M132 Armored Flamethrower
Encyclopedia
The M132 was a United States
built flamethrower
armed variant of the M113
and M113A1 armored personnel carrier
s developed in the early 1960s. Approximately 350 were accepted into service.
The first prototype of the vehicle was produced in August 1962 when a flamethrower
was mounted on a M113
. This prototype was only used in combat situations four times that year.
In December 1964, the First Armored Cavalry was sent two M132 flamethrower armored vehicles. Based on combat experiences with the vehicle the Army Concept Team advised that four M132s and two M113s be shipped to each regiment.
The 200 gallon fuel capacity enabled it to fire for 32 seconds, and the pressure unit enabled it to reach targets at a range of 200 meters.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
built flamethrower
Flamethrower
A flamethrower is a mechanical device designed to project a long controllable stream of fire.Some flamethrowers project a stream of ignited flammable liquid; some project a long gas flame. Most military flamethrowers use liquids, but commercial flamethrowers tend to use high-pressure propane and...
armed variant of the M113
M113 armored personnel carrier
The M113 is a fully tracked armored personnel carrier that has formed the backbone of the United States Army's mechanized infantry units from the time of its first fielding in Vietnam in April 1962. The M113 was the most widely used armored vehicle of the U.S...
and M113A1 armored personnel carrier
Armoured personnel carrier
An armoured personnel carrier is an armoured fighting vehicle designed to transport infantry to the battlefield.APCs are usually armed with only a machine gun although variants carry recoilless rifles, anti-tank guided missiles , or mortars...
s developed in the early 1960s. Approximately 350 were accepted into service.
The first prototype of the vehicle was produced in August 1962 when a flamethrower
Flamethrower
A flamethrower is a mechanical device designed to project a long controllable stream of fire.Some flamethrowers project a stream of ignited flammable liquid; some project a long gas flame. Most military flamethrowers use liquids, but commercial flamethrowers tend to use high-pressure propane and...
was mounted on a M113
M113 armored personnel carrier
The M113 is a fully tracked armored personnel carrier that has formed the backbone of the United States Army's mechanized infantry units from the time of its first fielding in Vietnam in April 1962. The M113 was the most widely used armored vehicle of the U.S...
. This prototype was only used in combat situations four times that year.
In December 1964, the First Armored Cavalry was sent two M132 flamethrower armored vehicles. Based on combat experiences with the vehicle the Army Concept Team advised that four M132s and two M113s be shipped to each regiment.
Description
The vehicle was based on an M113. The driver sits in the front left of the hull. A small cupola in the center of the hull mounts an M10-8 flame gun with a coaxial 7.62 mm caliber M73 machine gun. The weapons could be traversed though 360 degrees and elevated to +55 degrees and depressed to -15 degree. The passenger compartment was removed, and replaced with an M10 fuel and pressure unit and four spherical 50 gallon fuel tanks.The 200 gallon fuel capacity enabled it to fire for 32 seconds, and the pressure unit enabled it to reach targets at a range of 200 meters.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: FMC Corp
- Combat weight: 23,330 lbs (10,580 kg)
- Armor thickness: 1.125 inches to 1.75 inches (2.858 cm to 4.45 cm)
- Engine: Chrysler 75M; 8 cylinder, 4 cycle, vee gasoline
- Fuel capacity: 80 gallons (300 litres)
- Engine power: 215 hp at 4000 rpm
- Torque: 332 ft·lbf at 2800 rpm
- Transmission: Allison TX-200-2A
- Max speed (on flat road): 40 mph (64 km/h)