M8 flamethrower

M8 Flamethrower
M8 Flamethrower
	M8 Flamethrower being used at testing range
Type	Flamethrower
Place of origin	United States
Service history
In service	1955-1965
Wars	Vietnam War
Production history
Designer	U.S. Chemical Corps
Designed	1953–55
No. built	Unknown
Variants	E30, M8
Specifications
Mass	13 lb (5.9 kg) empty; 26+1⁄2 lb (12.0 kg) filled
Length	31+3⁄4 in (81 cm)
Width	20 in (51 cm)
Height	9 in (23 cm)
Diameter	3+1⁄2 in (8.9 cm)
Crew	1
Rate of fire	Around 0.4 US gal (1.5 L) a second
Effective firing range	60–71 yd (55–65 m)
Maximum firing range	71 yd (65 m)
Feed system	One, 2 US gal (7.6 L) Napalm/gasoline tank (fuel) One powder ignition charge
Sights	None

The M8 flamethrower, officially designated: Flame Thrower Portable One-Shot, M8, was a single-shot flamethrower briefly adopted into U.S. service by airborne troops, but was never mass produced.^[2]

During the end of World War II, the Chemical Corps became interested in improving the man-portable flamethrower concept.^[3] They found two possibilities in design: an inexpensive flamethrower capable of being disposed after a single use or a compact flamethrower capable of being reloaded quickly.^[4] Early designs of these single use flamethrowers, such as the E15/E16, were inspired by the German einstoss-Fm.W.46 flamethrowers.^[5] Sometime in development they found that a 2 US gal (7.6 L) horseshoe-shaped tank with a powder ignition charge was sufficient.^[6] It was adopted into service by airborne troops with a technical manual written for it in March 1959.^[7] It was eventually replaced by the M9 flamethrowers.

^ Dockery, Kevin. "M8 Single-Shot Flamethrower". Dockery Armory. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
^ Николаевич, Ардашев A. Огнеметно-зажигательное оружие. ВикиЧтение. p. 5.3. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
^ Brophy, Leo P.; Miles, Wyndham D.; Cochrane, Rexmond C. (1959). The Chemical Warfare Service: From Laboratory to Field. p. 148.
^ Gartrell, Maj C. B. (January 1965). "Portable Flamethrower Has Bonus Effect". Marine Corps Gazette. U.S. Marine Corps. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
^ Van Dine, W. H. (June 2, 1945). Flame! Special Technical Intelligence Bulletin 9. Washington D.C.: Office, Director of Intelligence Army Service Forces. p. 4.
^ Hobson, Charles S. (2010). The Illustrated Manual of U.S. Portable Flamethrowers. Atglen, PA: Schiffer Publishing Ltd. p. 96. ISBN 978-0-7643-3525-9.
^ TM 3-1040-200-12 Department of The Army Technical Manual, Operator and Organizational Maintenance Manual, "Flame Thrower Portable One-Shot, M8". Washington D.C.: Headquarters, Department of the Army. March 1959. p. 4.

[1] Dockery, Kevin. "M8 Single-Shot Flamethrower". Dockery Armory. Retrieved 19 June 2024.

[2] Николаевич, Ардашев A. Огнеметно-зажигательное оружие. ВикиЧтение. p. 5.3. Retrieved 17 June 2024.

[3] Brophy, Leo P.; Miles, Wyndham D.; Cochrane, Rexmond C. (1959). The Chemical Warfare Service: From Laboratory to Field. p. 148.

[4] Gartrell, Maj C. B. (January 1965). "Portable Flamethrower Has Bonus Effect". Marine Corps Gazette. U.S. Marine Corps. Retrieved 19 June 2024.

[5] Van Dine, W. H. (June 2, 1945). Flame! Special Technical Intelligence Bulletin 9. Washington D.C.: Office, Director of Intelligence Army Service Forces. p. 4.

[6] Hobson, Charles S. (2010). The Illustrated Manual of U.S. Portable Flamethrowers. Atglen, PA: Schiffer Publishing Ltd. p. 96. ISBN 978-0-7643-3525-9.

[7] TM 3-1040-200-12 Department of The Army Technical Manual, Operator and Organizational Maintenance Manual, "Flame Thrower Portable One-Shot, M8". Washington D.C.: Headquarters, Department of the Army. March 1959. p. 4.

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