Greek Flamethrower

[Pertinax]

The greek fire was used in clay pots throw by various means at the opponent and thru a pipe connected to a pomp like we use today for medicine injection.

It was not an infantry carried weapon and it was not used primerly against infantry.

His main use was in naval war to torch enemy ships and in siege warfare to burn the siege machines of the attackers.

 

It is possible that the recipe came from the Middle East because used petroleum.

 

Hitler decided with Saur at a General Staff meeting that german scientist must rediscover the formula of greek fire to use it against the Allies and that Me 262 jet will be used as a fighter. I think it's funny this mix of old and new military tehnology. This is from the Memories of A. Speer.

 

My implication was as regards the tactical understanding of the weapon , not its actual form or physical deployment, the recent one pack flamethrowers I suggest as a modern reference in terms of disabling/denying tactical initiative to an enemy.

 

http://stronghold.heavengames.com/sc/history/greekfire

this link gives a bit more background and has a nice shot of the Mamluke Fire Games .The key in technological terms is getting a gelatinised petroleum that will stay stable enough to produce a controlled discharge/stable projectile.

[Kosmo]

An accurate descrition of the waepon and it's use. I might add that it was used with great succes against a russian fleet.

The article claims that "... the recipe for this weapon was so closely guarded that within only 50 years of its invention, the knowledge was lost even to the original owners." and I know of the use of the weapon much later.

The secret was not lost until the fall of Constantinopole to the ottomans.