M2 flamethrower facts for kids

The M2 flamethrower was a special weapon used by American soldiers during World War II. It was a portable flamethrower, meaning soldiers could carry it on their backs. The M2 was an improved version of earlier flamethrowers like the M1 and M1A1.

This flamethrower could shoot fire for about 7 seconds, reaching distances of 20 to 40 meters. Later in the war, new flamethrower tanks were developed. These tanks helped keep soldiers safer, as they didn't have to carry the flamethrower themselves into dangerous areas.

A dummy equipped with the M2 flamethrower

After the war, most M2 flamethrowers were no longer needed. They were "scrapped," which means they were taken apart and thrown away. Only a few were sold off.

Different Types of M2 Flamethrowers

The M2 flamethrower had several different versions, or "variants," that were used in different wars.

The Original M2 for World War II

The first version was simply called the M2. This model was used during World War II. You could tell it apart by its special hexagonal (six-sided) gas caps and an hourglass-shaped frame on the soldier's back. It was sometimes also called the M2-2. The "M2" part referred to the fuel tanks, and the "-2" referred to the type of nozzle, or "wand," it had.

M2A1-2 for the Korean War

The M2A1-2 was a newer version of the M2. It was mainly used during the Korean War. This model had a few changes:

• Its backpack frame was straight on the sides.
• It had gas caps with vents (small openings for air).
• It had a special guard around the cylinder to protect against temperature changes.
• It also had a safety catch to prevent accidental firing.

This version is much easier to find today than the original WWII models.

M2A1-7 for the Vietnam War

The M2A1-7 was an updated version of the M2A1-2. American troops used this flamethrower during the Vietnam War.

How the M2A1-7 Worked

This flamethrower had four main controls that soldiers needed to use:

• Firing Safety Clip: This was located on the back of the rear handle. It had to be moved to allow the flamethrower to fire.
• Firing Trigger: Found on the front of the rear handle, this was squeezed to release the flaming fuel.
• Igniter Safety Catch: This was on top of the front part of the flamethrower. It prevented the igniter from going off by mistake.
• Igniter Trigger: Located under the front part, this was pressed to create the spark that lit the fuel.

M9A1-7: Lighter and Easier to Use

The M9A1-7 was another flamethrower used in Vietnam. It was the most common model there because it was much lighter and easier for soldiers to carry and use. While the fuel tanks for this weapon are still often found, most of the "wands" (the part that shoots the fire) were destroyed after the Vietnam War.

Some M2 flamethrowers used by the U.S. Army had a front handle that looked just like the rear handle. On these models, the igniter controls were on the front handle, set up in the same way as the controls on the rear handle.

The M2 flamethrower was eventually replaced by the M9A1-7. Later, the M9A1-7 was replaced by an even newer weapon called the M202A1 FLASH.

Images for kids

• 

  Map showing former M2 flamethrower operators

• 

  M2A1 flamethrower.

• 

  M2A1 flamethrower used by the Republic of China during the China-Burma-India Theater.