Flamethrowers
Created by Meghan Tarney
The Basics of the Flamethrower
The flamethrower is a weapon that spreads fire in an area by launching burning fuel. The earliest flamethrowers date back to the fifth century BC, when they were long tubes that functioned by blowing air into one end. Over the centuries, they have been modified and refined. The models seen during WWI were developed by Richard Fiedler, a German scientist, in 1901. He created a small and large one. The smaller model is portable, and it can send out a stream of burning oil for up to 18 meters. The larger model is stationary, has twice the range of the smaller one, and can sustain flames for an impressive forty seconds. Its main purpose was to burn down the enemy's forts and supplies, and also inflict terror of being burned alive.
How does the flamethrower work?
There is a backpack that contains three cylinder tanks. The two cylinders on the outside are filled with flammable, oil-based liquid fuel. The one in the middle is filled with flammable, compressed gas, such as butane. A tube leads to the gun’s ignition system, while another tube leads to the two side fuel tanks, allowing the compressed gas into an open area above the liquid fuel. The gas applies pressure to the liquid fuel, which forces it out of the tank, through a connected hose, and into a reservoir in the gun. There is a long rod with a plug at the end that keeps the fuel from flowing out of the nozzle when the trigger lever is released. When the trigger lever is squeezed, it pulls the rod and attached plug backward, letting the fuel flow through the nozzle.
There is a backpack that contains three cylinder tanks. The two cylinders on the outside are filled with flammable, oil-based liquid fuel. The one in the middle is filled with flammable, compressed gas, such as butane. A tube leads to the gun’s ignition system, while another tube leads to the two side fuel tanks, allowing the compressed gas into an open area above the liquid fuel. The gas applies pressure to the liquid fuel, which forces it out of the tank, through a connected hose, and into a reservoir in the gun. There is a long rod with a plug at the end that keeps the fuel from flowing out of the nozzle when the trigger lever is released. When the trigger lever is squeezed, it pulls the rod and attached plug backward, letting the fuel flow through the nozzle.
Flamethrower - Impact and Consequences
Overall impact?
Because the modern flamethrower was a new weapon at the time of WWI, it was only mainly used by the Germans, although the French and British attempted to make their own versions later. The first notable use of it was at the Battle at Hooge when the Germans launched a surprise attack on the British. After two days of severe fighting, the Germans claimed victory. With the success, at least as far as the flamethrower was concerned, the Germans decided to use the weapon on a widespread basis across all fronts of battle. There are known to be 650 flamethrower attacks by the Germans. Overall, the flamethrower was a weapon that caused destruction and brought success to the Germans. On the right is a map of the modern city of Hooge in Belgium, where the battle took place. |
Individual impact?
The soldiers on the front line were obviously impacted. Their forts and supplies were burned, and they were forced to flee. It also had psychological effects on the soldiers themselves, inflicting terror on them. The civilians on the front line were not as affected by flamethrowers as they were by other weapons like airplanes, as the former was usually only used in battles.
The soldiers on the front line were obviously impacted. Their forts and supplies were burned, and they were forced to flee. It also had psychological effects on the soldiers themselves, inflicting terror on them. The civilians on the front line were not as affected by flamethrowers as they were by other weapons like airplanes, as the former was usually only used in battles.
Positives
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Negatives
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Flamethrower - Connection to Today
On the right is a picture of a modern day flamethrower. It is similar to the model used in WWI.
Ever since the usage in WWI, it has been a very controversial weapon because of the gruesome death it caused. In past wars, users of flamethrowers were not taken prisoner, but immediately executed when captured. In 1978, the U.S. Department of Defense officially prohibited the use of flamethrowers. |