What was the purpose of flamethrowers in ww1?

Of all the weapons introduced during the war, the flamethrower was one of the most feared. First used by the German shock troops, the weapon proved to be an effective tool against fortifications and trenches, showering the enemy with burning liquid and flushing out troops who would be otherwise unassailable.

What was the purpose of flamethrowers in ww2?

Because flame could penetrate ports and apertures and could be made to turn comers, these special-purpose weapons proved extremely useful in overcoming a determined enemy in strong, stubbornly held defensive positions, invulnerable in most cases to conventional weapons.

When was the first flamethrower used in battle?

26 February 1915
The flamethrower made its combat debut on 26 February 1915 when the German 3rd Guard Pioneer Regiment used them in a successful small-scale attack against French trenches near Verdun on the Western Front.

How did the flamethrower evolve?

The basic concept of the flamethrower was to spread fire against an enemy position by launching a concentrated jet of burning fuel. The modern flamethrower had its genesis at the turn of the 20th Century. Two models, one larger and one smaller, were developed by Richard Fielder for the kaiser’s Imperial Army in 1901.

What was the original purpose of the flamethrower?

The original purpose was to burn the enemy troops out. Because of the flamethrower’s original range, and effectiveness, it was used to clear bunkers, trenches, and any enclosed space that had enemies inside of them. They were usually filled with Napalm so they would stick to the enemy. During the Vietnam War,…

Did the United States use flamethrowers in WW1?

The United States did not use or develop flamethrowers until after World War One. At the Treaty of Versailles, which ended World War One, Germany was forbidden to supply its army with flamethrowers; along with several other weapons.

What are flame throwers used for?

Flame throwers were us mainly in WW 1 and world war two as means ov getting the enemy out of caves and bunkers .About a 10 second burst irto the mouth of a cave will depleat almost all the oxygen in smaller caves so the enemy will either die or get out. They were also used on tanks and armored pc carriers.

What are the disadvantages of using a flamethrower?

Flamethrowers pose many risks to the operator. The first disadvantage was the weapon’s weight and length, which impairs the soldier’s mobility. The weapon is limited to only a few seconds of burn time, since it uses fuel very quickly, requiring the operator to be precise and conservative.