Guest Big Time Software Posted August 17, 2000 Share Posted August 17, 2000 Well, time to pipe in on this one... I fired a flame thrower two summers ago. There is some video of this in our Resources section in fact Anyhoo... if you want to hit anything at any distance what so ever you have to arc the flame. Unfortunately this obscures the target. I had NO idea what was on the receiving end of the flame I was unleashing! The guy that owned the FTs, one of which was a 1943 model (and folks, these are heavy and akward to pack around!), did this for a living for the US Army. He was also up on the history of its employment as an offensive weapon. He made it very clear that the US Army/Marines found out VERY quickly that they could not be deployed as if they were an independent weapon system. Instead, at least one entire platoon would go forward and secure the area around where the FT was to be used (fixed target of some sort). Then, and only then, one man of the platoon would run back and guide the FT up to a preselected firing position that the platoon leader choose for protection and ability to hit the target. The FT would move up, fire, and get out. If you are trying to do anything other than this or Ambushing, you are (according to the veteran and his studies) using it incorrectly. It is not a general purpose offensive weapon, rather something good for a rather easy to hit, but tough, target. Unfortunately, other wargames have treated the flame thrower as if it were a Platoon Killer. Which has always led me to think... if the man portable FT was so damned effective against infantry, why was it not a standard part of infantry platoons and not just specialist engineering units? So obviously I think CM has got it about right Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lorak Posted August 17, 2000 Share Posted August 17, 2000 Really good points by all. I have found FT's to be really useful in low visability battles. The enemy can't make out the unit, so they draw less fire. And if the visabilty is around 40 meters, heavy woods, fog ect... before your seen, your pretty much in range. Makes FT's damn deadly. Lorak Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CEO Posted August 17, 2000 Share Posted August 17, 2000 <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Big Time Software: The FT would move up, fire, and get out. If you are trying to do anything other than this or Ambushing, you are (according to the veteran and his studies) using it incorrectly. It is not a general purpose offensive weapon, rather something good for a rather easy to hit, but tough, target. Steve<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> Yeah Berli, you better listen to this one. ------------------ No smilies were harmed in the making of this post. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RokSS Posted August 17, 2000 Share Posted August 17, 2000 I've had pretty good luck with FTs by saving a couple of arty smoke rounds to use when I'm ready to move into a village which is defended. Bring up infantry and take up positions on the perimeter while slowly moving and hiding the FT(s) behind them. Call in the smoke and wait for it to shroud the area. Keep some infantry back for covering fire, move some infantry in to assist and just walk the FT in amidst the confusion. The FTs aren't accurate but when you can get them into town you can flush defenders out of buildings and create mayhem. [This message has been edited by RokSS (edited 08-16-2000).] [This message has been edited by RokSS (edited 08-16-2000).] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ASL Veteran Posted August 17, 2000 Author Share Posted August 17, 2000 Thanks for the response BTS. As always, we are humbled by your vast knowledge and research on all subjects related to WW2 Must have been pretty cool firing a flamethrower Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brk Posted August 17, 2000 Share Posted August 17, 2000 I've never had a flamethrower explode when fired upon, which I thought was a somewhat common occurrence. Is this just some folklore I've learned, or is it simply not modeled in CM, or have I just not seen it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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