Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!sun-barr!ames!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!sdd.hp.com!ucsd!pacbell.com!att!cbnews!cbnews!military From: mbin@amsaa-cleo.brl.mil (Mary Binseel) Newsgroups: sci.military Subject: Re: Flamethrowers synopsis Message-ID: <1991Feb15.070238.10264@cbnews.att.com> Date: 15 Feb 91 07:02:38 GMT References: <1991Feb13.221434.5832@cbnews.att.com> Sender: military@cbnews.att.com (William B. Thacker) Organization: U.S. ARMY MATERIEL SYSTEMS ANALYSIS ACTIVITY (AMSAA), APG, MD. Lines: 45 Approved: military@att.att.com From: Mary Binseel >From: drn@pinet.aip.org (donald_newcomb) > >This is the synopsis of responses to my query on flamethrowers. > >>From: rja@Eng.Sun.COM (Robert Allen) >>As far as I know we don't use flamethrowers, per se, any more. We >>do however have a 4 shot, reloadable, shoulder launched flame weapon. >>The name escapes me, but you can see what it looks like in the Arnold >>movie, Commando (I make no comments on how realistic it looks in the >>movie). This weapon is really not the same as a true flamethrower, but >>supposedly it does fire flame rockets. > >Hummm. Can anyone elucidate us about this? Gee I'm not crazy! (Well, maybe... :-)) When I was at the Ft. Bragg, NC (the World's Largest Inland Beach) for ROTC "Summer Camp" in 1978, I got a neat toy to play with. It was the M203 "Flash," which I've would've described exactly as above. It had a composite tube, with the 4 shots arranged in a 2x2 holder in the rear. Looked like a cross between a LAW and a Stinger. It fired a round which contained a material which would deform over and cling to the target before ignition (presumably Napalm.) We were told it was not-in-the-field/not-in-the-field-in -large-numbers-yet (can't remember which.) It must've been available only in low numbers, as only 2 cadets per platoon were chosen to fire it. We fired at an old tank hull. Nice effect. Later, when I started working for the US Army labs, I occassionally asked people who should know about the system, as I had never heard of it or seen it again after that summer. They just looked at me with a blank look on their faces. I was beginning to think I had imagined tha whole thing. Apparently it never reached production. Can anyone else tell me of the fate of this thing? E-mail me, as this is getting a little esoteric. I'll post a summary if anyone's interested. ****************************************************************************** Mary S. Binseel Pilot-in-training mbin@amsaa-cleo.brl.mil '85 Honda CB700SC Nighthawk S Carpe diem! '88 Honda GL1500 GoldWing