I recall having read that the Germans at one point during the Arnhem operation used flamethrowers during a critical phase of battle. Unfortunately I have not found the part again or maybe I have placed that battle in the wrong time and place. Or can anyone help on this? Thanx!
There were certainly flame-throwing tanks at Arnhem. These were ex-French Char B1/B2 tanks equipped with flamethrowers and renamed Flammpanzer B2(F). They were operated by Pz.Abt.657, Panzer Kompanie 224 and left Ypenberg Airfield on 18th September headed for Oosterbeek. They were first reported by positions of the Border Regiment on September 20th and saw a fair amount of action that day, mainly in the Utrechtseweg area of Oosterbeek. A number of them were knocked out by British anti-tank guns and PIATs. A novelized, but highly vivid account of being on the 'receiving end' of a an atatck by these tanks can be found in 'The Cauldron' by Zeno.
Thanx alot Martin! That one had puzzled me awhile ( so next time I know I´ll just ask the Forums and not stay puzzled!)
60 of the tanks were converted according to this site. Scroll down toward the bottom of the page for information. Most were used in the eastern front. ( I would guess some were used to cook the troops a hot meal. ) http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Lab/1167/eflamm.html
Here are some more pictures and information on a tank game forum. http://forums.filefront.com//showthread.php?t=175679
Whilst looking for something else the other night in my filing system I found a comment from one of the sappers in the schollhouse at the bridge about the fact that two (?) of the half tracks from the Graebner column came to rest close to the school. It was intended to raid them that night for weapons/food etc but the sapper stated that before it got dark they were set on fire by Germans using a flamnethrower.... He of course didnot know who was using it....
