Flammenwerfer 35

The Flammenwerfer 35, or FmW 35 [2] (flame thrower) was a one-man German flamethrower used during World War II to clear out trenches and buildings. It could project fuel up to 25 meters from the user.

Flammenwerfer 35
TypeFlamethrower
Place of originNazi Germany
Service history
In service1935–1945
Used byGerman Army
WarsSecond World War
Production history
ManufacturerDifferent manufacturers
Produced1935–1941
Specifications
Mass35.8kg (79lb)
Crew1[1]
Actionnitrogen
Rate of fire1180ml/s, 10 consecutive seconds
Effective firing range25 m
Maximum firing range27–33 yards (25–30 m)
Feed system1 (3 gal) gasoline compound (fuel)
1 Nitrogen tank (propellant)
SightsNone

Description

It weighed 35.8 kilograms (79 lb), and held 11.8 litres (2.6 imp gal; 3.1 US gal) of flaming oil, (Flammöl 19), petrol mixed with tar to make it heavier and to give it better range, which was ignited by a hydrogen torch providing about 10 seconds of continuous use.[3] The firing device is activated at the same time with the Selbstschlussventil and is inside the protective pipe. The Flammenwerfer 35 was produced until 1941, when the lighter, slightly redesigned Flammenwerfer 41 began replacing it.[4]

Use
German infantry taking cover behind trees on the Eastern Front. One man carries the Flammenwerfer 35.

This flamethrower, like all flamethrowers employed by the Wehrmacht, was exclusively used by sturmpionieres (assault pioneers); specialist pioneers who were to assist the infantry in an assault, by overcoming natural and man-made obstacles for the infantry, clearing enemy fortifications with flamethrowers and then destroying them with demolition charges.[5] The sturmpionieres that exclusively used these flamethrowers played an important part in overcoming French fortifications blocking the German advance during the Battle of France.[5] More specifically the Battle of Sedan (1940).

See also

References
  1. Alexander Ludeke (February 1, 2012). Weapons of World War II. Parragon Books. ISBN 978-1445411286.
  2. "Portable Flame Thrower - Cartridge (Firearms) - Magazine (Firearms)". Scribd.com. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  3. Bishop, Chris (1998). The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II. p. 265.
  4. "Flammenwerfer". Archived from the original on 2011-03-23. Retrieved 2011-05-13.
  5. "21.Infanterie-Division German UK Based WW2 Re-enactment group/Reenactment group/Living history Group/UK Based". 21infantry.co.uk. Retrieved 2021-07-21.
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