam war.

Some U.S. Army flamethrowers have a front handgrip with the same shape as the rear handgrip. In these models the igniter controls are on the front handgrip, arranged in the same way as the rear handgrip controls. The M2 was replaced by the M9A1-7 flamethrower which was used in Vietnam. The M9A1-7 was replaced by the M202A1 FLASH.

Operators

 
Map with former M2 flamethrower operators

Former operators

Gallery

See also

References

  1. ^ Van Wyck, David (2020). "Beyond the burn: Studies on the physiological effects of flamethrowers during World War II". Military Medical Research. 7 (1): 8. doi:10.1186/s40779-020-00237-9. PMC 7045602. PMID 32102691.
  2. ^ "Flamethrowers. Hated feared and used by all". diggerhistory.info. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
  3. ^ "携帯放射機(火焔放射機)" (in Japanese). Retrieved 22 November 2015.

External links

    flamethrower, american, portable, backpack, flamethrower, that, used, world, korean, vietnam, successor, m1a1, flamethrowers, although, burn, time, around, seconds, long, flames, were, effective, around, meters, still, useful, weapon, with, arrival, flamethrow. The M2 flamethrower was an American man portable backpack flamethrower that was used in World War II the Korean War and the Vietnam War The M2 was the successor to the M1 and M1A1 flamethrowers Although its burn time was around 7 seconds long and the flames were effective around 20 40 meters it was still a useful weapon With the arrival of flamethrower tanks the need for flamethrower carrying infantrymen to expose themselves to enemy fire had been greatly reduced M2 FlamethrowerA soldier from the 33rd Infantry Division uses an M2 flamethrower TypeFlamethrowerPlace of originUnited StatesService historyIn service1944 1978WarsWorld War IIKorean WarVietnam WarSino Vietnamese WarProduction historyDesignerUS Army Chemical Warfare ServiceDesigned1940 41No built14 000 M1A1 VariantsM2A1 2 M2A1 7SpecificationsMass43 lb 19 5 kg empty68 lb 30 8 kg filledCrew1Rate of fireAround 0 5 US gal 1 9 L a secondEffective firing range65 1 2 ft 20 0 m Maximum firing range132 ft 40 m Feed systemTwo 2 US gal 7 6 L Napalm gasoline tanks fuel One Nitrogen tank propellant SightsNone source source source source source source source source source source source source United States Marines demonstrate an M2 flamethrower 2012 Though some M2s were sold off the majority were scrapped Contents 1 Combat use 1 1 Second World War 2 Variants of the M2 3 Operators 3 1 Former operators 4 Gallery 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksCombat use EditSecond World War Edit The M2 flamethrower saw combat use in the Pacific theater being deployed to combat strongly fortified and entrenched Japanese positions Following the success with the M1 flamethrower the M2 was developed and put into combat use in 1943 Towards the end of the conflict later models of the M2 were equipped with the fuel thickening agent known as napalm 1 Variants of the M2 EditThe M2 which was the WWII model had hexagonal gas caps and hourglass frames It was also called the M2 2 M2 for the tank groups and 2 for the wand type The M2A1 2 is the variation of the M2 devised during the Korean War These had straight sided backpack frames vented gas caps a cylinder sized regulator and a safety valve These are much more common today than WWII models M2A1 7 was a flamethrower used by the American troops during the Vietnam War It is the updated version of the M2A1 2 unit used during The Korean War It has four controls Back of the rear grip firing safety catch Front of the rear grip firing trigger On top of the front part igniter safety catch Under the front part igniter trigger The M9A1 7 was the most common model used in Vietnam and is much lighter and easier to use Tanks for this weapon are commonly when found where by whom but most wands were destroyed after the Vietnam war Some U S Army flamethrowers have a front handgrip with the same shape as the rear handgrip In these models the igniter controls are on the front handgrip arranged in the same way as the rear handgrip controls The M2 was replaced by the M9A1 7 flamethrower which was used in Vietnam The M9A1 7 was replaced by the M202A1 FLASH Operators Edit Map with former M2 flamethrower operators Former operators Edit Australia 2 Brazil China Republic of China World War II Japan after World War II for the JSDF later replaced by a Japanese made flamethrower based on the M2 3 Philippines United States Indonesia Malaysia ThailandGallery Edit Two CGI views of a man with an M2A1 7 U S Army flamethrower The two big tanks contain the fuel The small tank contains the pressurizing gas nitrogen M2A1 flamethrower M2A1 flamethrower used by the Republic of China during the China Burma India Theater See also EditList of flamethrowersReferences Edit Van Wyck David 2020 Beyond the burn Studies on the physiological effects of flamethrowers during World War II Military Medical Research 7 1 8 doi 10 1186 s40779 020 00237 9 PMC 7045602 PMID 32102691 Flamethrowers Hated feared and used by all diggerhistory info Retrieved 22 November 2015 携帯放射機 火焔放射機 in Japanese Retrieved 22 November 2015 External links EditWeapons of the World War II Gyrene Flamethrowers Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title M2 flamethrower amp oldid 1126165496, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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