Australia
 Metal Storm
China
 QLZ-87 / W87
 QLB-06 / QLZ-87B
Germany
 HK69
 HK79
 HK AG36/AG-C
 HK GMG
 Panzerfaust
 Panzerfaust 44 Lanze
 Panzerfaust 3
 Armbrust
Russia - USSR
 RPG-2
 RPG-7
 RPG-16
 RPG-18
 RPG-22
 RPG-26
 RPG-27
 RPG-28
 RPG-29
 RPG-32
 RShG-1
 RShG-2
 RMG
 RPO-A "Shmel"
 RPO-M "Shmel-M"
 MRO-A
 GP-25 and GP-30
 RG-6
 GM-94
 AGS-17
 AGS-30
 Balkan
 RGS-50M
 BS-1 Tishina
 Device D new
 Device DM new
Sweden
 Carl-Gustaf
 AT4
South Africa
 Milkor MGL
 PAW-20 "Neopup"
Switzerland
 B+T GL-06
USA
 M79
 M203
 EX-41
 MM-1
 XM25
 M72 LAW
 M136 AT4
 M202 Flash
 Mk.153 SMAW
 Mk.19 AGL
 Mk.47 AGL
 XM307 ACSW

all texts and some pictures
copyright © 1999-2009
by Max R. Popenker
and can not be used without author permission

Contact E-Mail
ICQ:

Your banner or text ads at Modern Firearms website: click here

M202 M202A1 M202A2 FLASH multishot rocket launcher / flamethrower (USA)

Clip of four M74 incendiary rockets for M202 FLASH grenade launcher / flamethrower (drawing)

drawing of the M74 incendiary rocket in flight configuration (with tail fins extended)

US soldier aims the M202A1 FLASH grenade launcher / flamethrower, possibly during the Vietnam war

US soldier aims the M202A2 FLASH grenade launcher / flamethrower, circa 1991

Caliber: 66 mm
Type:rocket
Overall length: 686 mm empty launcher, 883 mm loaded with clip
Weight: 5.22 kg unloaded, 12 kg loaded with clip of 4 rockets
Effective range: up to 200 m (750 m maximum)

The M202 multishot rocket launcher evolved from XM191 multishot rocket launcher, that was extensively combat tested by US Army in Vietnam during late 1970s. The M202 is very similar to XM191 although it appears that its rockets were loaded with different incendiary agent - TPA rather than Napalm. It is also believed that XM191 was developed as a multipurpose weapon, capable of firing not only incendiary, but also 66mm HEAT rockets, compatible wit that of M72 LAW lightweight antitank weapon. The M202, however, was issued only with one type of ammunition - the M74 incendiary rockets.
In theory, the M202 was an impressive weapon with significant combat capabilities - it had long range (compared to earlier flamethrowers), it allowed for relatively rapid fire and high maneuverability, its physical and psychological effect on unprotected infantry and military vehicles was significant to say the least. However, it appears that M202 ammunition had some flaws (most probably due to poor quality control or design flaws), which resulted in self-ignition of warheads during loading of the weapon. Not surprisingly, such disastrous events made the M202 less than popular among the troops, and most M202 launchers were put into storage during late 1980s, although some launchers were observed during training of US and allied troops through early 1990s.
It must be noted that M202 made its biggest impact not on the battlefields but rather on cinema screens, when it was featured in the "Commando" movie (1985), starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. In this movie the M202 was used to blow up the police truck and free the Schwarzenegger's character, although in real life this would be the last scene of the action, with main character quickly burned to death inside scorched truck (the M74 rocket generated fire as hot as 1800-2200^oC for several minutes).

The M202 multishot rocket launcher is a four-barreled re-usable smootbore weapon which is loaded with a clip with factory-loaded M74 rockets, pre-loaded into separate aluminum tubes that are assembled together to form a single 4-shot clip. The clip is attached to the rear of the launcher and each loaded tube forms an extension to the barrel. Once clip is loaded and fixed to the weapon, launcher can be fired up to 4 times, with practical rate of fire as high as 1 round per second. Once all rockets are fired, the empty clip is detached and discarded. During storage and transportation the M202 launcher is closed at front and back with two hinged covers, which shall be unlocked and opened before loading and firing. The front cover has a dual-purpose handle, which is used for carrying the launcher in vertical position, and is used as a forward grip in firing position. Firing controls include folding pistol grip under the barrel cluster, and folding collimating sight on the left side of the weapon. 66mm rockets use solid fuel engines, switch-blade type folding stabilizator fins, and a warhead loaded with some 0.6kg of self-igniting triethylaluminum (TEA), a gel-like substance. Since the M202 is a rocket launcher, upon firing it produces a dangerous backblast zone about 15 meters long.

--