Flamethrower Portable No. 2 ( Eng. Portable Flamethrower Number 2 ), better known as Lifebuoy or Ack Pack, is a British infantry flamethrower from World War II, created on the basis of the 1917 German flamethrower Wechselapparat . It was produced in two versions: Mk 1 (training weapon) and Mk 2 (was in service). From 1943 to 1944, about 7 thousand flamethrowers of this type were produced, they were used by British troops when landing in Normandy. Classified as a heavy flamethrower.
| Lifebuoy Flamethrower, Portable, No. 2 | |
|---|---|
 Soldier of His Majesty's Personal Scottish Border Guards with Lifebuoy Flamethrower | |
| Type of | knapsack flamethrower |
| A country |  United Kingdom |
| Service History | |
| In service | British army Canadian Forces |
| Wars and conflicts | The Second World War |
| Production history | |
| Years of production | 1943-1944 |
| Total released | 7000 |
| Characteristics | |
| Weight kg | 29 kg |
| Cartridge | cordite balloon |
| Maximum range, m | 36 m |
| Type of ammunition | 18 liter containers |
Description
The 18-liter fuel tank had the shape of a torus (“donut”) and was located behind the back of a soldier. In the center of the toroidal reservoir was a container with compressed nitrogen under a pressure of 2 thousand pounds per square inch (approximately 14 MPa ). With the release of a fire stream, the range of destruction was up to 36 meters.
The hose from the fuel tank was connected to the nozzle, which had two pistol grips for holding and controlling the fire. There was a trigger on one of the handles. The composition of the flamethrower ammunition included 10 incendiary cartridges, which made it possible for the flamethrower to produce up to ten rounds with one tank. There was also the opportunity to spray the inactive fire mixture around the target, and then set it on fire with a gentle stream of flame - this tactic increased the effectiveness of firing a flamethrower.
In popular culture
- In The Bridge Too Far , the British attack with these flamethrowers. The role of one of such flamethrowers was played by Alan Armstrong .
Literature
- Bishop, Chris. The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II: The Comprehensive Guide to Over 1,500 Weapons Systems, Including Tanks, Small Arms, Warplanes, Artillery, Ships and Submarines . - Sterling Publishing Company, Inc, 2002. - ISBN 978-1-58663-762-0 .