Transcriber’s Notes
The spelling, hyphenation and punctuation is as the original, with the exception of apparent typographical errors.
Italic text is denoted as underscore. Bold text is denoted as =equals sign=. Underlined text is also denoted as underscore, Generally used at beginning of paragraphs.
War Department Technical Manual TM 3-376A
PORTABLE FLAME THROWER M2-2
RESTRICTED
DISSEMINATION OF RESTRICTED MATTER. The information contained in restricted documents and the essential characteristics of restricted material may be given to any person known to be in the service of the United States and to persons of undoubted loyalty and discretion who are cooperating in Government work, but will not be communicated to the public or to the press except by authorized military public relations agencies. (See also par. 18b, AR 380-5, 28 Sep 1942.)
War Department - 16 May 1944
Washington, D. C.
WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, 25, D. C. 16 May 1944
TM 3-376A, Portable Flame Thrower M2-2 is published for the information and guidance of all concerned.
[A. G. 300.7 (21 March 44)]
By order of the Secretary of War:
G. C. MARSHALL, Chief of Staff.
Official: J. A. ULIO, Major General, The Adjutant General.
Distribution:
R & H (5); Bn 2, 7, 17 (2); C & H 3 (5); IC & H 5 (5); C 2, 7, 17 (2); X. ID: T/O & E 72T, Light Div; 17, Armd Div; IR: T/O 5-192, Hq & Hq Co, Engr Comb Gr; 5-171, Engr Comb Regt; IBn: T/O 5-15, Engr Comb Bn; 5-35, Engr Bn Sep; 5-175, Engr Bn, Comb Regt; 5-215, Armd Engr Bn; 5-475T, Engr Bn, Light Div; IC: T/O 5-16, Hq & Hq & Sv Co, Engr Combat Bn; 5-17, Engr Comb Co; 5-192, Hq & Hq Co, Engr Comb Gr; 5-36, Hq & Hq & Sv Co, Engr Bn (Sep); 5-37, Co, Engr Bn (Sep); 5-176, Hq & Hq Det, Engr Bn, Engr Comb Regt; 5-216, Hq & Hq Co, Armd Engr Bn; 5-217, Co, Armd Engr Bn; 5-476T, Hq & Hq Co, Engr Bn, Light Div; 5477-T, Co, Engr Bn, Light Div.
(For explanation of symbols see Par 26, FM 21-6)
TECHNICAL MANUAL
PORTABLE FLAME THROWER M2-2
WAR DEPARTMENT WASHINGTON, 25, D. C., 16 May 1945
CHANGES} No. 1 }
TM 3-376A, 16 May 1944, is changed as follows:
=10. ITEMS WITH EACH FLAME THROWER.=
* * * * *
b. Kit, spare parts, for portable flame thrower M2-2, assembly B81-6-=190=.
* * * * *
g. (Added). Army Service Forces Catalog CW 7-440114, Organizational Spare Parts and Equipment: 1st and 2d Echelons: for Flame Thrower, Portable, M2-2.
Fig. 8. Contents of tool kit:
* * * * *
B. 1 Wrench, hex, * * * set screws, H22-49-12.
=2 Wrench, hex, 5/32-inch across flats for 5/16-inch socket-head set screws, H22-49-140.=
* * * * *
Fig 9. Contents of spare parts kit:
F. (Added). 3 Tubes, deflector, A81-1-501. (See fig. 39.)
G. (Added). 3 Locknuts, pipe, hex, 1/8-inch, H98-5-382 (for use with deflector tube). (See fig. 39.)
H. (Added). 1 Support, diaphragm, A81-1-428. (See fig. 47.)
=12. NEW EQUIPMENT.=
* * * * *
m. (Added). New gun may be received with valve spring removed from barrel and valve assembly. Spring comes tied to barrel. This is done to prevent strain on valve diaphragm assembly caused by pressure of spring in gun during storage and shipment. When weapon is being prepared for operation, spring must be untied from barrel and installed in gun, as described in paragraph 75.
n. (Added). Pressure regulator may be shipped at zero adjustment to prevent possibility of strain on diaphragm during shipment and storage. A regulator shipped in this condition has a tag (tied to the tank coupling) stating that the regulator is not set. When weapon is received in this condition, it must be adjusted as described in paragraph 67 before it can be operated.
Footnote:
=*These changes supersede TB 3-376A-1, 19 October 1944.=
=15. TRAINING.=
* * * * *
b. Use of water in training. Water may be used (instead of fuel) for elementary practice firing. Ignition cylinders are * * * piece, and lubricated (Par. 49). =Use of water, however, should always be supplemented by firing ignited fuel because water does not give a correct impression of stream and flame characteristics.=
* * * * *
=17. CONNECTING TANK GROUP AND GUN GROUP.=
* * * * *
a. Place the new * * * to 2 minutes. =Slight pressure sometimes builds up in the fuel tanks, even though the pressure-tank valve has not been opened, and causes some overflow of fuel when the coupling plug is removed. This pressure may be relieved by—=
=(1) Standing the tank group upright.=
=(2) Slightly opening filling plug on top of fuel tanks to bleed the pressure.=
=(3) Closing the opening at filling plug and tightening it with wrench.=
* * * * *
=18. LOADING WITH IGNITION CYLINDER.=
* * * * *
b. Precautions. Care must be * * * front of gun. =Do not ignite the ignition cartridge until the weapon is to be fired at the target.=
* * * * *
=30. AFTER FIRING.=
When the firer * * * mission, he should:
a. =First=, remove and discard the ignition cylinder, =as the ignition cylinder should never be present when blowing out fuel or after blowing out fuel except when preparing for a new mission. To remove cylinder, proceed= as follows:
* * * * *
b. Close the pressure-tank valve by turning valve handle clockwise (to conserve remaining pressure in pressure tank) =only if additional shots are to be fired before refilling and recharging=.
c. =If no additional shots are to be fired before refilling and recharging, open pressure-tank valve by turning handle counterclockwise.= Point the gun away from personnel and blow out the remaining fuel =and pressure=, if any, from the fuel tanks by squeezing the valve lever and grip safety until there is no further discharge. The trigger should not be used during this operation. =Then close the pressure-tank valve to prevent entrance of foreign matter into the pressure system.=
d. (Superseded). Carefully remove tank group from the back. This may be done most easily by sitting or squatting with back to a tree stump, flat rock, packing box, or other object. Release the body and shoulder straps and ease tank group off the back. Avoid dropping equipment on the ground as this may damage it.
* * * * *
=31. IGNITION CYLINDER.=
* * * * *
c. Packing. Ignition cylinders are * * * each flame thrower. Fifty cans (100 ignition cylinders) are contained in each =ignition cylinder= packing box. =Wooden packing box with contents weighs approximately 50 to 55 pounds. Outside dimensions of the box are approximately 16-1/4 inches by 14-3/4 inches by 10-1/4 inches. Cubage is 1-3/12 cubic feet.=
* * * * *
=32. CHARGING PRESSURE TANK.=
* * * * *
b. Charging from air compressor. Compressor, air, gasoline * * * cylinders as well. Instructions for use of the compressor will be found in =TM 3-377=.
* * * * *
=Figure 23.= Charging two pressure tanks, using charging and filling lines, and cylinders of compressed air or nitrogen. =As many as four pressure tank and valve assemblies, on or off tank groups, can be charged at one time from cylinders coupled as shown in figure 24.=
=33. PRECAUTIONS WHEN PRESSURE-CHARGING.=
* * * * *
m. (Added). Inspect carefully to be certain that no traces of grease, flame thrower fuel, oil, dirt, or other foreign matter are present in flame thrower pressure tanks, outlets of air compressor, connections, hose, or cylinders containing compressed air.
n. (Added). Hands and tools must be free of oil or grease when charging or servicing flame thrower pressure systems.
o. (Added). Discharge any remaining compressed air in flame thrower pressure tanks before recharging.
p. (Added). If compressed air is to be used, and if any grease, oil, or flame thrower fuel is detected by sense of smell or sight within pressure tank and valve assemblies or cylinders, return tanks or cylinders for cleaning to the appropriate third-echelon maintenance agency of Chemical Warfare Service.
=35.1 PEPTIZED FUELS= (Added).
a. Characteristics.
(1) Pour more readily than usual thickened fuels.
(2) Give a larger diameter flame than thickened fuels.
(3) Give longer effective ranges than liquid fuels.
(4) Prepared more quickly in cool temperatures than thickened fuels.
b. Preparation.
(1) Open 5-1/4-pound can or cans of thickener.
(2) Add 2 mess kit spoonfuls of water to each can of thickener. Stir until the water disappears in the thickener. It is not necessary to mix the water uniformly with all of the thickener.
(3) Proceed at once as directed in paragraph 35. Avoid accidental addition of any water to the thickener or fuel other than that stated in (2) above.
(4) Peptized fuels set a little more quickly than the usual thickened fuels, but their general appearance after setting is the same. After standing, however, peptized fuels spontaneously become thinner and may be poured without use of pressure. The time it takes for thinning to occur depends on the temperature of the fuel. At 75° Fahrenheit or higher, thinning occurs in approximately 1 to 2 hours. At temperatures below 60° Fahrenheit, thinning occurs several days after preparation of the peptized fuel.