Flammenwerfer 35 (FmW 35) Man-Portable Flame Thrower (1935)
The Flammenwerfer 35 was a refined German Army flamethrower of World War 2, owing its form and function to prior use of such weapons in World War 1.
The expanding German Army of the 1930s under Adolf Hitler's leadership adopted the Flammenwerfer 35 in 1935 - the word literally translating to "flame thrower" or "flame projector". The weapon was an entire system consisting of the projector with igniter, fuel line and fuel canisters. The dual-canister arrangement was worn as a backpack held up by shoulder straps while the projector assembly was held with two hands as a basic service rifle. This precluded use by the operator of a viable secondary weapon - limited to perhaps a pistol sidearm or dagger. The twin-tank arrangement included a canister filled with 3 gallons of a gasoline/tar compound to serve as the fuel proper and the other canister containing the nitrogen to serve as the propellant. Ignition was via a hydrogen arrangement which eventually proved limiting in severe winter weather (a change to a cartridge system was ordered for subsequent designs such as the FmW 41). The FmW 35 held a useful range out to 25 meters with a 30 meter maximum from the point of the projector, reaching out some 80+ feet, while the hydrogen ignition allowed for some 10 seconds of continuous streaming. When fired into confined spaces such as enemy pillboxes, the flames took on an even deadlier expanded role than the basic stream. The operator was also free to "lay" down fire over an embedded enemy by arching the stream behind defensive walls. The entire FmW 35 system weighed 80lbs and required special training for maximum efficiency. Despite its size and limitations, the FmW 35 series proved a vast upgrade to the larger and heavier three-man systems fielded by the German Army in World War 1.
An inhumane weapon at its core, flamethrowers no doubt were able to fulfill their battlefield roles in a "kill-or-be-killed" environment. Conversely, operators managing their flamethrowers became wholly obvious to enemy snipers and a well-placed direct strike to the canisters could engulf the operator himself. To partially remedy this threat from long range spotters, projectors were modified to appear as though standard service rifles. It is unknown the extent that this deception succeeded. It was common for flamethrower operators to be protected by nearby infantry personnel for obvious reasons - the flamethrower was a specialist unit to be sure.
The FmW 35 series was in standardized use up until 1941 to which the improved and refined Flammenwerfer 41 was then introduced. The FmW 41 incorporated a much lighter, more portable design and improved on the original in several ways including a later adoption of cartridge ignition. Production of the FmW 35 itself spanned into 1941 before attention shifted to the FmW 41 series. The interim "FmW 40" was yet another German flamethrower of World War 2 and appeared in a "life buoy" backpack form but did not see large scale issue nor manufacture.
Flammenwerfer 35 systems were still in use at Stalingrad during the Eastern Front offensives against the Soviet Union. Text ©2003-2013 www.MilitaryFactory.com • All Rights Reserved • No Reproduction Permitted
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Specifications for the
Flammenwerfer 35 (FmW 35)
Man-Portable Flame Thrower
Country of Origin: Nazi Germany
Manufacturer: State Factories - Nazi Germany
Initial Year of Service: 1935
Overall Length: 0mm (0.00in)
Barrel Length: 0.00mm (0.00in)
Weight (Empty): 78.93lbs (35.80kg)
Cartridge: Not Applicable
Action: Hydrogen Ignition System
Feed: 1 x 3-gallon compound fuel tank; 1 x Nitrogen propellant tank
Range: 88ft (27m; 29yds)
Sights: Not Applicable
Variants:
Flammenwerfer 35 - Original World War 2-era flamethrower based on World War 1 design; production until 1941; twin tank arrangement; 79lb weight.
FmW 35 - Abbreviated Designation
mittlerer Flammenwerfer - Two-man version of the Flammenwerfer 35; fuel carried on wheeled trolley.
Abwehrflammenwerfer 42 - Single-shot, fixed defense variant.
Operators: Nazi Germany
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