What ammo does a flamethrower use?

[DangerousThing]

As for weight of fuel, gasoline probably weighs a bit less than water, and water weighs about 8 lbs per gallon. Unfortunately that uses up my knowledge on the subject without going to Wikipedia, and I'm not in a mood to be snarked at for doing do.

If you really ant to find out more specific information about flamethrowers start at the Wikipedia article then google for further information.

[lexington]

Originally Posted by DangerousThing

As for weight of fuel, gasoline probably weighs a bit less than water, and water weighs about 8 lbs per gallon. Unfortunately that uses up my knowledge on the subject without going to Wikipedia, and I'm not in a mood to be snarked at for doing do.

6 pounds per gallon, listed in High-Tech (double checked on Wolfram|Alpha).

[Fred Brackin]

Originally Posted by lexington

Each time you fire it must be for a full three seconds.

.

Ah, I meant to answer this one too.

If you read the text descriptions it should be fairly clear that number of bursts is almost always dependent on the ignition arrangements. These are usually a specific number of blank cartridges at the muzzle of the flamethrower.

While this makes the maximum number of ignited bursts fixed I believe the length of each burst to actually be dependent on the user. Note the capacity to launch "cold shots" where fuel is projected without immediate ignition.

[Vehementi]

Ah, thanks.

Do I need to take 2 ready maneuvers between bursts or just when initially activating the flamethrower in combat? The 10x1 shots one seems way better than the 3x3 one, aside from the range.

[Fred Brackin]

Originally Posted by Vehementi

Ah, thanks.

Do I need to take 2 ready maneuvers between bursts or just when initially activating the flamethrower in combat? The 10x1 shots one seems way better than the 3x3 one, aside from the range.

I know of no reason to take ready Maneuvers between burst.

[lexington]

Originally Posted by Fred Brackin

Ah, I meant to answer this one too.

If you read the text descriptions it should be fairly clear that number of bursts is almost always dependent on the ignition arrangements. These are usually a specific number of blank cartridges at the muzzle of the flamethrower.

While this makes the maximum number of ignited bursts fixed I believe the length of each burst to actually be dependent on the user. Note the capacity to launch "cold shots" where fuel is projected without immediate ignition.

I'm fairly certain that the shot length is a mechanical thing. The LPO-50 has three tanks and gets three shots. A number of the German flamethrowers automatically fire the whole tank.

[Fred Brackin]

Originally Posted by lexington

I'm fairly certain that the shot length is a mechanical thing. The LPO-50 has three tanks and gets three shots. A number of the German flamethrowers automatically fire the whole tank.

It probably varies by the individual unit. The Beattie has ROF 5 x 2 but ahs only 2 tanks. Only one of those is for fuel anyway. The other is for the propellant gas.

[Polydamas]

Originally Posted by Anthony

Well, no, it's GURPS Standard $, not RW $, which puts it at around year 2000. The lack of weight/cost information for flamethrower ammunition is certainly a flaw, but I suspect the flamethrower in Basic is based on an M2 (43 lb empty, 68 lb full), which puts a full load at 25 lb and maybe $10, though you might need to make your own.

There are a few other slips like that, such as prices for spare barrels and weights for asbestos barrel-changing gloves. I speculate that the authors couldn't find figures for such odd items, and none of the playtesters complained (I doubt that there ever was a standard retail price for flamethrower fuel, although some shops would have made you an offer between the two world wars).

Originally Posted by lexington

GURPS$ aren't magic. A GURPS$ is worth as much in 2000 as it in in 1700 but, for example, you can buy a lot more aluminum with it in 2000 because the cost of the goods is different.

Do you have any published examples of that? As far as I know, RAW are that there is one list price for each good in all situations, but that the GM should just use them as a guideline. So if a Wristwatch costs G$20 at TL 5, it costs G$100 at TL 8.

[Vehementi]

Any thoughts on reload times? Would these canisters be reloadable or would I be throwing them away on the field and using backup canisters from my vehicle or whatever?

[Fred Brackin]

Originally Posted by Vehementi

Any thoughts on reload times? Would these canisters be reloadable or would I be throwing them away on the field and using backup canisters from my vehicle or whatever?

On the cable show Sons of Guns they met a Marine who won the Medal of Honor in WWII through flamethrower use.

The procedure for attacking pillboxes with a flamethrower was to leopard-crawl into range with the 70 lb unit on your back. Use flamethrower and discard. Leopard-crawl back to friendlies out of line of fire and get new flamethrower.

He went through 6 flamethrowers and 7 pillboxes in one afternoon and that's the sort of thing they give you the extra shiny medals for.

He still thought flamethrowers were really fun to play with when he was 90 too.

Reloading a flamethrower is certainly possible but needs multiple gallons of (potentially thickened) fuel and compressed gas too. It makes more sense to "carry" multiple flamethrowers than to try and reload one under fire. You can carry the reloading stuff in the back of a truck easily enough.