3. USES OF FLAME THROWERS.
Flame throwers can:
_a. Penetrate openings_, such as embrasures
and gun ports, and fill the fortifications with flame and
smoke.
_b. Burn, asphyxiate, and blind enemy personnel_, causing casualties,
shock, panic, and abandonment of a fortified position.
_c. Ignite combustible parts of shelters and materiel_ and start
detonation of sensitive ammunition and explosives.
[Illustration: Fig 2. Firing with liquid fuel.]
[Illustration: Fig 3. Firing with thickened fuel. Thickened fuel
has longer range than liquid fuel and burns on target for several
minutes.]
_d._ “_Shoot around corners_,” when fuel is fired from dead or
blind angles. This is made possible by the billowing and swirling
movements of flaming gases. Blazing thickened fuels also
ricochet from wall to wall in fortifications.
_e. Cause the enemy to close ports_, temporarily putting the emplacement
out of action and thus protecting the demolition party.
_f. Mop up_ dug-in personnel.
_g. Eliminate enemy nests_ in street or jungle fighting.
4. CHARACTERISTICS AND EMPLOYMENT.
_a. Action._ Fuel is propelled into the target by a charge of
highly compressed air or nitrogen. As fuel leaves the gun of the
M2-2 portable flame thrower (Fig 1), it is ignited by contact with
flame from charges of incendiary mix held in an expendable ignition
cylinder.
_b. Bursts._ A continuous stream or separate bursts may be
fired for approximately 8 to 9 seconds, not including time between
the bursts. The five incendiary charges in the ignition cylinder
are controlled by the trigger and can ignite several bursts.
_c. Range._ Portable flame throwers are fired at extremely
close or point-blank range for best results. (Par 22) Effective
range for liquid fuels (Fig 2) is as far as 20 yards, and for thickened
fuels (Fig 3), 40 yards, but underbrush and adverse winds
can reduce the distances.
_d. Weight._ To keep the weight as light as possible and still
provide strength to withstand very high pressures, most parts
are made of aluminum or sheet steel.
_e. Tactics._ Two or more flame throwers are generally used
on a mission with other weapons of the assault squad. (See FM
31-50, “Attack on a Fortified Position and Combat in Towns.”)
_f. Firers and assistants._ One man carries and fires each
flame thrower. Well-armed assistants accompany firers to give
close protection and to serve as emergency replacements.
Whereas the M1A1 portable flame thrower may require the help
of an assistant to open the pressure-tank valve, the M2-2 flame
thrower pressure-tank valve is located within reach of the firer
and is operated by him without assistance. Firers and assistants
should be thoroughly trained in operation of the weapon.
[Illustration: Fig 4. Tank group.]
_g. Charging and filling._ In order to replace pressure tanks
(cylinders) of earlier types of flame throwers, it is necessary to
unscrew and screw threaded connections. Experience has shown that this
frequently resulted in damage to threads, leakage, loss of pressure,
and loss of range. It is also necessary to use tools to replace
each pressure tank (cylinder). The design of the M2-2 flame thrower
eliminates these difficulties. The tank group (Fig 4) may be charged
and filled as a unit with or without gun and hose. The quick-connecting
tank coupling permits rapid interchanging of empty and full tank groups
by the firers or assistants. This is done without tools, takes very
little time, and cannot cause leakage, loss of pressure, and loss of
range due to damaged threads.
5. DESCRIPTION AND FUNCTIONING.
The flame thrower consists of two major groups: tank group and
gun group. Detailed descriptions of assemblies and parts are
included in Paragraphs 66 through 76.
_a. Tank group._ (Figs 4 and 5) Carried upon the firer’s back,
the tank group holds fuel and pressure. The tank group may be
identified as tank, fuel, portable flame thrower, M2, assembly
D81-1-482. It consists principally of:
(1) _Two fuel tanks_, holding a total of 4 gallons of fuel, and
joined by a tank connector to form a single fuel reservoir.
(2) _Pressure tank_, charged with highly compressed air or
nitrogen used to propel fuel from the fuel tanks through the gun
to the target. The tank is large in capacity to assure ample pressure
and uniformly long range throughout the firing.
(3) _Pressure-tank valve_, which releases air or nitrogen
through the pressure regulator to the fuel tanks. The valve can
be opened by the firer without the assistance required in the case
of the M1A1 flame thrower.
(4) _Pressure regulator_, which automatically assures delivery
of air or nitrogen to the fuel tanks at the proper pressure. The
regulator is located in a position where it cannot easily be damaged.
(5) _Carrier_, which supports the tank group on the firer’s back
and shoulders and secures it to his body. It includes body and
shoulder straps and quick-releasing fasteners.
_b. Gun group._ (Fig 6) Carried, aimed, and operated by the
hands of the firer, the gun group ignites the fuel and directs the
flame into the target. It includes:
(1) _Fuel hose_, which conveys fuel from the tank group to the
gun. The fuel hose may be requisitioned as hose, fuel, portable
flame thrower, M1, assembly B81-1-498.
(2) _Gun_, which ignites the fuel and directs it to the target.
The gun may be identified as gun, portable flame thrower,
M2, assembly D81-1-405. It consists of:
(_a_) _Fuel valve_, which discharges fuel through the barrel.
The valve is operated by squeezing the valve lever and the grip
safety, which are on opposite sides of the valve grip. The valve
also includes a barrel from which the fuel is ejected. The ignition
head is supported on the front of the barrel.
(_b_) _Ignition head_, which ignites the fuel as it passes
from the nozzle of the barrel. With each pull of the trigger on the
front grip, one of five charges of incendiary mix in an ignition
cylinder is ignited. This pilot flame ignites the fuel as it is
propelled from the gun.
[Illustration: Fig 5. Tank group with carrier folded back to show
construction.]
[Illustration: Fig 6. Gun group of portable flame thrower M2-2.]
6. IDENTIFICATION INFORMATION.
The words “Chemical Warfare Service,” model numbers, serial
numbers, lot numbers, weight, cubage, manufacturers’ names,
contract number, and date of packing are indicated on the packing
chest or the equipment. The numbers and letters shown on the
equipment should be referred to when repairs are required. The
tank group and the gun (without the fuel hose) may each be marked
“M2” and the fuel hose may be marked “M1,” although all of
these are components of the M2-2 portable flame thrower.
7. DIFFERENCES IN MODELS.
_a. M2-2 and E3 portable flame throwers._ Portable flame
thrower M2-2 is identical in all important respects with portable
flame thrower E3. (The E3 flame thrower, when standardized
with some modifications, became the M2-2.) Operation and maintenance
of the M2-2 and E3 are in general the same, and the parts
are interchangeable.
_b. M2-2, M1, and M1A1 portable flame throwers._ Portable
flame thrower M2-2 has the same fuel capacity but differs in
construction from portable flame throwers M1 and M1A1. Parts
are not interchangeable except as stated in Paragraph 8.
8. INTERCHANGING PARTS WITH M1 OR M1A1 FLAME THROWER.
To use an M2-2 gun with tank group (fuel unit) of an M1 or M1A1
portable flame thrower:
_a._ Remove fuel hose from M2-2 gun.
_b._ Screw a 3/4-inch by 1/2-inch pipe bushing into the side
opening of the fuel-valve body. This bushing is furnished in the
spare parts kit of each M2-2 portable flame thrower. (Par 10)
_c._ Screw the fuel-hose assembly of the M1 or M1A1 flame
thrower into the 1/2-inch opening of the bushing, using a wrench
to make a tight connection.
9. DATA.
All data are approximate.
_a. Range._ See Paragraph 22.
_b. Duration of fire._
(1) _Fuel_.
(_a_) Continuous discharge of approximately 8 to 9 seconds,
or
(_b_) Several short bursts totalling approximately 8 to 9 seconds
(not including time between bursts).
(2) _Ignition cylinder._ Five charges in each cylinder, 8 to 12
seconds per charge.
_c. Weights._
_Pounds_
Portable flame thrower M2-2, empty, in shipping
chest (including the chest and all contents) 110
Portable flame thrower M2-2, empty 43
Portable flame thrower M2-2, filled with fuel 68 to 72
Tank group, empty 35
Tank group, filled with fuel 60 to 64
Gun group 8
_d. Dimensions._
_Inches_
Gun, length 30
Fuel hose, length 37
Tank group, height 27
Tank group, width 20
Tank group, breadth 11
Packing chest 34 x 23 x 19
(Cube of packing chest: 8-1/2 cubic feet)
_e. Capacity of weapon._
Ignition cylinder (M1 or E1) 1 (which includes 5 incendiary
charges)
Fuel 4 gallons plus void for air or
nitrogen
_f. Pressures._
_Pounds per sq. in._
Pressure tank 1,700 to 2,100
Fuel tanks 350
_g. Ratio of expended supplies._ For every 100 complete fillings
of the flame thrower, the following supplies are normally expended:
(1) Nitrogen contained in fifteen 220-cubic-foot cylinders or an
equivalent volume of compressed air. (Eleven cylinders are expended
if the four-place arrangement described in Paragraph 32 is used.)
(2) 450 gallons of fuel (400 gallons plus 50 gallons for spillage,
spoilage, and evaporation).
(3) 100 ignition cylinders.
(4) If thickened fuel is used, 135 pounds (in cans of 5-1/4 pounds
each) of U. S. Army fuel thickener.