USMC OOB13 (v.7) - flame tanks and misc.

[MarkSheppard]

I've been at the US Naval Academy for a few weekends recently; downloading a lot of digitized microfilmed documents available through USNA's subscriptions to various databases.

Among these subscriptions was a database containing a copy of George C. Marshall's correspondence.

Buried in this correspondence was a letter dated 22 February 1945 to Marshall from ROBERT C. RICHARDSON, Jr., Lieutenant General, U.S. Army concerning tank flamethrowers built in POA.

From:
George C. Marshall WW2 Correspondence on Microfilm
“Richardson, Robert C., 1945 January-1945 February” folder

UNITED STATES ARMY FORCES
PACIFIC OCEAN AREAS
APO 958

THE COMMANDING GENERAL

AG 470.71/80

22 February 1945

General of the Army George C. Marshall,
The Chief of Staff, United States Army,
War Department,
Washington 25, D. C.

Dear General Marshall:

For your information, we have done a great deal of experimentation in this area with mounting flamethrowers in tanks and have succeeded in developing and perfecting a periscope flamethrower which is most effective. The installation of this apparatus in the tanks of the Marines is done under the supervision of this headquarters.

We have also succeeded in developing a hose two hundred feet in length, in sections, so that if the tank is stalled in any terrain the hose can be used to prolong the action of the tank with the flamethrower.

This data is sent merely for your information, as I know how interested you are in the new developments.

Very sincerely,

/S/
ROBERT C. RICHARDSON, Jr.,
Lieutenant General, U.S. Army,
Commanding.

Incl:
(1) Summary of Mechanized Flamethrowers Built in POA, with photographs

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Summary of Mechanized Flamethrowers
Built in POA

Type
No. Built
Built for.

Ronson flamethrower mounted in light tank, M3 (Satan).
1
Pilot Model.

Ronson flamethrower mounted in light tank, M3A1.
24
2nd and 4th Mar. Divs.

Ronson flamethrower mounted in LVT(A)1.
1
XXIV Corps.

Ronson flamethrower mounted in light tank, M3A1
9
XXIV Corps.

POA-CWS-H1 flamethrower in M4 tank.
2
Pilot models.

POA-CWS-H1 flamethrower in M4A3 tank.
8
4th and 5th Mar. Divs.

POA-CWS-H1 flamethrower in M4 tank.
54
10th Army.

POA-CWS-H1 flamethrower demonstration model
1
For flamethrower schools.

Total main armament flamethrowers built in POA
100

On Order by Fleet Marine Forces Pacific
64

Periscope mount flamethrowers for 10th Army.
176

Attached to the letter were several photographs which reproduced reasonably well; I'm including the ones of most interest.