The M8 flamethrower, officially designated: Flame Thrower Portable One-Shot, M8, was a single-shot flamethrower briefly adopted into U.S. service by airborne troops, but was never mass produced.[2]
| M8 Flamethrower | |
|---|---|
 M8 Flamethrower being used at testing range | |
| Type | Flamethrower |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1955-1965 |
| Wars | Vietnam War |
| Production history | |
| Designer | U.S. Chemical Corps |
| Designed | 1953–55 |
| No. built | Unknown |
| Variants | E30, M8 |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 13 lb (5.9 kg) empty 26+1⁄2 lb (12.0 kg) filled |
| Length | 31+3⁄4 in (81 cm) |
| Width | 20 in (51 cm) |
| Height | 9 in (23 cm) |
| Diameter | 3+1⁄2 in (8.9 cm) |
| Crew | 1 |
| Rate of fire | Around 0.4 US gal (1.5 L) a second |
| Effective firing range | 60–71 yd (55–65 m) |
| Maximum firing range | 71 yd (65 m) |
| Feed system | One, 2 US gal (7.6 L) Napalm/gasoline tank (fuel) One powder ignition charge[1] |
| Sights | None |
During the end of World War II, the Chemical Corps became interested in improving the man-portable flamethrower concept.[3] They found two possibilities in design: an inexpensive flamethrower capable of being disposed after a single use or a compact flamethrower capable of being reloaded quickly.[4] Early designs of these single use flamethrowers, such as the E15/E16, were inspired by the German einstoss-Fm.W.46 flamethrowers.[5] Sometime in development they found that a 2 US gal (7.6 L) horseshoe-shaped tank with a powder ignition charge was sufficient.[6] It was adopted into service by airborne troops with a technical manual written for it in March 1959.[7] It was eventually replaced by the M9 flamethrowers.
Design
editThe M8 featured a unique fiberglass horseshoe-shaped tank design that holds 2 US gal (7.6 L) of fuel. Inside the tank is a ball that functions as a piston when a powder charge is detonated, causing the fuel to be expelled.[8] A smaller chamber is connected to the fuel tank and houses the powder charge for generating the required pressures and igniting the fuel as its expelled. The ignition is activated by moving a lever on the right side of the flamethrower with the operator's thumb.[9] As a result of using a powder charge, the M8 was capable of only producing a single shot per refuel. This propellant system is similar in function to the Soviet LPO-50 and Chinese Type 74 flamethrowers. The M8 was capable of being fired by hand or by a remote trigger lanyard system, functioning as an emplaced flamethrower.[10] Due to the simple design, the M8 could be disposed of after a single use without being a liability, although they were reusable and could be refueled.
Gallery
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References
edit- ^ Dockery, Kevin. "M8 Single-Shot Flamethrower". Dockery Armory. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
- ^ Николаевич, Ардашев A. Огнеметно-зажигательное оружие. ВикиЧтение. p. 5.3. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
- ^ Brophy, Leo P.; Miles, Wyndham D.; Cochrane, Rexmond C. (1959). The Chemical Warfare Service: From Laboratory to Field. p. 148.
- ^ Gartrell, Maj C. B. (January 1965). "Portable Flamethrower Has Bonus Effect". Marine Corps Gazette. U.S. Marine Corps. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
- ^ Van Dine, W. H. (June 2, 1945). Flame! Special Technical Intelligence Bulletin 9. Washington D.C.: Office, Director of Intelligence Army Service Forces. p. 4.
- ^ Hobson, Charles S. (2010). The Illustrated Manual of U.S. Portable Flamethrowers. Atglen, PA: Schiffer Publishing Ltd. p. 96. ISBN 978-0-7643-3525-9.
- ^ TM 3-1040-200-12 Department of The Army Technical Manual, Operator and Organizational Maintenance Manual, "Flame Thrower Portable One-Shot, M8". Washington D.C.: Headquarters, Department of the Army. March 1959. p. 4.
- ^ McNab, Chris (2015). The Flamethrower. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. p. 27. ISBN 978-1-4728-0903-2.
- ^ FM 20-33 Department of the Army Field Manual, "Ground Flame Warfare". Headquarters, Department of the Army. May 1960. p. 79.
- ^ Gartrell, Maj C. B. (January 1965). "Portable Flamethrower Has Bonus Effect". Marine Corps Gazette. U.S. Marine Corps. Retrieved 19 June 2024.