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m. Flammpanzerwagen (Sd. Kfz. 251/16): Armored Flamethrower Vehicle

This flame-throwing vehicle is employed in association with more heavily armored panzer units. It is an adaptation of the medium armored personnel carrier on which have been mounted the various items of equipment required. There are two large projectors mounted well back on either side of the vehicle in V-shaped shields. Each of these has […]

m. Flammpanzerwagen (Sd. Kfz. 251/16): Armored Flamethrower Vehicle

This flame-throwing vehicle is employed in association with more heavily armored panzer units. It is an adaptation of the medium armored personnel carrier on which have been mounted the various items of equipment required.

There are two large projectors mounted well back on either side of the vehicle in V-shaped shields. Each of these has a nozzle .55 inch in diameter, and a traverse of 160 degrees. The third flamethrower takes the form of the cartridge ignition projector used in the small portable flamethrower Model 42, on the end of 33 feet of hose, connecting it to the propulsion unit and fuel tank through the back of the vehicle. The nozzle of this projector is .28 inch in diameter.

Fuel propulsion is by a pump driven by a small gasoline engine supplied by a 5 1/2-gallon tank which will run the engine for two hours. One hundred and fifty-four gallons of fuel for the flamethrowers is carried. This allows about eighty bursts of one or two seconds’ duration each.

The effective range of the large flamethrowers is about 40 yards; that of the portable unit about 30 yards.

1,850 gallons of fuel are carried in the three 3-ton lorries of platoon transport. This is sufficient for two refuels for all six flamethrower vehicles of the flamethrower platoon.

The crew of the vehicle consists of one vehicle loader who also acts as wireless operator and machine gunner, two flamethrower operators, and a driver.

SPECIFICATIONS

Weight (approx.)     8 tons
Trailer load capacity3.3 tons
Length19 ft.
Width7 ft.
Height7 ft.
Ground clearance12 ins.
Tread centers5 ft., 3 ins.
Ground contact5 ft., 11 ins.
Track width11 ins.
Track links55
Fuel tank42.5 gals.
Fuel consumption5 miles per gal.
Fording depth20 ins.
Speed30 m.p.h.
EngineMaybach, NL 42 TUKRR, 100 hp.
Bore and stroke90 x 110 mm
IgnitionMagneto
Battery12 volt
Transmission4 speeds forward, 1 reverse. High and low range.
SteeringFront wheel and track epicyclic
Crew4
Armor
   Radiator cover7.5 mm at 81 degrees
   Sides8.5 mm at 55-60 degrees
   Front plate15 mm at 55 degrees
Armament2 large flamethrowers
1 portable flamethrower
2 7.92 mm M.G. 34’s

German: p. 46.1 (April 1, 1945)