Flame Equipment
Portable Flamethrower LPO-50
DESCRIPTION:
The LPO-50 light infantry flamethrower is manportable. A slow-burning pyrotechnic cartridge generates pressure for propelling the flame. The flamethrower consists of a tank group, a hose, and a gun group. Firing is continuous for 2 to 3 seconds until the tank is empty. Each of the three tanks contains 3.3 liters of fuel. The complete assembly
weighs 14.8 kilograms empty and 23 kilograms when filled.
CAPABILITIES:
The maximum range is 50 to 70 meters with thickened fuel and 20 meters with unthickened fuel. The flamethrower may have a n accuracy of 97 percent at 25 meters and 81 percent at 50 meters.
Cart-Mounted Flamethrower TPO-SOM
TPO-50M
DESCRIPTION:
The TPO-50M heavy infantry flamethrower consists of three identical cylindrical flamethrower
assemblies mounted on a two-wheeled cart; it has
a two-man crew. Each assembly contains 21 liters of flamefuel. The fuel is propelled by gas pressure
produced by an electrically ignited pyrotechnic cartridge. The three tank assemblies can fire together
or individually. Each assembly is approximately
21 centimeters in diameter and 110 centimeters long. The flamethrower weighs approximately 170 kilograms when filled and 130 kilograms empty.
CAPABILITIES:
The maximum range of the TPO-50M is 180 meters with thickened fuel and 65 meters with unthickened fuel.
Flamethrowers RPO and RPO-A
RPO
RPO-A
.-
a
DESCRIPTION:
The RPO flamethrower is a shoulder-fired weapon. It fires a rocket-propelled napalm round. The RPO is reusable and can be fired at a rate of one shot per minute. It weighs 3.5 kilograms and is 1,440 millimeters long.
The RPO-A is 920 millimeters long and contains only one-half as much incendiary mixture as the RPO. This improved version is a disposable weapon. It can be fired by one operator at an estimated two shots per minute.
CAPABILITIES:
The RPO is capable of firing 4 liters of incendiary mixture to a maximum effective range of
180 to 200 meters. The range and accuracy of the RPO-A are two to three times higher than that of the RPO. Both flamethrowers are effective as antitank weapons. Both models may be present in some Soviet airborne units and first-line ground forces units.
REMARKS:
These weapons require little training to use. They are much easier to transport than the jet varieties. Also, their resupply is easier and preparation time is much less. Soviet forces used flame
throwers as antitank weapons during World War II in special flamethrower units.
Flamethrower Tank TO-56
TO-56 flamethrower tank
A TO-200 tank flamethrower
1 ) |
flame jet |
7) |
sliding member |
2) |
jacket of slide valve |
8) |
fork |
3) |
cylinder |
9 ) |
check valve |
4) |
charging drum |
10) |
feed line lor |
5) |
rear breach cover |
|
inflammable liquid |
6) |
switch |
11) |
gas valve |
DESCRIPTION:
The TO-55 flamethrower tank is a variant of the T-55 with a flamethrowing unit coaxially installed in the standard turret to the right of the
100-mm main gun. The main compartment of the TO-55 houses the special ATO-200 flamethrower.
The liquid burning mixture is propelled by a nitroglycerine powder charge and ignited by an ignitor placed within the charge. The 460 liters of flame fuel are propelled by 12 slow-burning cartridges
which c a n be fired either continuously or i n 35-liter increments per cartridge.
CAPABILITIES:
The TO-55 can propel t h e flame out to 200 meters in the direction the turret is oriented. It has a radiation detection system and can produce a smoke screen by injecting vaporized diesel smoke fuel into the exhaust system.
SMOKE GENERATORS
Smoke Generator Vehicle TDA-M
TDA-M
This thermomechanical smoke generator is mounted on a specially adapted GAZ-66 truck. It emits a smokescreen approximately 800 to 1,000
Decontamination Truck TMS-65 as Smoke Generator
meters long and 100 meters wide under favorable meteorological conditions. It carries sufficient fog oil for four hours of continuous operation.
The primary mission of this vehicle is to perform rapid decontamination of combat vehicles contaminated by NBC agents. However, the secondary mission is to generate large-scale obscuring clouds. Uses in this secondary mission include: screening rear area installations; generating smoke screens for decoy operations; concealing decontamination
sites; concealing assembly areas and deployment lines; screening movement of attacking troops 2 kilometers from the FLOT; screening river crossings; and providing a smoke cloud for protection
from the thermal effects of a nuclear blast. The TMS-65 is mounted on a modified Ural-375Etruck
chassis.
Vehicle Engine Exhaust Smoke System (VEESS)
Most Soviet combat vehicles have a n engine exhaust smoke system. In this system, diesel fuel is injected into the exhaust manifold, evaporated, and ejected with the exhaust gases. Then it condenses in a thick, heavy cloud of white or gray smoke.
LIMITA TIONS:
Intensive coke formation on the internal surface
of the evaporation chamber is the most important degrading factor for the VEESS. When smoke is generated for more than one hour, the thickness of the coke formed reaches 10 to 20 millimeters. If the coke is not removed, the VEESS will heat u p during a subsequent smoke generation and possibly cause the smokeagent in the evaporation chamber to ignite. This will eject a flame and black smoke (instead of the normal white or gray smoke) through the nozzle.
Smoke Pots, Drums, Barrels, and Grenades
The Soviets use smoke pots, barrels, and drums to create small and large-scale obscuring clouds behind their own positions. They also use them to screen semifixed and fixed installations. Electric shock systems, percussion ignitors, or friction fuzes
Smoke Pot DM-11
can ignite these smoke devices, which have a solid obscuring agent as a filler. Units which require
the use of quick smoke on the battlefield use smoke grenades. These grenades can fill in gaps in smoke
screens established by smoke pots.
DESCRIPTION:
The Model DM-11 smoke pot has a cylindrical sheet metal body with the cover taped to its body to provide a waterproof seal during storage. The top of the body has 10 peripheral smoke emission holes. The DM-11 has a height of 10.67 centimeters, a diameter of 15.2 centimeters, and a weight of 2.22 kilograms.
CAPABILITIES:
The DM-I1 filling produces a yellowish white smoke covering 418 square meters under favorable meteorological conditions. The smoke lasts 5 to 6 minutes after a delay of 2 seconds during ignition.
