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.
M2 flamethrower
US Army · http: via 33rdinfantrydivision.org · Public domain
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- flamethrower.
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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.
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wikidata · Q1427038 · wikipedia · M2 flamethrower
In this article
Second World War
Second World War
Though some M2s were sold off, the majority were scrapped.
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.
Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The improved M2A1-7 flamethrower saw limited use during the conflict due the North Vietnamese use of guerilla tactics, heavy jungle growth, and ready availability of napalm aerial bombs.
Variants of the M2
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 found, 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.
Former operators
Former operators
Australia 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) Philippines United States Indonesia Malaysia Portugal Thailand
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United States.
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M2 flamethrower is associated with United States.
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- “M2 flamethrower”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
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- Wikidata, structured authority record Q1427038: M2 flamethrower
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Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Gander, Terry. Allied infantry weapons of World War Two. Crowood. 194. 2000. 1-86126-354-6.
- 2.Van Wyck, David. Beyond the burn: Studies on the physiological effects of flamethrowers during World War II. Military Medical Research. 7. 1. 8. 2020. 10.1186/s40779-020-00237-9.
- 3.Mountcastle, John W. Inferno! A History of American Flamethrowers. Armor. U.S. Armor Association. 85. 2. 21-25. March–April 1976.
- 4.Flamethrowers. Hated feared and used by all. diggerhistory.info.
- 5.携帯放射機（火焔放射機）.
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1- flamethrowerTerminology
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