M202 FLASH (FLame Assault SHoulder Weapon)

History

Introduced in the late 1970s, the M202 FLASH ("FLame Assault SHoulder Weapon") is a shoulder-mounted multiple-shot rocket launcher for incendiary bombs - essentially a "rocket launcher-flameer". The weapon is derived from the development of the "XM191" napalm launcher during the Vietnam War and features a four-round (2x2) barrel assembly that accommodates 4 x 66mm M74 incendiary TPA-filled (triethylaluminum) projectiles.

The M202 acts like a flamethrower, but with increased range, thus reducing firefighter exposure somewhat.

As a complete system, the M202 has a boxy shape. The pistol grip and trigger assembly is located under the front of the weapon, with a padded arm that folds down at the rear. The fore grip is located under the muzzle end of the launcher assembly. The optical element (reflex sight) is integrated along the left side of the launcher.

Effective range is up to 22 yards, with a maximum listed range of 820 yards (point accuracy is significantly reduced at range). The missile is fed from a four-round magazine that can be fired individually or as a group when mounted. The total weight of the launcher assembly is 11.5 lbs, which increases to 26.5 lbs when loaded.

Overall length is 34.75 inches, although the system can be folded for travel, reducing shipping length to 27 inches.

The M202 never had much of an impact on the U.S. military stockpile, and its usefulness diminished further with the end of the Cold War in the early 1990s. These missiles weren't always up to the role, and the awkward size and shape of the M202 launcher made it unattractive to the standard infantryman who still had to carry his normal combat gear into battle.

Some modern elements of the U.S. military still rely on this weapon, as in the case of Afghanistan, where it has proven useful against exposed enemy infantry, soft-skinned vehicles, and soft fortifications. The South Korean Army is also listed as operating the M202.

Rocket launcher flamethrower concepts have also appeared in various forms in the former Soviet Union and China over the years.

Specification

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