Flamethrower

By Edwyn Bartley
The Flamethrower
What is the Flamethrower? (Part 1)
The flamethrower is a device that is designed to project a long and controlled
stream of fire.

They have been used in World War I and became more widely used in World War
II.
What is the Flamethrower? (Part 2)
Flamethrowers have been around since the first century AD and originated in
Greece.

It was modernized by Germany.

Flamethrower
Consist of a backpack and gun

Backpack has two or three cylinders

One holds propellent (nitrogen) and the

other holds flammable liquids or fuel

Flame can be ignited during or after firing

with an igniting device in the nozzle
Richard Fielder
German scientist

Modernized flamethrower

Engineer in Berlin before first world war

Got patent and financial support from the German army to continue the
development of his invention
Two Flamethrowers
Richard Fielder made two models of
flamethrowers, or flammenwerfer in
German

Klein Flammenwerfer and Gross

Flammenwerfer
Grossflammenwerfer
Too big to be carried by soldiers

Designed to be used in trenches; it had a

long hose that could be carried out

Multiple propellants and fuel containers

could be used together to increase time of
use and range

This was the first flamethrower made by

Fielder
Kleinflammenwerfer
Was portable by a single soldier

Two soldiers operate it; one carried the fuel and the other wielded the lance

This was the second flamethrower made by Fielder

Battle
First Flamethrower Usage
During World War I on February 26, 1915 the flamethrower was used for the first
time briefly against the french by Germany.

It was used at Hooge, where the lines were 4.5 meters apart. It didnt do much
damage by itself, instead it flushed out enemy soldiers from trenches to where
they could be shot.
Uses in Battle
Flamethrowers were used against fortifications

Due to liquid the flames could be bounced off walls and into unseen areas

Has considerable range (longer than seen in movies, due to different fuels)
Psychological
Potent against unprepared soldiers, inflicting painful deaths

There were calls to ban the flamethrower

Dangers
The weight restricted a soldiers mobility

Fuels burn quickly (within seconds)

Extremely visible, making operator easy to spot

Had to approach target due to short range

Flammenwerfer Carriers (Part 1)
The Germans used flamethrowers in
groups of six.

The operator had a short life expectancy.

Fuel tanks would unexpectedly (or when

shot) explode.

British and French troops would focus

fire in their area.

If captured they received no mercy.

Flammenwerfer Carriers (Part 2)
Flamethrowers could also be vehicle mounted

Bigger range than portable version

Other
Fire Before the Flamethrower
Petrol spray was ignited by incendiary bombs

It was not commonly used

Adapting for Their Own
The flamethrower was a deadly
weapon, one that other countries
could see its effectiveness.

They made their own (heavy)

models.

Their models proved to only be

useful for flushing out trenches as
well.
British Version
Used experimental weapon Livens Large Gallery Flame Projector

Invented by William Howard Livens, a royal engineer

Enormous and non-portable

Changed to project canisters of gas that released poison gas onto enemy lines