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Weapons · United States · 1944-1945

M2 Flamethrower

man-portable flamethrower

As the island campaigns turned into fights against caves, bunkers and pillboxes, the backpack-carried M2 became one of the most effective weapons for burning out defenders who would not surrender to small arms. It replaced the earlier M1 with more reliable ignition and could also be mounted on tanks for standoff attacks on fortified positions at Iwo Jima and Okinawa. About 25,000 M2-2 units were built.

Wikipedia

weight30.8 kg filled
fuel2x 2 US gal napalm/gasoline
range20 m effective
burn time~7 seconds per charge

Pacific

S/Sgt Bill Seklscki fires a flame thrower at a Japanese position near Manacag, Luzon, P.I., Jan 25 1945, National Archives. Note: Since 33rd did not land on Luzon until Feb 1945, this date could be a mistake.
S/Sgt Bill Seklscki fires a flame thrower at a Japanese position near Manacag, Luzon, P.I., Jan 25 1945, National Archives. Note: Since 33rd did not land on Luzon until Feb 1945, this date could be a mistake.US Army · Public domain · source
Picture taken during visit to Virginia War Museum, March 14, 2006
Picture taken during visit to Virginia War Museum, March 14, 2006Original uploader was Mytwocents at en.wikipedia · Public domain · source
I made this image with computer-generated imagery. 2 views of a man with an M2A1-7 United States Army flamethrower.
I made this image with computer-generated imagery. 2 views of a man with an M2A1-7 United States Army flamethrower.Anthony Appleyard at English Wikipedia · Public domain · source

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