Tag: flamethrower

Categories
German

Pz. Kpfw. III (Fl. W. 41): Flamethrower Tank

Pz. Kpfw. III (Fl. W. 41): Flamethrower Tank

The flame-throwing tank, put into service in 1942, consists of the standard Pz. Kpfw. III tank equipped with a flame projector instead of the usual tank gun. A machine gun is mounted coaxially in the turret and another is ball mounted in the front plate of the hull. Its road performance will approximate that of the Pz. Kpfw. III tank.

The flame tube, which looks like an ordinary cannon, contains 3 jets. The barrel behind the curved position of the armored shield is 134 cm long and at the flame end is 12 cm in diameter. Movement of the gun horizontally and vertically is controlled by two handwheels within reach of and to the left front of the tank commander. Propulsion of the liquid fuel for the flame thrower is achieved by means of a centrifugal pump driven by a small two-cylinder gasoline engine which is located in the engine compartment to the left of the tank motor. The fuel tanks are located beside the tank commander to the inside right and left side of the tank chassis.

SPECIFICATIONS

Approx. weight of vehicle in action         23.8 tons
Approx. weight of flame apparatus (with full tanks) 3,300 lb.
Approx. weight of flame apparatus (with empty tanks) 1,540 lb.
Number of flame fuel tanks 2
Capacity of flame fuel tanks 225 gals.
Approx. range (unignited) 55 yds.
Approx. range (ignited) 66 yds.
Maximum elevation of projector +20°
Maximum depression of projector -10°
Traverse of projector 360°
Approx. overhang of projector beyond front of chassis 1 ft., 7 1/2 ins.
Approx. overhang of projector beyond side of chassis 4 ft., 7 ins.
Fuel pressure produced by pump 240 lb./sq. in.
Type of pump motor Auto-Union ZW 1101 (DKW) with dynamo start
Type of pump Koebe
Performance of ZW 1101 motor 28 hp.
Approx. performance of pump 1.7 gals./sec.
Capacity of gasoline tank for pump motor 4 gals.
Capacity of mixer 2 gals.
Capacity of oil measure .08 gal.
Oil-gasoline mixture (used for pump motor) 1:25
Number of fire extinguishers (inside and outside) 5
Sparking plug for pump motor Bosch DM 225 T 1 or 175 T 1 or Beru 225 a1 or 190 a1
Sparking plug in projector Smitz-Kerze
Fording capacity 3 ft.
Batteries (2 vehicle batteries also used) 12 volts each
Low tension circuit 12 volts
High tension circuit for projector         up to 1,000 v. and 300 amps.

German: p. 30

Categories
German

Pz. Kpfw. II (F) (Sd. Kfz. 122): Flamethrower Tank

Pz. Kpfw. II (F) (Sd. Kfz. 122): Flamethrower Tank

The flamethrower tank, Pz. Kpfw. II (F) is a conversion of Pz. Kpfw. II, Models D and E, which employed the four bogie wheel suspension, and should not be confused with the Model F, which utilizes the five bogie wheel type of suspension. The road performance of the flamethrower tank approximates that of Models D and E.

The flamethrower projectors, having a range of about 35 yards, are mounted in small turrets set well forward on each trackguard. The turrets have 180° traverse while the projectors themselves have a limited elevation. Fuel is supplied from two tanks, provided with armored shields, which are mounted externally on the trackguards, and by compressed nitrogen from the four nitrogen cylinders located inside, below the turret. The tanks have a capacity of 35 gals. each. Two small cylinders mounted just behind the projector turrets contain acetylene, which is used for fuel ignition. The flamethrower is controlled electrically from panels in the turret.

Since this equipment is essentially a close-combat weapon, the tank is liberally fitted for smoke production to screen its movements. Not only is the normal smoke generator rack fitted at the rear, but there is on each trackguard a triple smoke generator discharger, aimed to fire forward, and bowden cable controlled from the turret. Armament also includes a machine gun on a ball mounting in the turret.

SPECIFICATIONS

Weight         11 tons
Length 16 ft.
Width 7 ft., 6 ins.
Height 6 ft., 9 ins.
Ground clearance 12 ins.
Tread centers 5 ft., 10 ins.
Ground contact 7 ft., 10 ins.
Width of track 11 1/8 ins.
Pitch of track 6 3/4 ins.
Track links 55
Fording depth 3 ft.
Theoretical radius of action
     Roads 125 miles
     Cross-country 85 miles
Speed
     Roads 30 m.p.h.
     Cross-country 12 m.p.h.
Armor
     Front plate 30 mm
     Sides 15 mm
Armament Two independent flamethrowers
One M.G.
Ammunition Flamethrower—70 gals.
M.G. 1800 rds.
Engine 140 B.H.P. Maybach, HL 62 TRM
Transmission 6 speeds forward, 1 reverse
Steering Epicyclic clutch brake
Crew 3

German: p. 9

Categories
German

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

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)