M202 Flash
The M202 Flash ( Fl ame A ssault Sh oulder Weapon , English for shoulder-supported assault incendiary weapon) is a shoulder-supported, reusable rocket launcher with four launch tubes for rockets in caliber 66 mm, the warhead of which is filled with an incendiary agent .
It was used by the United States Marine Corps and the United States Army and withdrawn from the troops without replacement in the 1990s, but officially remained in the inventory and is also said to have been used in Afghanistan .
background
The weapon was the mid-1960s in the United States , first under the name MPFW XM191 ( Multi Shot Portable Flame Weapon , English for flame-gun multi-shot, portable ) developed as a complete system, but later split into its components launchers M202 and various types of ammunition.
The development of the M202 Flash solved the problems of traditional portable flamethrowers , which were limited by their heavy weight, short range and the resulting high vulnerability. A disadvantage that had to be accepted for this is the jet of fire from the launching rocket, which means that a safety distance of at least 15 meters, if possible 40 meters, must be maintained behind the shooter. The missiles used are a further development of the M72 LAW anti-tank missile , whose drive and tail unit were adopted. Despite its relatively high accuracy and the above-mentioned advantages over flamethrowers, the M202 was not widely used; the only other developed version was the M202A1. In contrast to the M202, the trigger assembly of the M202A1 was modified to prevent the firing pin from jamming.
description
The rocket launcher consists of a housing with four launch tubes made of fiberglass, a side-mounted, hinged visor and a removable handle with a trigger below the launch tubes. The front and rear of the tubes are closed by lids that are folded down on hinges before firing. The weapon has an adjustable strap for carrying it.
commitment
The gun can be fired by the shooter from a standing, kneeling and lying position. A reflex sight is used to aim , then the rockets are fired individually or simultaneously. The rocket launcher can be reloaded with a magazine with four rockets. The rocket penetrates glass and, at a short distance, wooden doors, but not stone walls.
A hit probability of 50 percent will be
- against bunker openings at 50 meters,
- against the window at 125 meters,
- against stationary vehicles at 200 meters and
- against infantry units in group strength at 500 to 750 meters
achieved.
M202 series rocket launchers can fire both the M74 incendiary rocket and the M96 gas rocket. Since the weapon has the same caliber as the M72 LAW , it would theoretically also be possible to fire its ammunition. This was also possible with the prototype XM191 , but was never developed for the M202.
In the incendiary ammunition M74 warhead M235 is connected to a TPA ( agent Thickened pyrophoric , English for thickened pyrophoric agent / fire agent ) were charged, this with is butyl rubber thickened triethylaluminum (TEA) used which is (similar to white phosphorus ) upon contact with oxygen even ignites and burns at temperatures up to 1200 ° C. The minimum distance of 20 meters to the target results from the spray area of the TEA.
The M96 gas ammunition is filled with CS .
Technical data (M202A1)
| Parameter | Data |
|---|---|
| drive | Solid rocket M54 |
| steering | unguided |
| length | closed: 686 mm, open and loaded: 889 mm |
| Diameter of the missile | 66 mm |
| total weight | 12.07 kg |
| Weight of the thrower without ammunition | 5.22 kg |
| Warhead | M74 incendiary ammunition (0.59 kg triethylaluminum) M235
M96 CS gas |
| Rate of fire | one shot / s |
| Muzzle velocity (M74) | 114 m / s |
| Front pipe safety (M74) | 5.5-13 m |
| Minimum shooting distance (M74) | 20 m |
| Maximum range | 750 m |
| Detonator | Impact fuse |
literature
- TM 3-1055-456-12 M202A1 Operator's Manual.
Web links
- Description of the gun at Gary's US Infantry Weapons Reference Guide (English)
- Description of the rocket on designation-systems.net (English)
- Description of the weapon on GlobalSecurity.org , accessed February 26, 2013
- TC 23-2 66 mm Rocket Launcher M202A1. US Army Manual, April 1978 (via Scribd, English)