Infantry tanks Infantry Tank Mark I (A11) Matilda ITank for direct infantry support. Its development began in 1936 at Vickers under the leadership of J. Carden. From 1937 to 1940, 139 combat vehicles of this type were manufactured. Serial modification: - body riveted from straight

During the Great Patriotic War in service Soviet infantry there were backpack flamethrowers ROKS-2 and ROKS-3 (Klyuev-Sergeev backpack flamethrower). The first model of a flamethrower in this series appeared in the early 1930s, it was the ROKS-1 flamethrower. At the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, the rifle regiments of the Red Army included special flamethrower teams consisting of two sections. These teams were armed with 20 ROKS-2 backpack flamethrowers.

Based on the accumulated experience in using these flamethrowers, at the beginning of 1942, the designer of military plant No. 846 V.N. Klyuev and the designer who worked at the Chemical Engineering Research Institute, M.P. Sergeev, created a more advanced infantry backpack flamethrower, which received the designation ROKS-3. This flamethrower was in service with individual companies and battalions of backpack flamethrowers of the Red Army throughout the Great Patriotic War.

The main purpose of the ROKS-3 backpack flamethrower was to defeat enemy personnel in fortified firing points (bunkers and bunkers), as well as in trenches and communication passages, with a jet of burning fire mixture. Among other things, the flamethrower could be used to combat enemy armored vehicles and to set fire to various buildings. Each backpack flamethrower was serviced by one infantryman. Flame throwing could be carried out with both short (lasting 1-2 seconds) and long (lasting 3-4 seconds) shots.

Flamethrower design

The ROKS-3 flamethrower consisted of the following main combat parts: a tank for storing the fire mixture; compressed air cylinder; hose; gearbox; pistol or shotgun; equipment for carrying a flamethrower and a set of accessories.

The tank in which the fire mixture was stored had a cylindrical shape. It was made from sheet steel having a thickness of 1.5 mm. The height of the tank was 460 mm, and its outer diameter was 183 mm. When empty, it weighed 6.3 kg, its full capacity was 10.7 liters, and its working capacity was 10 liters. A special filler neck was welded to the top of the tank, as well as a check valve body, which were hermetically sealed with plugs. At the bottom of the fire mixture tank, an intake pipe was welded, which had a fitting for connecting to a hose.

The mass of the compressed air cylinder included in the flamethrower was 2.5 kg, and its capacity was 1.3 liters. The permissible pressure in the compressed air cylinder should not exceed 150 atmospheres. The cylinders were filled using a hand pump NK-3 from L-40 cylinders.

The reducer was designed to reduce air pressure to operating pressure when transferring from a cylinder to a tank, to automatically release excess air from a tank with a fire mixture into the atmosphere and to reduce the working pressure in the tank during flame throwing. The operating pressure of the tank is 15-17 atmospheres. The hose is used to supply the fire mixture from the reservoir to the valve box of the gun (pistol). It is made from several layers of petrol-resistant rubber and fabric. The hose length is 1.2 meters and the internal diameter is 16-19 mm.

A backpack flamethrower gun consists of the following main parts: a lighter with a frame, a barrel assembly, a barrel lining, a chamber, a butt with a crutch, a trigger guard and a gun belt. The total length of the gun is 940 mm, and the weight is 4 kg.

For firing from the ROKS-3 infantry backpack flamethrower, liquid and viscous (thickened with special OP-2 powder) fire mixtures are used. The following components of the liquid fire mixture could be used: crude oil; diesel fuel; a mixture of fuel oil, kerosene and gasoline in a proportion of 50% - 25% - 25%; as well as a mixture of fuel oil, kerosene and gasoline in the proportion of 60% - 25% - 15%. Another option for composing the fire mixture was this: creosote, green oil, gasoline in the proportion of 50% - 30% - 20%. The following substances could be used as a basis for creating viscous fire mixtures: a mixture of green oil and benzene head (50/50); a mixture of heavy solvent and benzene head (70/30); a mixture of green oil and benzene head (70/30); mixture of diesel fuel and gasoline (50/50); a mixture of kerosene and gasoline (50/50). The average weight of one charge of the fire mixture was 8.5 kg. At the same time, the range of flame-throwing with liquid fire mixtures was 20-25 meters, and with viscous mixtures - 30-35 meters. The ignition of the fire mixture during shooting was carried out using special cartridges that were located in the chamber near the muzzle of the barrel.

The principle of operation of the ROKS-3 backpack flamethrower was as follows: compressed air, which was in a cylinder under high pressure, entered the reducer, where the pressure decreased to a normal operating level. It was under this pressure that the air eventually passed through the tube through the check valve into the tank with the fire mixture. Under the pressure of compressed air, the fire mixture entered the valve box through an intake tube located inside the tank and a flexible hose. At that moment, when the soldier pulled the trigger, the valve opened and the fiery mixture came out through the barrel. On the way, the fiery jet passed through a special damper, which was responsible for extinguishing the screw vortices that arose in the fire mixture. At the same time, under the action of the spring, the firing pin broke the primer of the ignition cartridge, after which the flame of the cartridge was directed by a special visor towards the muzzle of the gun. This flame ignited the fire mixture as it left the tip.

In June 1942, the first eleven separate companies of backpack flamethrowers (OPRO) were formed. According to the state, they were armed with 120 flamethrowers. Units armed with ROKS received their first combat test during the Battle of Stalingrad.

In the offensive operations of 1944, Red Army troops had to break through not only positional enemy defenses, but also fortified areas, where units armed with backpack flamethrowers could operate more effectively. Therefore, along with the existence of separate companies of backpack flamethrowers, in May 1944, separate battalions of backpack flamethrowers (OBRO) were created and included in the assault engineer brigades. The battalion had 240 ROKS-3 flamethrowers (two companies of 120 flamethrowers each).

Backpack flamethrowers were successfully used to destroy enemy personnel located in trenches, communication passages and other defensive structures. Flamethrowers were also used to repel counterattacks by tanks and infantry. ROKS acted with great efficiency in destroying enemy garrisons in long-term structures when breaking through fortified areas.

Typically, a company of backpack flamethrowers was attached to a rifle regiment or acted as part of an assault engineer battalion. The regiment commander (commander of the assault engineer battalion), in turn, reassigned the flamethrower platoons into sections and groups of 3-5 people as part of rifle platoons and assault groups

In the Red Army, as later in the Soviet and Russian armies, incendiary weapon was considered the property of the chemical troops, but during the war the “chemists” operated in the combat formations of infantry units. Actually, in the Red Army such use was intended even before the war - by the end of the 30s, each rifle regiment included a chemical platoon armed with mounted and backpack flamethrowers; and in 1940, based on the experience of the Soviet-Finnish war, separate flamethrower battalions were formed in the divisions.

Backpack flamethrower

By the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, the Red Army had twice as many flamethrowers as the Wehrmacht. The flamethrower units and units of the Red Army were armed with a backpack flamethrower designed by Klyuev and Sergeev ROKS-2 and an automatic tank flamethrower ATO-41. In addition, in border fortified areas and in arsenals, a small number of old-style flamethrowers (Tovarnitsky, SPS, etc. systems) have been preserved. In April 1941, the FOG-1 high-explosive flamethrower was designed, intended to combat enemy infantry and tanks.

The first Soviet backpack flamethrower ROKS-1 was created in 1940. During the war, their modifications appeared - ROKS-2, -3. ROKS-2, with a loaded device weighing 23 kg (a back-mounted metal tank with a flammable mixture, a flexible hose and a gun that fired and ignited the charge), “threw fire” at 30-35 m. The tank capacity was enough for 6-8 launches.
Backpack flamethrower ROKS-2 designed by M.P. Sergeev and V.N. Klyuev was a metal tank worn by a flamethrower on his back, connected by a flexible hose to a gun, which made it possible to release and ignite a flammable mixture. The flamethrower weighed 23 kg, held 9 liters of fire mixture, fired up to 8 short shots at a range of up to 45 m. Practice combat use backpack flamethrowers revealed a number of shortcomings, and first of all, the imperfection of the incendiary device.

In 1942, it was modernized and received the name ROKS-3. It had an improved incendiary device, improved impact mechanism and valve sealing, the gun was shortened. In the interests of simplifying the production technology, the flat stamped tank was replaced by a cylindrical one. ROKS-3 was equipped with 10 liters of viscous fire mixture and could fire 6-8 short or 1-2 long fire shots at a distance of 35-40 m using compressed air.

During the war years, our industry established mass production of flamethrowers, which made it possible to create entire flamethrowing units and units. Flamethrower units and units were used in the most important areas both offensively and defensively, in small groups and en masse. They were used to consolidate captured lines, repel enemy counterattacks, cover tank-dangerous areas, protect the flanks and joints of units, and to solve other problems.

Combat use. In 1941, the use of backpack flamethrowers was limited - the system was not so reliable, the practice of assault groups had not yet been used, and in defense their use required preparation and courage (courage is also needed in an offensive, but letting an enemy tank get within 20-30 m - non-trivial task). There is at least one known case of their large-scale use - in the fall of 1941 near Orel.

On December 1, 1941, near Naro-Fominsk, a salvo of one flamethrower company thwarted the last attempt of the Germans to break through to Moscow. Two companies of machine gunners were simply burned. Thus, the flamethrowers marked the final point in the German offensive on Moscow.

With the introduction of assault group practice in 1942, attention to the flamethrower increased. Since 1942, separate companies of backpack flamethrowers appeared - 183 people, 120 ROKS. Later, a battalion of backpack flamethrowers was introduced into the ShISBR - 2 companies, 240 pieces, 390 people, 35 vehicles. To exchange charged flamethrowers for unloaded ones, an exchange point was organized 700 m from the front line, where they also had a reserve of up to 30%.

A characteristic feature of the development of the views of Soviet military science on the use of flamethrowers in the pre-war period was that these views never denied the importance of flamethrowers in modern warfare. Meanwhile, most foreign armies, as a result of an incorrect assessment of the experience of the First World War, came to the Second World War with an underestimation or even complete denial of the importance of flamethrower weapons. The experience of the war in Spain, the fighting at Khalkhin Gol, and especially the experience of the Soviet-Finnish war confirmed that flamethrower weapons are necessary. And in general, the use of fire not only has not lost its importance as a melee weapon, but, on the contrary, is acquiring a large role in modern warfare, especially when breaking through fortified defenses with powerful long-term structures.

By the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, the Red Army had well-established views on the use of flamethrower weapons in battle. It was believed that the flamethrower did not solve independent combat missions. Therefore, flamethrower units were to be used only in close cooperation with infantry and tanks, artillerymen and sappers. Flame throwing had to be combined with rifle and machine gun fire and a bayonet strike.

On the eve of the war, units of backpack flamethrowers (flamethrower teams) were organizationally part of rifle regiments. However, due to the difficulties of using them in defense due to the short range of flamethrowing and the unmasking features of the ROKS-2 backpack flamethrower, they were soon disbanded. Instead, in November 1941, teams and companies were created, armed with ampoules and rifle mortars for throwing brass (glass) ampoules and incendiary bottles filled with a self-igniting KS mixture at tanks and other targets, but they also had significant drawbacks in 1942. were withdrawn from service.

In May-June 1942, at the direction of the Supreme Command Headquarters, the first eleven separate companies of three-platoon flamethrowers (orro) were formed. The company had 120 backpack flamethrowers. Subsequently, the formation of companies continued.

In June 1943, most of the ORROs were reorganized into separate battalions of backpack flamethrowers (obro). The battalion consisted of two flamethrower and one motor transport companies. In total, the battalion had 240 backpack flamethrowers. The battalions were intended to operate as part of assault detachments and groups of rifle units and formations when breaking through enemy fortified areas and fighting in major cities. At the beginning of 1944, part of the training camp was included in the engineering and sapper brigades.

A group of flamethrowers from the unit of Major I.D. Skibinsky moves to a firing position. The fighters are armed with ROKS-3 backpack flamethrowers. 1st Ukrainian Front.

The task of flamethrowers in an offensive was to burn out the defending enemy from cover. The practice of using flamethrowers in battles has shown that after flamethrowing, unaffected personnel, as a rule, left cover and came under fire from small arms and artillery. One of the tasks of subunits and units of high-explosive flamethrowers in the offensive was to hold captured lines and bridgeheads. In defense, flamethrowers were supposed to be used suddenly and en masse at the moment when the attacking enemy approached within the range of a flamethrower shot.

Relevant instructions and manuals were published on the combat use of flamethrowers and the training of flamethrowers. “In the spring of 1944, a draft Manual on breaking through positional defense was published. The Manual provided for the use of assault groups in the main line of enemy defense. Among the flamethrowers, the Manual considered backpack flamethrowers (two to four as part of an assault group). Battalions of high-explosive flamethrowers were assigned to tank and rifle corps (divisions) to consolidate captured lines and secure joints and flanks of units from counterattacks by enemy tanks and infantry.”

The Red Army units armed with ROKS received their first combat test during the Battle of Stalingrad in November 1942. In urban combat, they were often indispensable. Covered by smoke screens, with the support of tanks and artillery, groups of flamethrowers that were part of the assault groups penetrated to the target through breaks in the walls of houses, bypassed strongholds from the rear or from the flanks and brought down a barrage of fire on the embrasures and windows. The suppression of the points was completed by grenade throwing. As a result, the enemy panicked and the strong point was captured without difficulty. On the streets of Stalingrad, hand flamethrowers proved themselves not only as powerful defensive weapons, but also as offensive weapons.

Experience has shown that the centralized combat use of units of backpack flamethrowers during counterattacks (i.e., in offensive operations) and even in defense is impractical due to the short range of destruction of the enemy. At the same time, good results were achieved when individual flamethrowers (or small groups) were included in infantry units. This use of backpack flamethrowers, as a rule, was very effective and provided great assistance to the infantry in conditions of street combat among rubble and destruction.

In the offensive operations of 1944, the Red Army troops had to break through not only positional defenses, but also fortified areas. Here, units armed with backpack flamethrowers operated especially successfully.

Flamethrower companies and battalions of backpack flamethrowers were used, as a rule, in the direction of concentrating the main efforts (main strikes) of formations by subordinating them entirely (in some cases by company or platoon) to combined arms commanders.

The principles and methods of combat use of flamethrower units were mainly developed by the end of 1943. The main operational and tactical principles combat use flamethrower units were as follows:

1. Massive use in the main direction of the front and army.

During the period when the enemy tried to break through to Stalingrad through Kotelnikovo-Abganerovo (early August 1942), 12 out of 18 companies were used to strengthen the defense of the southwestern front of the outer defensive circuit. 12 flamethrower units took part in the Iasi-Kishinev operation as part of the troops of the 2nd and 3rd Ukrainian fronts, 16 took part in the assault on Koenigsberg, 14 on Budapest, and 13 took part in the assault on Berlin as part of the troops of the 1st Belorussian and 1st Ukrainian fronts. flamethrower units.

2. Close interaction with other branches of the military and types of flamethrower and incendiary weapons.

3. Echeloning of flamethrower-incendiary weapons along [the depth of the combat formation of units and formations, as well as the operational formation of the front and army.

The flamethrowers, being in ambush, brought the tanks within 20-30 m and destroyed them. Shots were fired from 3-6 ROK-Owls per tank. To fight tanks, groups of our flamethrowers set up ambushes on the second floors of buildings. When tanks appeared, they burned them through windows and gaps. Often the first shot was fired with an unignited mixture, dousing the engine section and turret with it, and the second shot ignited the mixture.

Assault on Sevastopol on May 7, 1944: “At 10.30, the first echelon rifle divisions went on the attack. In a number of areas, the infantry attack was preceded by the detonation of high-explosive flamethrowers. In total, up to 100 FOGs were blown up in the Primorsky Army zone to support the infantry attack on May 7, of which 38 FOGs were in the sector of the 32nd Guards Rifle Division.”

Another fact from flamethrower history - the 10th flamethrower battalion with backpack flamethrowers took part in the storming of the Reichstag, burning the building to the best of its ability. By the way, the fire in the Reichstag intensified sharply after “burning out” the enemy.

Here is a far from complete list of losses that the enemy suffered from Soviet backpack flamethrowers: manpower - 34,000 people, tanks, self-propelled guns, armored personnel carriers - 120, pillboxes, bunkers and other firing points - 3000, vehicles - 145... Here you can clearly see The main area of ​​application of this weapon is the destruction of manpower and field fortifications.

Individual companies and battalions of backpack flamethrowers, which had high maneuverability, were used decentralized as part of assault groups and detachments. They were entrusted with the task of burning out enemy garrisons from long-term fire installations and fortified buildings, blocking enemy strongholds and fighting tanks, assault guns and armored personnel carriers.

Particularly successful were the actions of backpack and high-explosive flamethrowers in street battles, where they demonstrated high combat effectiveness and sometimes indispensability in solving a number of problems. In addition to losses in manpower and military equipment, flamethrowers inflicted great moral damage on the enemy, as evidenced by many cases of panicked flight of the Nazis from strong points and fortifications at which flamethrowing was carried out.

ORDER TO THE TROOPS OF THE WESTERN FRONT No. 0181

1. Experience in the combat use of backpack flamethrowers has shown that military units and formations that tactically competently use backpack flamethrowers, cover the actions of flamethrowers with fire and decisively introduce them into battle - inflicted big damage enemy equipment and manpower.

On 23–24.9, a company of backpack flamethrowers of the 2nd GMSD, operating in groups (5–8 flamethrowers), burned and destroyed 22 houses and 5 dugouts with enemy firing points and manpower, and the company’s losses were insignificant.

2. Where these means of combat (326 rifle division, 52 rifle division) were used ill-considered, tactically illiterate, where flamethrower units fought without proper fire cover, without interaction with infantry and artillery, flamethrowers did not bring the desired combat effect and there were cases of leaving them on battlefield; flamethrower units suffered heavy losses.

For the purpose of correct and tactically competent use of backpack flamethrowers, I ORDER:

1. Companies of backpack flamethrowers should be used in a decentralized manner in close cooperation with infantry fire weapons.

The suddenness of flamethrowing is the most important factor success of the flamethrowers.

2. When attacking resistance nodes, strong points, bunkers and bunkers, use flamethrowers to burn out enemy personnel and firing points from shelters, including two or three flamethrowers in the rifle and machine gun squads, assault detachments and blocking groups.

The advance of flamethrowers as part of infantry combat formations to attack targets should be covered with smoke and provided with fire of all types.

3. Use flamethrower units to destroy reviving firing points, clear enemy trenches, trenches and crevices.

4. Flamethrowers are widely used in ambushes and during reconnaissance in force.

5. When defending flamethrowers, use them for:

a) strengthening the garrisons of strong points, resistance centers, bunkers and bunkers;
b) repelling attacks by enemy personnel and tanks on the front line and in the depths of the defense, while flamethrowers operate from ambushes as part of counterattack groups or in a mobile reserve.

6. In defense, the advancement of flamethrowers to the flamethrowing line should be carried out after the enemy’s artillery preparation. The positions of the flamethrowers should be carefully masked and changed more often.

7. Establish the approximate saturation of rifle units with backpack flamethrowers:

a) during an offensive - one squad per battalion;
b) in defense - one platoon per regiment.

8. Control and management of the combat use of flamethrower units should be entrusted to the heads of the chemical service of units and formations, from whom the persistent, courageous and proactive use of flamethrowers is required.

9. In all cases of loss of flamethrowers or abandonment of them on the battlefield, immediately investigate and bring the perpetrators to trial before the Military Tribunal.

10. Chiefs of the chemical service of units and formations, who organized skillful, efficient use in combat with flamethrowers and smoke weapons, due to which damage was caused to enemy personnel and equipment, or if the use of these weapons contributed to the excellent performance of the unit’s combat mission, be nominated for a Government award.

COMMANDER OF THE TROOPS OF THE WESTERN FRONT
(SIGNATURE)
MEMBER OF THE MILITARY COUNCIL OF THE WESTERN FRONT
(SIGNATURE)
CHIEF OF STAFF WESTERN FRONT
(SIGNATURE)

Instructions to the troops of the 2nd Ukrainian Front (spring 1944).

INSTRUCTIONS
ABOUT THE ACTIONS OF SEMINES AND FLAMETHROWERS
AND SMOKE MOVERS AS COMPOSITION OF ASSAULT GROUPS
IN THE EVENT OF A BREAKTHROUGH OF STRONGLY FORTENTED
POSITIONS AND UR

The assault group has the task of destroying and destroying bunkers and bunkers.

Depending on the situation in the main directions of the breakthrough, 2-3 assault groups are created along 1 km of the front (according to the number of bunkers attacked).

The composition of assault groups can be very diverse, but, as a rule, they include, in addition to infantry, individual guns, mortars, tanks, up to a squad of sappers, and 2-3 Roxy flamethrowers.

In assault groups, high-explosive flamethrowers can also be used (4-6 FOGs per group), which are advisable to use to consolidate captured lines and repel enemy counterattacks.

The assault groups must include smoke fighters (soldiers of rifle units specially designated for smoke attack and equipped with smoke bombs and smoke grenades) before detachment.

In addition, the entire composition of the assault groups must be provided with smoke weapons, mainly RDG.

Smoke weapons must be used during the period of approaching the blocked bunker to cover the work of demolition workers during shelling from the flank, as well as to cover the exit of the assault group from the battle.

An officer of the rifle division is appointed as the commander of the assault group.

II. Actions of assault groups

Assault groups are organized in advance; during the preparatory period, if there is time, training sessions are carried out with the composition of the groups.

Assault groups include:

a) a demolition (destruction) group: 5-6 sappers with explosives, 2-3 flamethrower-roxists:
b) support group: 8-10 riflemen, smoke smokers, machine guns, anti-tank guns, tanks, 4-6 FOG flamethrowers.
c) support group: 3-4 sappers with a supply of explosives and others reserve funds assault group.

Assault groups act after thorough reconnaissance and determination of the nature and type of structure.

Particular attention is paid to the location of the embrasures of the blocked structure and the fire system of adjacent firing points.

1. Actions of assault groups with a tank

The tank is the first to move towards the blockaded object, preferably under the cover of a smoke screen, trying to close the embrasure with its body and, approaching the bunker of the demolition group, moves to the next object. At this time, the support group fires to suppress and destroy neighboring enemy bunkers supporting the blocked bunkers and bunkers.

The demolition group follows the tank, strives to come close to the blocked bunker and, with the help of explosives and grenades, destroy its garrison or destroy the embrasures; in the future, depending on the situation, the bunker can be completely destroyed.

The support group, having additional explosives and other blocking means (earthen bags, shields, smoke grenades), moves with the support group in readiness to block the bunker. Flamethrowers act to destroy through embrasures.

2. Actions of an assault group without a tank

The demolition group, using the terrain and smoke screens, under the cover of fire from the support group, secretly approaches the blocked object and acts in the same way as in the first case. In this case, flamethrowers with flamethrowers must be part of the demolition group.

3. Armament and equipment of sappers and flamethrowers-roxists

The subversive group is arming itself hand grenades(2-3 for each) and must have explosives in the form of concentrated charges weighing 5-10 kg, one charge for each fighter, and an entrenching tool.

Flamethrowers are armed with serviceable rocks that are ready for action. If a large number of explosives are required, the group must have special devices for transporting or dragging explosives (carts, sleds, etc.). When operating with a tank, the latter can be used to tow explosive charges.

The support group must have the same weapons and quantity of explosives necessary to strengthen the demolition group or replace it in the event of losses.

In all cases, the assault group must have at least 10-15 earthen bags to cover the embrasures.

The support group should include 2-3 smoke fighters, who should have a portable supply of RDG in duffel bags of at least 10-12 pieces. on the smoker (shooters should have 1-2 RDGs).

4. Techniques for blocking and destroying bunkers and bunkers

Vulnerable places of bunkers (bunkers) are embrasures, entrances, and ventilation holes. To destroy the embrasure of a bunker, explosives of up to 10 kg are required and up to 5 kg for a bunker. The charges must be located directly at the embrasure opening. To destroy the entrances, double the amount of explosives specified is required.

The garrison is destroyed by grenades through embrasures and ventilation holes and by the action of flamethrowers. For; Complete destruction of the explosive bunker is placed on the ceiling, which must be cleared of earthen covering. The amount of explosives depends on the thickness of the coating.

Today we will take a closer look at some types of flamethrowers in service with various armies around the world. Despite their “short range”, flamethrowers are quite powerful and terrifying weapons in terms of their damaging factor.

Flamethrower LC TI M1

A flamethrower used by the Brazilian army. This is a more modern form that replaced the American flamethrowers used during World War II. The flamethrower consists of two cylinders intended for fire mixture and compressed air separately, they are connected together, and also include a supply hose and a starting device. After the flamethrower is launched, gas under high pressure flows through the reducer and solenoid valve into two cylinders at once.

The flamethrower's starting device consists of eight 1.5 V batteries, a voltage converter with a switch, a check valve, and an incendiary spark device. After the release hook is pressed, current is supplied to the electromagnetic valve, after which air under high pressure enters the cylinders with the fire mixture. The fire mixture goes through a hose to the launcher, after which it is thrown at the target using a valve and a “barrel”.

To achieve the desired ignition of the fire mixture, the voltage converter is 20,000 V.

For this flamethrower, an unthickened mixture is most often used, which includes diesel fuel and vegetable oil. The use of thickened fire mixtures is also implied. The disadvantages of the flamethrower are the need for a diesel compressor to charge the high-pressure cylinder.

The main characteristics of the flamethrower are determined by the following parameters: the length of the launcher is 635 mm, the volume of the cylinders is 2x9 liters, the compressed air pressure reaches 200 atmospheres, when loaded the flamethrower weighs 34 kg, when unloaded - 21 kg, the distance over which the thickened fire mixture is launched, is 70 m.

Flamethrower LPO-50

A flamethrower, which is designed to eliminate enemy firing points located in cover. The flamethrower is also used to destroy armored and automotive structures, the enemy himself and create a fire. The development began in the USSR, the main goal of which was to replace high-explosive flamethrowers. Currently, this flamethrower is not used in the Russian army, but is used in other armies of the world.

The production of the flamethrower belongs to China. The design includes the following elements: three cylinders that are filled with fire mixture, while they are connected; they also include a supply hose and a launcher that looks like a rifle with a bipod. The cylinders have a neck used when pouring the fire mixture, a squib designed to create pressure, and a check valve connected to the hose through which the fire mixture flows.

All cylinder hoses are connected into a single tee, from where the fire mixture goes to the starting device. The starting device has an electrical unit. It is located in front of the handle. The electrical unit consists of four batteries and contacts. There is a fuse on the left side, and in the muzzle there are 3 squibs designed to ignite the fire mixture. When the fire mixture is started, press the safety catch to the “fire” position, and then press the trigger. The direction of the current goes from the batteries, then to the squib, which releases the fire mixture from the pressure of the powder gases.

The check valve is opened by the action of the trigger, after which the squib in the muzzle is initiated. If the fire mixture begins to burn from the squib charge, it will be ejected from the barrel of the weapon directly to the target. The duration of each start varies between 2-3 s. If you press the trigger again, the next squib will fire. The launcher has a butt and also a mechanical sight, consisting of a front sight and rear sight. A modification of this flamethrower is the Type 74; its design is no different from the LPO-50, produced in China.

The main characteristics of this flamethrower are the following parameters: the caliber is 14.5 mm, the length of the launcher reaches 850 mm, the volume of the cylinders is 3x3.3 liters, the weight of the flamethrower, which contains a fire mixture, is 23 kg, and the weight of the flamethrower without a fire mixture is 15 kg. The longest launch distance for an unthickened mixture is 20 m, and for a thickened mixture - 70 m.

The disadvantages of a flamethrower are the fact that a very small amount of mixture can be supplied, and the launch occurs only after the squib has begun to burn, which is also unprofitable. Thus, the fire mixture can only be fired 3 times.

Backpack flamethrower

Flamethrower attached to the back. Throws the burning mixture 40 m using compressed air. The charge is designed for 6-8 shots. The main design element of a backpack flamethrower is a steel container filled with a fire mixture: flammable liquid or compressed gas. The volume of such a container is 15-20 liters. The fire mixture is thrown through a flexible rubber hose into a metal fire nozzle and is ignited by an igniter at the outlet of the fire nozzle. The mixture exits the container after opening a special tap valve. Used for offensive purposes. The backpack flamethrower is most effective in a combat situation with a narrow corridor. The main disadvantage of using a backpack flamethrower is its short range. To protect flamethrowers from burns, special fireproof suits are used.

Jet flamethrower

A flamethrower, the operating principle of which is based on the use of a rocket projectile that pushes out a fire mixture enclosed in a sealed capsule. The range of action of such a flamethrower is hundreds and thousands of meters. The disadvantage of a “classic” flamethrower is its short firing range, which is 50-200 m. And even in the event of high pressure, this problem remains unresolved, since the fire mixture burns during flight and only a small part of it reaches the target. Accordingly, the greater the distance, the less fire mixture will reach.

The problem can be solved by increasing the amount of fire mixture and increasing the pressure, but such an operation also sooner or later reaches a limit. With the advent of the jet flamethrower, this problem was resolved, since it does not involve the use of a burning liquid, but a projectile that contains a fire mixture. And the fire mixture begins to burn only when the projectile reaches the target.

An example of a rocket-propelled flamethrower is the Soviet RPOA, also called Shmel. Modern jet flamethrowers involve the use of thermobaric compounds that replace the fire mixture. If such a mixture reaches the target, it is sprayed, and after a certain time an explosion occurs. In the area of ​​the explosion, both temperature and pressure increase.

Flamethrower "Lynx"

A rocket-propelled infantry flamethrower, the main purpose of which is to eliminate enemy firing points located in cover. The flamethrower is also used to destroy armored and automotive structures, the enemy himself and create a fire. Development was carried out during 1972-1974. at the Instrument Design Bureau of the city of Tula (KBP). Began to be used in Soviet army since 1975

The flamethrower includes the following elements: a launcher, which includes some parts from the RPG-16 hand-held anti-tank grenade launcher; there are also two types of missiles, the warhead of which is filled with a fire mixture. Its composition is either smoke-generating (“Lynx-D”) or incendiary (“Lynx-Z”). To fire a flamethrower, you need to attach an additional plastic container to the launcher. Inside it there is a capsule containing a fire mixture and a jet engine running on solid fuel.

If you connect the launcher and the container, this connection will be secured by three clamps that are located on the outside of the container. When an electrical impulse is received, which is generated from an electrical mechanism, the capsule is released, the flame travels through the tube that conducts the fire, the jet engine ignites, and its charge burns out. After this, the body is separated from the capsule itself.

The capsule has a tail unit, which allows it to fly along a relatively smooth trajectory, since the tail unit contributes to the rotation of the axis of this capsule. The sight itself is framed and consists of a front sight and a movable rear sight, which hinges on the sight frame. To achieve greater stability of the flamethrower, a bipod is provided; it is located in the front part of the launcher. At the end of the 1980s. The Lynx flamethrower was replaced with the Shmel RPOA, which featured a more advanced device.

The main characteristics of the flamethrower are the following parameters: the length in the firing position reaches 1440 mm, the mass in the firing position is 7.5 kg, and the mass of the starting device is 3.5 kg, the fire mixture content reaches 4 liters, sighting range The firing range is 190 m, and the maximum firing distance is 400 m; transferring to a firing position takes 60 s.

Flamethrower T-148

Weapons designed in Italy. The main purpose was to provide support that was needed on the battlefield. The advantages of the flamethrower are reliability in use and simplicity of design; it was these qualities of the flamethrower that the Italian developers focused on. For this reason, the flamethrower’s operation scheme was quite simple.

Cylinders intended for fire mixtures are filled with napalm 2/3 by volume. After this action, air is pumped into the check valve, the pressure of which is 28-30 kg/cm2. A special indicator located on the valve shows whether the operating pressure has been reached or not. After start-up, the pressure causes the fire mixture to flow into the check valve through the hose, after which it is ignited by electricity and thrown out to the target.

The electronic device that allows you to ignite the fire mixture is powered by nickel-cadmium batteries. The device remains sealed and operates even if water gets into the flamethrower. But besides the advantages, there are also disadvantages. One of them is low pressure in the system itself, which decreases during startup. But you can also find positive features in this property. Firstly, this makes the flamethrower lighter, and secondly, its maintenance is greatly simplified, since it can also be charged with air from combat compressor equipment. Diesel fuel can serve as a substitute for the fire mixture.

The main characteristics of the flamethrower are the following parameters: the length of the launcher is 380 mm, the volume of the cylinders reaches 15 liters, the weight of the unloaded flamethrower is 13.8 kg, and the weight of the equipped flamethrower is 25.5 kg. The launch duration is 2-3 s, the launch range at the maximum distance reaches 60 m.

Flamethrower TPO-50

A heavy infantry flamethrower, the action of which is based on the ejection of a fire mixture. The ejection of the fire mixture is facilitated by the pressure of the powder gases; they are formed when the powder charge is burned. This process works as follows. The gas presses on the liquid, which, in turn, enters through a piston-obturator, designed to separate liquid and gas in the barrel of the flamethrower. After this, the fire mixture, flying out of the nozzle, is ignited by a special mechanism.

The flamethrower consists of three barrels and a carriage, which replace each other. The replaceable barrel consists of a body and a head, which are connected by a union nut, a powder chamber, a nozzle, a piston-obturator, as well as a mechanical fuse and an electrical contact. The body contains a fire mixture and there is pressure inside it. The body also has sight frame pads and a triple clamp stop. The bottom of the body is presented in the shape of a sphere; it implies the presence of an ear for attaching the barrel to the gun carriage. The barrel is carried by a special handle attached to the ear holes. One of the main parts of the barrel is the head. It is designed to accommodate the working components of a flamethrower.

The head shape is sphere, made from sheet steel. The head has a ring that connects it to the body. The head includes a siphon bushing, a powder chamber bowl and a safety valve bushing. The siphon sleeve gradually transforms into the siphon pipe, which is designed to eject the fire mixture from the barrel. The siphon pipe implies the presence of a bell, due to which a smoother exit of the fire mixture is achieved. The lower part of the pipe and the piston-obturator bushing have a special hole to allow residual gases to escape.

The purpose of the shutter piston is to uniformly distribute the pressure of the powder gases on the fire mixture and its exit from the barrel when fired. The powder chamber contains an ignition device, a powder charge, a grate, a gas nozzle, as well as other parts that ensure the formation of a shot. The powder chamber is located on the head cup. There are holes in its cover intended for a flare tube of capsule contact, as well as for a mechanical fuse. The flare tube is used to provide an outlet for the incendiary star, which ignites the flamethrower jet.

If the flamethrower is activated by mechanical action, then the ROKS-3 ignition cartridge is used. The mechanical fuse must be placed in the sleeve of the powder chamber cover, after which it is secured with a union nut. Before a shot is fired, the mechanical fuse must be cocked. If the flamethrower is activated by operations involving electrical signals, then from the current source, that is, from the battery, there is a conductor connected to an electrical contact. In this case, the PP-9 squib cartridge is used. The entire sequence of shot formation consists of several stages.

First, the ROKS-3 cartridge is ignited using a mechanical fuse, after which the flame passes from the incendiary star to the powder charge. Then the gases in the powder chamber enter the gas region of the barrel through the nozzle. Due to the action of gases, the pressure reaches 60 kgf/cm2, and the piston-obturator releases the fire mixture through the siphon pipe. The nozzle membrane is cut off and the fire mixture is thrown onto the target. The fire mixture in the barrel develops a speed of 3 to 36 m/s, this is explained by the fact that there is a large difference in the dimensions of the barrel and siphon pipe, which are 200 mm and 5 mm, respectively.

When the fire mixture flies directly out of the nozzle, its speed reaches 106 m/s, which is explained by the conical narrowing of the siphon pipe. After the fire mixture has flown out of the barrel, it is ignited using an incendiary star. A nozzle with a diameter of 32 mm forms and directs the jet to the target. The nozzle includes a body and a shut-off device. The shut-off device is designed to ensure that a working pressure of 60 kgf/cm2 is achieved in the working housing.

The nozzle body consists of two parts - conical and cylindrical. The cone angle is 10 and the length of the cylindrical part is 96 mm. The head has a safety valve, its diameter is 25 mm. The valve is designed to prevent pressure from increasing above 120 kgf/cm3. The sight device includes elements such as a sighting frame, clamps and front sights. There are numbers written on the clamps that determine the throwing range with a direct shot, where the height is 1.5 m. That is, 1, 1.2 and 1.4 indicate ranges equal to 100, 120 and 140 m.

The flamethrower is transported using a carriage. It is designed so that it can be either on wheels or on skis. The carriage is also used if there is a need to change the barrel and change its elevation angles. The carriage includes a frame with openers, handles for moving, a bracket with clamps, which are designed to install replaceable barrels.

Between the First and Second World Wars, the closest attention was paid to flamethrower and incendiary weapons. Including such a “maneuverable” version of it as backpack flamethrowers.

In the USSR, pneumatic jet backpack flamethrowers went through their own development path.

WEAPONS OF THE CHEMICAL FORCES

Having the mobility of an “infantry” weapon, a pneumatic backpack flamethrower could be used both for flamethrowing and for setting up a smoke screen or using chemical warfare agents - in the interwar period, such versatility was considered necessary for weapons of the “chemical forces”. Still, flamethrowing remained the main task. This was the basis for the development of new backpack flamethrowers on the eve of the Great Patriotic War.

The main problem with pneumatic flamethrowers, identified back in the flamethrowers of the First World War, was pressure surges in compressed gas as gas and fire mixture were consumed. By 1940, the design of the gearbox was perfected, making the flamethrower shots more uniform and becoming the basis for the creation of new pneumatic flamethrowers.

In 1940, a flamethrower designed by V.N. Klyuev and M.P. Sergeev, which received the designation ROKS (“knapsack flamethrower of Klyuev and Sergeev”), entered service with the chemical units of the Red Army. The fire mixture was in a flat tank connected by a flexible hose to a fire-hose gun; the incendiary device at the end of the fire-hose contained tow, ignited by a special cartridge. With sufficient compactness and quite modern indicators in terms of fire mixture reserve and flame-throwing range, the ROKS turned out to be quite capricious in operation due to the imperfection of the “lighter” and the low quality of the gearbox. The separate design of the valve and impact mechanism triggers made it difficult for the flamethrower to work. The modified version of the flamethrower received the designation ROKS-2.

Another important step at this time was the creation of a viscous fire mixture recipe. Until 1940, flamethrowers were equipped with a liquid fire mixture of low viscosity based on gasoline, kerosene and motor oil. In 1939, under the leadership of A.P. Ionov, thickening powder OP-2 (from aluminum salts of naphthenic acids) was developed for the preparation of viscous fire mixtures. The stream of viscous fire mixture was less “broken” by the oncoming air flow, burned longer, as a result, the flamethrowing range and the proportion of the fire mixture “reached” the target increased. In addition, the mixtures had better adhesion to surfaces. In fact, it was a prototype of napalm.

THIRD SAMPLE

The practice of combat use of backpack flamethrowers ROKS-1 and ROKS-2 revealed a number of shortcomings - first of all, the imperfection of the “lighter”, as well as the need to strengthen the structure. In 1942, Klyuev and Sergeev, who were working at that time at plant No. 846 NKMV (Armatura plant), created the ROKS-3 flamethrower. The ignition device was changed, the impact mechanism and the sealing of the nozzle valve were improved, the nozzle gun itself was shortened, and to simplify manufacturing, the flat stamped tank was replaced with a cylindrical one.

The first combat test of ROKS-3 took place during the Battle of Stalingrad. Experience required an increase in the number of flamethrowers in the troops, and here the manufacturability of ROKS-3 affected, which made it possible to organize its mass production relatively quickly.

"ROXISTS" IN BATTLE

On the eve of the Great Patriotic War, platoons of backpack flamethrowers were part of the chemical companies of rifle divisions. By order of the People's Commissar of Defense I.V. Stalin dated August 13, 1941, units of backpack flamethrowers were transferred to rifle regiments “as separate teams.” There is at least one known case of large-scale use of ROKS - in the fall of 1941 near Orel. At the same time they tried to form separate companies of backpack flamethrowers. However, in general, the use of backpack flamethrowers in the first six months of the war was limited - due to both the insufficient reliability of the flamethrower system itself and the lack of experience in using them in defense and during the assault on enemy fortifications (already in the initial period the resistance of field fortifications increased). The flamethrower companies were disbanded, and only in May - June 1942, at the direction of the Supreme Command Headquarters, separate companies of backpack flamethrowers (orro) began to form again. Each orro included three platoons and had 120 ROKS. The introduction of assault group practice in 1942 and the improvement of anti-tank strong point tactics increased attention to the flamethrower. In June 1943, most of the orro were consolidated into separate battalions of two-company backpack flamethrowers (obro, 240 ROKS). From the beginning of 1944, the obro was included in the assault engineering brigades. Flamethrowers with ROX weapons have acquired the nickname “ROXists.” In the offensive, they had to follow with rifle units to “burn out” the enemy from cover. The actions of the “Roxists” as part of assault groups when attacking long-term fortifications and in urban battles turned out to be especially effective. It is worth noting that in an attack, a flamethrower risked more than an infantryman - to fire a flame, he had to get closer to the throwing range of a grenade, and any bullet or shrapnel hit a tank or hose could turn him into a living torch. Enemy soldiers specifically hunted for flamethrowers. This made it especially important to conceal the advance and cover the flamethrowers with infantry fire.

On defense main task flamethrowers were fighting enemy tanks. The directive of the Main Military Chemical Directorate of September 27, 1942 provided for the use of backpack flamethrowers in defense (with an approximate saturation of one or two platoons of backpack flamethrowers per rifle regiment), in counterattack groups, and garrisons of bunkers and bunkers. In order to compensate for the rapid consumption of the fire mixture, during the battle they exchanged empty flamethrowers for loaded ones - for this, an exchange point was set up at a distance of up to 700 m from the front line, where there was also a reserve of flamethrowers (up to 30%).

ROKS 3 - DESIGN AND OPERATION

The design of a pneumatic backpack flamethrower can be considered using the example of ROKS-3, the most successful in the series.

The main parts of the flamethrower were a cylindrical tank for the fire mixture, a cylinder with compressed air and a fire gun connected to the tank with a flexible hose and equipped with an incendiary device (“lighter”). The ROKS-3 steel tank had a filler neck and a check valve body on top, and an intake pipe on the bottom with a fitting to which a hose was attached. The hose was made of rubber with several layers of special fabric. The flamethrower gun included a valve for releasing the fire mixture and cutting it off, and was equipped with a wooden butt similar to a rifle stock. The incendiary device located in the front part of the ROKS-3 fire-hose gun contained a drum for 10 blank ignition cartridges, made on the basis of a “Naganov” cartridge case, and a percussion mechanism.

The cylinder, attached to the tank, contained air compressed under a pressure of 150 atm, and was connected to the internal cavity of the tank through a reducer, valve and tube with a check valve. The flamethrower was serviced by one flamethrower fighter and was attached to the flamethrower's body using a belt suspension.

The length of the hose gun was 940 mm, weight - 4 kg. For use at short distances in cramped conditions (for example, when storming fortified structures), the gun could be replaced with a shortened pistol.

FIRE MIXTURE

The standard viscous fire mixture, used by the beginning of the war, included gasoline, BGS liquid and OP-2 thickener powder. The thickener, dissolving in the liquid fuel, swelled, resulting in a thick mixture, which, with continuous stirring, turned into a gelatinous viscous mass. This mixture still flew at a relatively short range.

Therefore, more viscous formulations were created: one of the options contained 88-91% motor gasoline, 5-7% diesel oil and 4-5% OP-2 powder. The other is 65% gasoline, 16-17% each of BGS liquid and oil, 1-2% OP-2. Kerosene and naphtha were also used in mixtures.

Liquid mixtures also continued to be used, which had their advantages - ease of preparation, availability of starting products, storage stability, easy flammability at low temperatures, and the ability to produce a wide jet of flame when throwing flames, which enveloped the object and had a demoralizing effect on enemy personnel. An example of a quickly prepared liquid “recipe” is a mixture of fuel oil, kerosene and gasoline.

ROKS-3 operated as follows. Compressed air, located in a cylinder under a pressure of 150 atmospheres, entered the reducer, where its pressure was reduced to a working 15-17 atmospheres. Under this pressure, the air passed through the tube through the check valve into the tank with the mixture. When the tail of the trigger was initially pressed, the spring-loaded release valve opened, and a portion of the fire mixture, forced out of the tank by air pressure, entered the fire hose valve box through the intake tube and hose (flexible hose). On the way, it turned almost at a right angle. To dampen the helical vortices that arose in the mixture, it passed through a plate damper. When you press the hook further, the impact mechanism of the “lighter” located at the end of the fire nozzle was triggered - the striker broke the primer of the ignition cartridge, the flame of which was directed by the visor towards the muzzle of the fire nozzle gun and ignited a stream of fire mixture flying out of the nozzle (tip). A pyrotechnic (“cartridge”) “lighter” made it possible to do without electrical circuits and tow soaked in fuel. However, the blank cartridge was not protected from dampness. And rubber hoses with insufficient chemical and temperature resistance cracked or swelled. So ROKS-3, although it was more reliable than its predecessors, still required very careful attention and careful maintenance. This tightened the requirements for the training and qualifications of “Roxy players.”

SOME CONCLUSIONS

How important the qualitative improvement of flamethrower-incendiary weapons turned out to be during the war and what importance was attached to it can be judged by the fact that deep theoretical work in the field of flamethrowing was carried out precisely in 1941-1945. And they attracted such leading scientists of the country as academicians L. D. Landau, N. N. Semenov, P. A. Rebinder. Several scientific groups were involved in the preparation of fire mixtures - NII-6, the laboratory of the All-Russian Scientific Research Institute for Oil and Gas Processing, and the laboratory of the Neftegaz plant.

ROKS-3 flamethrowers remained in service after the war. However, with regard to jet flamethrowers, there has been a desire to universally use the gas pressure of a powder charge to throw the fire mixture. So the pneumatic ROKS in service was replaced by the “powder” LPO-50.