Ww2 Flamethrower Tank - The American portable flamethrower was first used in combat during the Guadalcanal campaign in January 1943. It quickly became clear that exposed flamethrower operators were vulnerable to Japanese small arms fire. Thus was born the idea of installing a portable flamethrower in the tank as a means of reaching the Japanese bunkers without too many casualties. After several trials in New Caledonia in the fall of 1943, the first combat use of American flamethrower tanks occurred in January 1944 in Bougainville in a little-known encounter against an enemy stronghold called "Hornet's Nest".
Production of the M1 Portable Flamethrower began shortly before the outbreak of war in late 1941. This early design proved to be a very problematic weapon, suffering from erratic firing, short battery life and poor endurance in wet conditions. The M1 flamethrower was first successfully used in combat during the Battle of Guadalcanal on January 15, 1943. In one attack, a team of engineers supporting the 8th Marines, 2nd Marine Division carefully crept within 25 yards of the bunker defense line. . and burned three bunkers during one day of fighting. Throwing soldiers on the same day was less successful.
Ww2 Flamethrower Tank
These early flamethrowers continued to be used in combat in the Solomons, as well as elsewhere in the Southwest Pacific Area (SWPA), such as Buna on the island of New Guinea and on the island of New Georgia. Early combat use of the M1 flamethrower proved frustrating due to technical problems with the device and lack of established technical and tactical training. The M1 weighs just over 60 pounds, making it very difficult to transport in jungle conditions. Operators were not only burdened with heavy and bulky guns, but also impossible to hide once the flamethrower was fired. Inevitably, the use of flamethrowers would trigger barrages of small arms and mortar fire from the Japanese defense.
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The New Caledonia flamethrower tank uses two M1A1 fuel cylinders as shown in this photo. One of them was located on the floor of the tank in front of the bow machine gun, and the other behind the machine gunner's seat.
Technical problems with the portable M1 flamethrower led to the upgraded M1A1, which entered production in December 1942. This version underwent several improvements and could use a viscous propellant for better range. Although it has been modified, it still suffers from reliability problems, especially with the ignition system in wet conditions. The first M1A1 flamethrowers reached the South Pacific in August 1943. With the arrival of the new flamethrowers came a training team from the Chemical Warfare Service (CWS) to help instruct troops on how to maintain and operate the devices.
The idea of fitting portable flamethrowers into tanks emerged in the late summer of 1943 in New Caledonia, where several CWS personnel were training flamethrower troops. An officer in the 754th Tank Battalion had the idea of firing the flamethrower from the small arms port on the turret of the M3A1 Stuart light tank. The US Army's official account of the development of the flamethrower does not identify the inventor of the idea, but some memoirs indicate it was the brainchild of Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Hart, who commanded the 754th Tank Battalion at the time. The use of a portable tank flamethrower seemed like a good idea as it would allow the operators to be within effective range of the Japanese bunkers while being far less vulnerable to Japanese small arms fire. In practice, firing flare guns through the gun ports proved difficult due to the cramped conditions inside the light tank. The turret barely accommodated two crew members, and attempting to maneuver the long gun fire inside the turret proved nearly impossible.
Fighting at New Georgia in July 1943 against a staunch Japanese bunker defense prompted efforts to develop a satisfactory assembly. The most systematic work on tank flamethrowers took place near Noumea in New Caledonia, where I Naval Amphibious Corps was based. In August 1943, the US Army XIV Corps began experiments adapting the M1A1 flamethrower to the bow machine gun on the M3A1 light tank. A system was designed to shorten the M1A1's firearm to make it more suitable for mounting in the M3A1's .30 caliber ball carrier.
British Churchill Crocodile Flamethrower Tank
Two five-gallon fuel assemblies of the M1A1 portable flamethrower were used, one on the floor in front of the bow gunner's seat and one behind the seat where .30 caliber machine gun ammunition was normally carried. tanks of the 3rd Marine Tank Battalion and the 754th Army Tank Battalion. In October 1943, a demonstration was held near Noumea to familiarize Navy and Army officers, as well as Australians and New Zealanders with the new weapon. The aim was to deploy tank flamethrowers in time for the 1 November 1943 landings on Bougainville.
The 3rd Marine Tank Battalion was deployed during the first phase of the battle for Bougainville, but there is no evidence that tank flamethrowers were used at this time. The first recorded use occurred three months later when a US Army unit replaced the Marines during the expansion of the Bougainville Bridge in late January 1943.
This modified M1A1 gun was mounted under the .30 caliber bow machine gun of the Stewart light tank, providing more reliable ignition of the flamethrower with machine gun-fired tracer rounds.
The 754th (Light) Tank Battalion left New York Harbor in January 1942 and arrived in New Caledonia on March 12, 1942, one of the first US Army tank battalions sent to the South Pacific after the outbreak of war. Initially configured as a light tank battalion, it was equipped with the upgraded M3 and later M3A1 light tanks. Prior to the battalion's destination, it deployed to Guadalcanal in May and August 1943 as part of XIV Corps, but did not engage in combat. The battalion began reorganizing in November 1943, changing from a light tank configuration to a mix of three medium tank companies and one light tank company. It took some time for the equipment to arrive, so the two tank companies of the forward detachment sent to Bougainville were still equipped with light tanks.
An Italian L3 Lf (lanciafiamme) Tankette With Flamethrower Near Sollum, Egypt, November 1940. [2128 X 1511]
Several M3A1 light tanks were equipped with improvised tank flamethrowers in New Caledonia before leaving for Bougainville. In late October 1943, Major Reino Lehtonen took command of the battalion and led the forward detachment that was sent to Bouganville. When first deployed to Bougainville, Lehtonen's detachment was assigned to the XIV Corps reserve.
The first landing on Bougainville in November 1943 was made by the 3rd Marine Division, but Vice Admiral William "Bull" Halsey wanted the division for the upcoming landings in New Ireland. As a result, the US Army's American Division was alerted on November 25, 1943 and began replacing Marine regiments in mid-December 1943. XIV Corps' operational objective at the time was to squeeze the coast area to allow unhindered coastal operations. an airstrip used to harass the Japanese fort at Rabaul on the island of New Britain. The division's 132nd Infantry Regiment was on the far right flank towards the Torokina River. The sector was defended by the Japanese 4th South Sea Garrison, a regiment-sized force of three infantry battalions.
On Bougainville Island on January 30, 1944, a Stuart M3A1 light tank from Company A, 754th Tank Battalion set fire to a Japanese bunker with its flamethrower in an area of heavy fighting that the Americans called Wasp Nest.
After the American landings on Bougainville, Japanese forces established a series of defensive lines along the high ground perimeter anchored by fortified bunkers and trenches. 2/132. the infantry began moving towards the perimeter of these defenses in mid-January 1944 and set up defensive positions along the edge of the forest. Periodic patrols east of this position uncovered the extensive Japanese bunker defenses that US troops dubbed "Wasp Nest". The defenses were deployed in depth from the eastern bank of the Torokina River several hundred meters to the coastal village of Mavavija. This position was held by the 6th and 7th companies of the 2nd battalion of the 4th South Sea Garrison.
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2/132. the infantry launched attacks on January 20 and 25, 1944 in an attempt to expand settlements on the east side of the Torokina River. Although certain fortifications were gained, the strengthened Japanese defenses prevented a deep penetration towards Mawavia. The continued buildup of Japanese troops along the coastline in January 1944 convinced Major General John Hodge, commander of the American Division, to clear out the wasp nest to prevent the Japanese from pushing the coast towards the heart of the American baths at the Empress. . Augusta Bay.
The attack on Hornet's Nest was planned by Headquarters 2/132. infantry, but General Hodge moved 1/132nd. the infantry advanced to take the attack. Portable flamethrower
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