Combat effectiveness Flame tank

the m4a3r3 variant of sherman tank on exercise in korea.

in comparison man-portable flamethrowers, flame tanks carried more fuel, , fire longer-ranged bursts. due ability in range of enemy positions in comparative safety, invaluable rooting out heavy infantry fortifications. example, no tank cannon possibly penetrate thick bunkers created japanese defenders on islands such tarawa or iwo jima, flame throwing tanks used instead, while infantrymen provided necessary security during deployment.

the maximum range of flamethrower typically less 150 metres. because of limitation, flamethrower virtually useless on open battlefield. however, proved potent psychological weapon against fortified troops. in many instances, troops surrendered or fled upon seeing flame tank fire ranging shots, rather risk being burned alive.

experience of combat use of flamethrower tanks mixed. german flamethrower variants of panzer ii , panzer iii both discontinued due unsatisfactory performance , converted assault guns or tank destroyers. panzer iv never converted flame variant, despite having been configured many other roles.

the mixed results in part due development of infantry anti-tank weapons. @ start of second world war infantry units had weapons effectiveness against armoured targets @ ranges of thirty fifty meters, anti-tank rifles. towards end of war, more powerful anti-tank weapons such bazooka, panzerschreck, , piat introduced fatal tanks @ ranges longer tank s flamethrower reach.

while british used squadron of churchill crocodiles during fighting @ brest in september 1944, army received smaller american designed flamethrower mounted upon m4 sherman tank during same month. assigned army s 70th tank battalion, flamethrowing tanks went action on 18 september 1944, found weapons had short range compared british crocodiles, , consequently not popular amongst troops.

the canadian , dutch armies became 2 of active users of wasp flamethrowers while fighting in europe, finding weapons extremely effective in prying german soldiers defenses. indeed, mechanical flamethrowers, although not impressive themselves, struck horror minds of german troops, feared them more other conventional weapon. canadian troops used them during battle of scheldt.

members of canadian 4th armoured division demonstrating use of flame throwers across canal, maldegem, october 1944.

crews of flame tanks not more vulnerable crews in regular, standard version of tank (a churchill crocodile flame tank being more or less vulnerable anti-tank weapons standard churchill), crews of flamethrowing tanks treated differently should captured alive enemy troops. due perceived inhumanity of weapon itself, captured crews of such tanks treated less humanely crews of regular tanks. instances of flametankers being executed opposite troops upon capture not uncommon. subsequently, british tank crews received sixpence day danger money due threat of arbitrary execution. flame tanks suffered fact, along flamethrower-armed troops, enemy within range open on them due fear of weapon.

flame tanks not more prone catching fire or exploding, unless hit armor piercing round or explosive reaching ammunition , fuel inside. tanks such churchill crocodile , towed liquid container behind actual tank, held no greater risk of fire standard tanks. although towed container targeted, tank , crew protected.