The flamethrower is an essential weapon for all kinds of close combat where the enemy’s well concealed and dug in like ticks. I tried to get M2A2s for the second attack on Fallujah but was informed by some pompous major at HQMC that the flamethrower violates some treaty now.
We used three types of fuel back when I was a PFC; gasoline, diesel and napalm. Gas gives a huge, billowing flame out to 15-20 meters which is great for enveloping a suspected hideout and really blinds the enemy gunners when you’re executing a road crossing. A skilled operator can actually bounce the stream of flame against a wall to shoot around a corner! Diesel shoots further and is really smoky, also good for obscuring and napalm gets out 40-50 meters or so in a long stream that sticks to your target. Great stuff.
As far as the M-16/M4 family go, we need to replace them as soon as possible. They are far too vulnerable to dirt and debris, too weak for sustained operations, and terrible for rapid clearing and cleaning.
The 5.56 caliber has been tried and found inadequate. In Iraq, it was OK at close engagement but poor at longer ranges and when the enemy had cover. We need a caliber that has good long distance lethality and good penetration of cover, like walls.
We are a nation of firearms expertise - we can do better.
Having had several M-16/M-4s I can testify that they are pretty temperamental WRT foreign material.
The P-90 is amazingly easy to disassemble, clean, and reassemble compared to it.
The 5.56 caliber has been tried and found inadequate. In Iraq, it was OK at close engagement but poor at longer ranges and when the enemy had cover. We need a caliber that has good long distance lethality and good penetration of cover, like walls.
There's a lot of rounds that are better; I read a comparison of the 5.7x28 to the 5.56 and even that 0.14mm seems to make a difference.
We are a nation of firearms expertise - we can do better.
Agreed.
Chainmail, When the Marines first went into Afghanistan, we started to get inquires regarding a “Flame Capable” weapons system. Initially, the need was identified to get those Taliban Rats our of the caves they were hiding in. We convened a test at 29 Palms to determine what system would work best. HQMC actually rounded up a couple of M2A2’s for the test. Obviously they did poorly when matched against modern Thermobaric weapons. Although it was fun shooting the M2A2, it only reinforced out respect for those brave souls who carried it through WWII.
The two weapons that performed great were the Panzer-Faust and the SMAW-Thermobaric. Since we already owned the SMAW, we ordered the rounds from Talley Defense.
Guys those Shoulder Launched Multipurpose Assault Weapon, SMAW-NE “Novel Explosive” rounds are incredible and they will eliminate anyone in a building, cave or bunker upon impact.
Terry L Walker
Marine Gunner CWO5
USMC Retired
“We are a nation of firearms expertise - we can do better.”
As noted prior, that’s been practically outlawed.
Improving full-auto requires a market big enough to fund & motivate such innovation. Alas, 922(o) prohibits citizens from having anything newer than 1986, so there’s no market willing to buy & try such new equipment.
Overturn 922(o) and we’ll see a flurry of fantastic new designs.