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BreathOftheDragonbyRagnarBenson

ScannedandeditedbySwedishInfomania.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------Contents:

Chapter1:IntroductionChapter2:HistoryofFlamethrowersChapter3:ConstructionofaFlamethrowerChapter4:ManufacturingofNapalm

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-INTRODUCTION-

Paramilitarysurvivorsandotherswhohaveseriouslycontemplatedtheircircumstancesrealizetheyneedapowerfulweapontodealwitharmoredpoliceand/ormilitaryvehicles,includingtanksandarmoredpersonnelcarriers(APCs).Survivorsalsoknowthattheymightneedameansbywhichtoholdoffalargenumberofhostilepeople.

Topreparefortheseandothersurvivalscenarios,somehaveacquiredsuperaccuratesniperrifles,homemademortars,automaticweapons,exoticexplosives,orMolotovcocktails.Unfortunately,theseweaponsaren'teffectiveagainstextensivefirepowerand/ormilitary-typepolicehardware.Mosttraditionaldefenseshaveseverelimitations.Sniperrifles,nomatterhowwellhandled,aretotallyineffectiveagainstbuttoneduparmor.Highexplosivesaredangerous,usuallyillegal,andrequireconsiderableskilltodeploybecausetheyareperishableandmustbestoredforanindeterminateperiodoftimeagainstthedayofneed.Manyofthemosthighlydesirabledevicesarealsohighlyillegal.Legality-orthelackthereof-maynotbethedeterminingfactorforhard-coreparamilitarists,butundersomecircumstances,itcouldbea

consideration.Certainlysomesortofdestructive-deviceorweaponsordinanceprohibitingpossessionofflamethrowerscouldbedredgedupinplacessuchasCaliforniaorNewYork.Inmostplaces,however,onecansafelyassumethattheBureauofAlcohol,Tobacco,andFirearms(BATF)boyswillnotbelookingforflamethrowers.Military-gradeflamethrowerscanbebuiltandoperatedlegallybyvirtuallyanyonewillingtoinvestthetimeandsweat.Unlikeexplosivesrequiringspecialtraining,flamethrowerscanbeusedbyanyonewhocanoperateagardenhoseandwilltakeafewweekendstopractice.Forthosewillingtoscroungeandimprovise,thecostcanbeheldtoanextremelymodestamount.Sothereisnoreasonforanysurvivorwhomightonedayfaceotherwiseoverwhelmingsituationsnottohaveaflamethrower.Ininner-citylocations,theownerofaflamethrowerwouldalmostcertainly

dominatehissurroundings.Anysurvivalbunkerorretreatwouldbeimpregnablewhendefendedbyadeterminedownerwithagoodflamethrowerandamodestsupplyofeasilyacquiredfuel.Imagineasmallarmyofpolice,armedtotheteeth,pullingupinbulletproofcruisers.Confidentlyandarrogantly,theyconfrontwhattheysupposeisahaplessvictim,tremblinginhisretreat.Crouchingbehindtheirvehicles,theydelivertheirultimatum:surrenderorbeblastedtooblivion.Usinghishomemadedragon,thesurvivorsilentlyproceedstoslimehisattackers,theircruisers,andthegroundaroundthemwithunlit

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napalm.Thedefenderdoesn'tignitethenapalminordertolimithisownexposuretotheextremelyvolatilechemical(itishopedthatnoneoftheinvadersweresmokingastheywerebeingsprayed).Outside,hisopponentsfindthattheyareunabletowipetheslimefromtheirclothingorskin.Asanaddedprecaution-dependingontheprevailingwinds,theintensityofthethreat,andtheamountoffuelavailable-thesurvivormaylaydownanapalmbarrierbetweenhispositionandtheattackers.jellednapalm,asdeliveredfromtheflamethrower,willremaininanextremelydangerousformforaperiodofdays.Insomecases,itsvolatilitymayremainaweekormore.Rainwilleventuallywashthesubstanceaway,butcertainlynotimmediately.Iftheyhavealickofsense,theopposition(despitetheirfirepowerandhardware)willrecognizetheirextremelyexposedposition.Theywilllikelydeducethatthesurvivorcouldeasilyfireaflareintothenapalm,instantaneouslywipingoutthewholewarparty.Switchingontheburnerandgivingthemanothershotofignitedmaterialwouldsettletheissueratherresolutely,destroyingthearmedforceandmostoftheirequipment.Thisuseoftheflamethrowerisstrictlydefensive,usefulfromset(andoftenhidden)positions.Theflamethrowercanbequitenoisy,causingsurvivorstoworrythatitslocation(andtheirs)mightberevealed,butthemachinecanbemuffledandmadetorunalmostsilently.Forpeoplewhowantmoreportabilityoutoftheirweaponsfordefensiveandoffensiveusewhileonthemove,flamethrowerscanbescaleddowneasilyandquicklytoallowadditionalmobility.Modelsdescribedinthisbook,

eventhesmallerportablemodels,havegreatrangewhenusedwithheavilythickenedfuel.Thebasicdifferenceisthatportableunitswillnotdeliverthelargevolumeofconflagrationthatalargersemistationarymodelwill.Agoodcompromisewouldbetomountamedium-sizeddragononanall-terrainvehicle,providingfirepower,mobility,andversatility.Withtheelementofsurpriseassured,oneshouldnotunderestimatetheeffectivedeploymentofthisdevicefromawell-chosendefensiveposition.Therangeofraw,unlit,thickenednapalm,whenthrownintoacalmenvironment,willbe150feetormoredependingonone'sposition.Ifthewindiscooperating,theresultscouldbequitedynamic.Theoretically,adefendercouldneutralizeahostilegroupatadistanceofacoupleofcityblocksormore.Oncehavingcoatedtheenemyand/orestablishedanapalmed

perimeter,oneneeddolittlemorethansitbackandwaitfordevelopments.Itmayevenbeappropriatetodetonatethenapalmfromanotherpositionshouldtheattackerspersistintheirhostilebehavior.Iftheauthoritiesweretobringupanarmoredvehicle,thedefendersmightelecttofryitwithoutfurtherdelaybeforetheattackersunderstandwhattheyface.Unlessoneexpectstodefendagainstplanes,helicopters,and/ormortars,aflamethrowerofferstheultimateinretreatprotectionagainstgroundattack.Asanaddedbonus,flamethrowersarelegal,relativelyeasytobuild,reasonablyinexpensive,andusecommon,inexpensivefuels.

-HISTORYOFFLAMETHROWERS-

Lightrainmistedoverthesparsetrees,bushes,andgrassthat

remainedaftersixtydaysofheavyartillerybombardment.GermantroopscommandedbytheDukeofWrttembergwerescheduledtochargeoutoftheirmuddycesspooltrenchesatfirstlightandtaketheChateaudeHoogefromtheBritish.Twounsuccessfulattemptsandtheunseasonablywetweather-whichhadturnedthegroundalongtheMeninRoadthreemileseastofYpresinBelgianFlandersintothin,runny,gruel-likemud-haddampenedtheGermans'optimism.Conditionsonthatgray,drizzlymorningofJuly30,1915,leftevenpoetsandhistoriansgropingforwordstodescribethehorror.Menwerebeingchokedbypoisongasorpoundedtoprotoplasmatacollectiverateofmorethan11,000perday.Atonepoint,aBritishattack

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penetratedfourmilesalonganine-milefront,withonly18,000killedorwounded,leadingcommentatorstoassertthattheactionwasagoodone,characterizedby"acceptablylightcasualties."Startingat3:00A.M.GermanartilleryfiresaturatedBritishlines,commandedbythepopularbutstoicallymethodicalBritishGeneral,SirHerbertPlumer.Rounds,includingsomenewlydevelopedflammableprojectiles,fellatasteadyrateoftwentyormoreperminute.AsontheirtwopreviousattemptstocapturetheHoogeonJuly21and24,theGermansalsousedcopiousnumbersofgasroundsandlargecylindersofcompressedgasreleasedfromtheirpositionsintothelightwesterlywind.DeadlyfumeswaftedtowardtheBritishlines.Atonepointtheygeneratedacloudofdeathfivemileslongandmorethanfortyfeetdeep.Ayearearlier,thisactionwouldhavedecidedthebattleimmediately,butthatmorningtheBritishdonnedtheirnewlyissuedrubberizedponchos,hoods,andbreathingmasks.Althoughcrude,thesedeviceshadenabledBritishdefendersduringthepastweektogundownGermaninfantrymenastheyfollowedthegascloudintono-man'sland.ThoughtheBritishwereequippedforpoisongas,theysawsomethingnewthatdayforwhichtheywereunprepared.Betweenfiftyandonehundred"flameprojectors,"astheywerecalledatthetime,hadarrivedattheGermanlinestheweekbefore.Asissooftenthecase,Germancommandersanxioustocapitalizeonanytinyadvantagerushedtheuntriedweaponsintothehandsofuntrainedmenwhocarnedthemtothefrontinanindecisivemanner.Similarly,theBritishrushedintoactionwiththeirtanks,the

Americanswiththeirsquadautomaticweapons,theFrenchwiththeirfighterplanes.Thefirstflameprojectorsconsistedofbulkybrasscylinderscapableofcarryingaboutsixgallonsoffuelandaleather-gasketedpumpthatcreatedtwenty-fivetothirtypoundsofpressurepersquareinch(psi).TheGermanslackedtheabilitytothickenthefuel,sorangewaslimitedtoaboutfortyyardsunderidealconditions.Thefuelwasamixtureoflampoilandgasoline,withperhapsasmallpercentageofpitch(contrarytoBritishspeculationthatthefuelwasacoal-tarproduct).Itwasignitedbyacrudeoil-soakedcottonwickthatfunctionedasthepilotlightforthesprayernozzle.Asaresultofthethinfuelandtherelativelyweakpumppressures,rangesweresuchthattheuserhadtochargerightuptothelipoftheenemy'strackbeforethedevicehadthe

slightesteffect.Theburningwickexposedtheusertotheenemy,andshortlydefendersknewwhattoguardagainst.Theflamethrowershadotherflawsaswell.Simpletankswerefastenedtoacruderackthatwasinturnstrappedtotheuser,creatingweightandbalanceproblemsforthesoldier.Severelylimitingitsusefulnesswasthefactthattheusercouldexpectaboutfiveshotsbeforeemptyingthereservoirs.Iftheflamingwickdidn'tattractfatalfire,thehaplesssoldierfoundhehadatbestaminuteortwoofcombateffectivenessbeforerunningoutoffuel.Inthatregard,flamethrowerswerenotparticularlyeffectiveweapons,buttheirpresencethatday-alongwithnapalmartilleryrounds,whichweremixedwithhighexplosivesandgascanistersandusedforthefirsttimeinmodernwarfaresosurprisedtheBritishthattheysurrenderedtheirforwardpositions(althoughtheuseof

napalmwasamajortacticalleap,manyofthedetailswentunnotedorhavebeenlostwithtime).HistoricalaccountsnotedthattheBritishsufferedabout2,000killed,wounded,orcapturedthatmorning.Thethree-tieredorganizationbybotharmiesprecludedavictorybyeitherside.Anattackingforcequicklyoverranitscommunicationslinebeforereachingthethirdsystemoftrenches.Advancingtroopssometimeswereshelledbytheirownartillery;or,atbest,theywerewereforcedtowaitwhiletheenemyrepairedthebreech.Althoughthefirstuseofflamethrowerswashistoricallyindecisive,theeventwasbrieflynotedbyseveralwriters.Morethan

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seventyfiveyearslater,mosthistoriansknowtheeventattheHoogeoccurredbuthavenoideaexact?ywhenandunderwhatconditions.Thefactthatflamethrowersareanoffensiveweapon,valuableonlyinaset-pieceurbanwar,seemstohavebeenoverlookedbymilitarycommentators.VirtuallynoadditionalmentionofflamethrowerscanbefounduntilwellintoWorldWarII.RussiansoldiersusedtheminFinlandwithoutavertingthedisasterthatFinlandwastobecome.AgainsttheU.S.S.R.inEurope,theGermansdesignedmoreeffectiveflamethrowersforurbanuse.TheyalsousedthemtoflushFrench,British,Czech,andBelgiantroopsoutoftheirbunkers.BritishdefendersinstalledvastnetworksofflamethrowersalongtheirchannelcoaststothwartNaziinvasions.GiventheexperiencesinEuropeandtheperceivedneedintheSouthPacific,U.S.tacticiansreasonedthatman-carriedflamethrowerswouldbeidealtoclearjapanesebunkers.Buttheysoonrealizeditwasnotpossibletoprojectunthickenedgasoline,motoroil,orcoaloilanyappreciabledistance.Latein1942,theU.S.ChemicalWarfareServicecontractedwiththeStandardOilDevelopmentCompanyormateriastatcouemixeinthefieldwithcommonpetroleumproductstoproucenapam.StandardOilwasabletoquicklyproduceamaterialthat:"...throwsacohesiverodoffirewithsuchaccuracythatitcanbedirectedintoatwo-inchbunkerslitsixtyyardsaway.Thejet,travelingatnearlytwomilesaminute,doesnotbillowoutbutstrikesitstargetasasolid,glowingstream,thensplattersandstickstoanyobject,blazingwithterrificheatthatdestroysgunsandalllifewithinapillbox."

ThethickeningagentsdevelopedbyStandardOilweresimplymixturesofaluminumandsoap,buttheyweretreatedascloselyguardedmilitarysecrets.Militaryplannerswerenotabouttocompromisewhattheythoughtwasasignificantmilitarybreakthroughwithloosetalk.Asaresult,theAmericansdevelopedthemodelM1-A1flamethrower.SomeofthesemodelsarestillseeninThirdWorldarsenalsaroundtheworld.TheM1-A1hadtwoseparatefuelcellscontainingaboutfourgallonsofnapalmwhenfullycharged.Useoftwosmallerfueltanksratherthanonebigonegavetheuseralower,lighter,morebalancedprofile.Tothesetwotanks,developersmountedathirdsmallertankcontainingmassivelycompressedairtoprovidepropulsion.Intheory,thecompressedairpropellantlastedaslongasthecontentsofthefueltankswithoutdiminishedperformance.(Atonetime,itwasthoughtthatnapalmhadtobe

propelledwithinertnitrogengas,whichfurtherlimitedtheuseofflamethrowers.Mostmodernmodelsaredesignedtouseregularcompressedair.)Specialelectricallyfiredblankflashcartridgesignitedthenapalm.Atbest,theM1-A1flame-throwercouldproducesevenone-secondblasts.OnMundaairfieldintheSouthPacific,U.S.Marinesdestroyedsixty-sevenJapanesebunkersusingflamethrowers.Mostofthesebunkershadalreadywithstoodprotractedshelling,includingdirecthitsfromfighterbombers.Byrollinginsmokegrenadesanddeployingsmokepotsupwindofthebunker,marine"hotfoot"units,astheywerecalled,couldgetcloseenoughtosplashnapalmthroughthecracksinthebunkers,killingorroutingtheoccupants.Meanwhile,ontheEuropeanfront,theBritishdevelopeda

forty-one-ton,armored,self-propelledflamethrowertheydubbedthe"crocodile."Reportedly,thecrocodilehadanaccuraterangeof450feet.TheAlliesdeployedafewinEuropeagainstfixedpositions,andU.S.forcesmadelimiteduseofthemintheSouthPacific.SomewhatimprovedU.S.flamethrowerssawactionagaininKoreaandVietnam.Asatoolforburningvillagesandflushingouttunnels,theyfilledavaluablenicheforU.S.servicemen.However,bytheendoftheVietnamWar,thehandwritingwasonthewall.Small,easilyportablewhitephosphorousandmagnesiumgrenadeswereprovingtobesuperiortotheinconvenienceoftheflamethrower'sclumsytanksracks,andhose.

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Today,theU.S.military'sinventoryofflamethrowersisdecreasing.Flamethrowersareanidealurbanweapon,butfewmilitaryplannersenvisionawarfoughtincitiesandtowns.ContingencyplanscallforbypassingcitiesorblowingthemoffthefaceoftheEarth.Atthebattalionlevel,thearmorermayhaveoneortwoamonghisstores,butthemilitaryreliesprimarilyonmodernexplosives.Onlyrarelydosoldiersreceivetrainingontheuseofflamethrowers.ObsoleteU.S.militarymodelsthatonemayencounteraroundtheworldincludetheM2-A1-7ortheABC-M9-7.Botharebasicallythree-tank,four-gallonmodels,litbyelectricallyfiredignitioncartridges.Bothweighabouttwenty-onekilos,orforty-sixpounds.U.S.trainingmanualsoftenshowedusersdeployingtheirdragonsfrombehindanobstacle,whilethetanksweresettotheside.(Undoubtedly,thisisthepositionpreferredbysurvivors.)TheM9-E1-7istheonlymodelconsideredtobecurrentintheU.S.armedforcestoday.Basically,thismodelismuchlikeitspredecessors.Filled,itweighsaboutforty-sixpounds;maximumrangewithproperlythickenedfuelisforty-fivetofiftymeters.Allmod-elshavethreetanks,cartridgeignition,andapackrackforsoldiers.Usefullifeofthefuelincombatisfromfivetosevenseconds.Sovietflamethrowersemployasomewhatdifferentmodeofoperation.TheLPO-50istheflamethrowercurrentlyinuseamongWarsawPactarmies.TheLPO-50consistsofathreetankunitwithmanifold.Eachtankcontainsanelectricallyfiredpressurizingcartridgethat,whenfired,providesthepropellantnecessarytoprojectthenapalmfromthegun.Individualtanks

containaboutonegallonoffuel,enoughforasingletwo-tothree-secondburst.Effectiveoperatingdistanceissaidtobeaboutfortymeters.Asecondandthirdburstareaccomplishedbymovingaselectionleveronthegun.TheSovietflamethrowerweighsaboutforty-sixpounds.Threeelectricallyfiredignitioncartridgesprovidetraditionallighting.Inapurelymilitarysituation,theflamethroweroperatormaynotwishtoriskhavinghispositionrevealedbythepilotlightflame.Soldiersarealsonotusuallyinthepositionofwantingtocoattheiropponentswithnapalmbeforegivingthemtheoptionofretreating,frying,orsurrendering.Inaparamilitarycontext,however,apropanepilotlightcanbesimpleranddoesoffertheflexibilityofignitingthenapalmlater.MostexpertsagreethateithertheItaliansortheBrazilians,dependingonone'spointofview,currentlymanufacturetheworld'smost

advancedflamethrower.Botharecapableofseventy-meter(215feet)ranges.TheLC-T1-M1Brazilianmodelhasthreetanksandweighsthirty-fivekilosfullycharged.Itsoutstandingfeatureisanelectronicignitionsystempoweredbyeightstandard1.5-voltdrycells.Reportedly,afreshsetofbatterieswilllightonethousandshotsbeforegoingdead.Ontheaverage,usersexpectfivetosevensecondsofactualoperationbeforethefuelisexpended.ThemodelT-148/AItalianflamethroweralsohasanelectronicignition,anditsmanufacturerclaimsitwillfunctionsatisfactorilyunderwater!Thismaybeofvalueonrainyorsnowydays.TheItalianmodel'sadvancedtankdesigngivesitthesamebasicfuelloadasmostothermodels,butwithatotalweight(filled)ofonlytwenty-fiveandone-halfkilograms-asopposedtomostothermodelsweighinginataroundthirty-five

kilos.Problemsinherentinthemilitaryapplicationofflamethrowersareavailabilityofproperchemicals,areadysourceoffuel,anddifficult-to-maintaincompressingequipment-areeitheralleviatedbycivilianmodelsornotasserioustosurvivorswhohavebetteraccesstochemicalsandfuelandaren'tasmobileasanarmyonthemove.Civilianparamilitarymodelsusesmallerenginesandpumpsinsteadofhigh-pressuretanksandaregenerallysimplerandmoreeffectivethantherugged,morereliablethree-tankmilitarymodels.Lightercivilianmodelscanusethickernapalm,whichallowsgreaterthrowingdistance.Mostimportant,the

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civilianunitcanbedeployedandfield-servedwithoutlargeamountsofsophisticatedsupportequipment.Thosewhoarenotsatisfiedwiththepilot-lightignitionstandardoncivilianmodelsandwhoareelectronicallyadeptmaywishtodesignandconstructasparkingsystemfortheirhomebuiltdragons.Fortheforeseeablefuture,flamethrowerswillbewithatleastsomeelementsoftheworld'sarmies.And,aswastrueinthecaseoftheU.S.MarinesatMunda,flamethrowersmayprovideexactlythesamedeterrentforcivilianswantingtoprotecttheirurbansafehavens.Buildersofflamethrowersshouldkeepseveralbasicguidelinesinmindthroughouttheprocessofconstructionanduse.Chiefamongtheseisthefactthatflamethrowers-especiallythesmaller,portable,expedientmodelscanbeverydangerous.Largercommercialmodels(asrecommendedanddescribedinthischapter)includeanumberofdesignfeaturesthatmakethemrelativelysafetoownandoperate.Amateurassemblersshouldkeepthesesafetyfeaturesinmindastheyalterormodifytheirownweaponstoaccommodatesurplusorscroungedcomponents.Glswhoareassignedtoflamethrowerdutydonotconsideritparticularlydesirableorevenrational.Handlingoneisintrinsicallydirly,disagreeable,anddangerous.Theyconsiderflamethrowerstobeweaponsoflastresort,usefulwhennothingelseisathandtodothejob.Makerswhowantaflamethrowerforcommercialapplications-includingstartingfires,disinfectingbuildings,destroyingtrashandrefuse,orjustcleaningup-shouldinallcaseschoosethemore

durable,conservativemodel.Thosewhowantaninexpensiveversionprincipallytouseinanemergencytodefendtheirretreatcouldoptforasimplerdesign.Flamethrowers,whenviewedasacollectionoftheirparts,areextremelysimple.Theyconsistofthefollowingcomponents:

1.Pumpneededtopropelthethickenedpetroleum.Thispumpaddscostandweighttothepackagebutgivesthemachinegreaterutilityovermanymilitarymodels,makingitmorevaluabletosurvivors.

2.Anengine,pressuretank,orotherdeviceusedtopowerthepump.Militarymodelsuseheavy,cumbersomepressuretanks.Expedientor

commercialmodelsworkbestwithasmalltwo-cycleengine.Miniaturizationofthesepowerplantsinrecentyearshasmadeitpossibletodevelopevensmallerflamethrowers.

3.Spraynozzleorgunthatdispersesthenapalm,allowingtheusertopropelthenapalmoutontothetarget.Forsafetyandaccuracy,thegunmustincludeaforwardhandgrip.

4.Lightingmechanismusedtoflamethenapalmafteritleavesthehand-heldgun.

5.High-pressurehosesnecessarytotransportthethickenedhydrocarbonsfromtanktopumptogun.

6.Pressurevalvetoallowthepumptorecirculatethenapalmbackintothestoragetankwhenthepumppressureisnotrelievedbypullingtheguntrigger.Somebuildersmaywanttoincludeapressuregaugesothattheycanknowpreciselywhatthesystemisdoing.

7.Napalmfuelstoragetank.Toamajorextent,thiscomponentisthelimitingfactorofanyflamethrowerdesign.Ideally,thetankshouldbeaslargeaspossibletoprovideasmanyshotsaspossible.However,weightandmaneuverabilityconsiderationsprecludeanythingmuchgreater

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Connectingthepumptotheengineisprobablythetrickiestprocedureinvolvedinassemblingthevariouspartsofaflamethrower.TriedandtruesafercommercialmodelsuseanEvercoA8433electricallyengagedclutch.Theseclutchesarecumbersome,heavy,andexpensive.Ifpurchased,successfuloperationrequiresthattheseunitshaveawet-cellbatterywiredinasapermanentfixture.AnA8433clutchcanbescroungedfromanoldFordautomobileairconditionersystem.Theyareusedinconjunctionwithamicroswitchwiredintotheguntriggersothatthehosesvarryingthevoilatilenapalmarenotunderconstantpressure.Pullingthetriggerkicksintheclutch,puttingtheengineunderloadasthepumppushesthesnottynapalmdownthehose.Onsmaller,moreexpedientmodelsthemakermayelecttorunthehosesunderconstantpressure.Allhosesmustbethehigh-pressuretype,doublefastenedatallconnections.Makersshouldalsoinstallagoodpressure-releasevalvethatwillallowexcessnapalmtoberecycledbackintothestoragetank.Thisrecyclingprocesspreventstheuserfromhavingtomixthenapalminaseparatecontainerandthenemptyitbackintotheflamethrowertank.Mostgear-typepumpsrequireabout2,000revolutionsperminute(rpm)toperformsatisfactorilyatfullpressure,withsomethingapproachingfulldeliverypotential.Newcommercialenginesrunwideopenatabout3,600rpm.Thiswouldsuggestthatadirect-drivesystemavoidingheavypulleysandbeltswouldnotbefeasible.However,inactualracticemostpumpswillaccommodatehigherrpm,whilesmallerenginesunderload

seldomrunatafull3,600rpm.Italldependsontheengineandthepump.Builderswillfindthattheymustfieldengineertheirspecificpumpsandenginestoachievethebestresults.Theoretically,enginesrunningat3,600rpmthataregearedorbeltedback50percentto1,800rpmhavetwicethetorqueandwouldbeexpectedtoperformmoresuitably.Inactualpractice,thisisnotalwaystrue.Somesurpluschain-sawenginesrunfasterthan3,600rpmandabsolutelymustbegearedbacktobeeffective.BeforeIsetupabeltandpulleysystemorpurchasedanexpensivereductioncoupling,Iwouldtryasimplecollar,hookinguppumpandmotorface-to-face.Thissimple,cheapapproachispreferableunlessthesurvivor'sneedsrequirethesafer,moreconservativemodel,necessitatingtheuseofanelectricallyengagedclutch.Oncethepumpandenginearematched,theunitmustbeboltedtoa

smallaluminum-anglecarryingrack.Iusefour1-1/2-inchaluminumangles.Sincemostsurvivorscannotweldaluminumangle,thepiecesmustbecuttosize,drilled,andthenboltedtogether.Aluminumangleisidealbecauseofitsweight,easeofhandling,andnonsparkingnature.Asageneralrule,pumpsusedforflamethrowerswillbeengineeredwith1/2-inchpipeintakeandoutputports.Securelythreada2-inchblackpipenippleintotheoutputport.Ontothisnipple,securelythreadacommonblack1/2tee.Allpipefittingsmustbeinexcellentcondition.Intoonesideofthetee,threadeitherapresetoradjustablereliefvalve.Setthereliefvalveat100poundsofpressureoruseapresetversionofthatstrength.Pastexperienceindicatesthat100psiisaboutmaximumforaflamethrower.At125psiwestarttolosedistanceandefficiency,whilebelow90psiperformancedropsdramatically.Asthe

enginebuildspressureinthesystem,thevalvewillopen,allowingthenapalmtocyclethroughthetank.Commercialmodelsareconstructedwithpermanentballvalvesbuiltintothesystemthat,whenopenedorclosed,allowthematerialtobecycledtothetank,thegun,orinsomecasesanexternaltank,suchasthoseusedonhelicopters.Throughoutthesystemyoushouldusehigh-pressuresprayhosedesignedforagriculturaluse,includingpetroleumproducts.Designworkingpressureshouldbe600psiormore.Thishoseiscommonlyavailableatfull-servicefarmorautomotivesupplyhouses.Supplierswillpressonappropriatefittingstothespecificationofthebuilder.Itispossibleto

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obtainthree-eighths-inchinsidediameterhoseforuseoverone-fourth-inchpipefittingorthree-fourths-inchpipeoverone-half-inchnipples,buttheserequiredoublehoseclampsandarenotassecureaspressedfactoryfittings.Usethelargestinsidediameterhoseavailable.Donotsettleforanythinglessthanone-fourth-inch.Onlargermodels,thethree-fourths-inchhoseisexpensivetobuyandcumbersometouse,butonsmaller,expedientmodelswherehoselengthsarelimited,thisprice/utilityproblemseemsminimal.Three-fourths-inchhosedeliversmorenapalmandfitstightlyoveraonehalf-inchpipenipple,makingitthehoseofchoiceifthebuildercanworkitout.Storagetanksdon'tposeassevereaproblemasonemightinitiallythink.Mylargecommercialunitusesa135-gallontankmadefromweldedaluminumsheet.Otherunitsuse55-gallonsurpluspolybarrelswithmovablehoses.Foronesmallportableunit,wescroungeda12-gallonpolytankfromanorchardsprayer.Sincethetanksaren'tpressurized,theymustmeetonlyonespeciflccriterion:theymustbenonsparking.Polyandfiberglasstanksareespeciallyeasytoworkwithsincemostcomewithsecurecapsandcanbeeasilyfittedwithsuction(onthebottom)anddischarge(inthetopside)fittingsusingepoxyand/orfiberglasskits.Evencommontap-and-diefittingscanbeplacedonapolytankaslongasthetankwillnotbesubjectedtodestructivepressures.FromthesecondT-outletonthepump,runanappropriatelengthofpressurehosetothegun.Theoutletteeonthepumpnowhasonehose

runningtothebackofthetankthroughthereliefvalveandanothertothegun.Commercialsemistationarymodelsaregenerallybuiltwithfifty-footgunhosessothattheusercanwalkaround.Onbackpackmodels,fourfeetofdischargehosemaybeadequate,butalongerhoseofuptotwenty-fivefeetismorepracticalsothattheusercansettheunitdown,pullthestartingcordtoignitetheengine,andthencrawlaroundrelativelyunencumberedwiththeflametrowergun.Whenconnectingsuctionhosesfromthebottomofthetanktothepumpintake,inspectcarefullytomakecertainthatallconnectionsaresecure.Findingandassemblingahigh-pressuregunisthelasttaskfacingthedeterminedparamilitarist.Oncethisisdone,theusercanbereasonablyconfidentthathecandefendhisretreatagainstheavy-dutyhardware.

Mostfull-servicefarmsupplystoreswillcarryanumberofhigh-pressuresprayguns.Askforamodelthatwillhandlehighlyviscouspetroleumproducts.Thegunshouldacceptaneighteen-totwentyfour-inchbarrelextension.Thenozzleshouldbecapableofhandlingatleasttwoandone-halfgallonsperminuteat500psi.Thesepressureandvolumerequirementsmayseemexcessive,buttheydoallowforsomemarginoferrorwhenhandlingfairlydangerousmaterials.Ifpossible,useagunwithadrop-forgedbrassbodywithpositivenondriptriggeraction.Thegunmustacceptatwenty-four-inchbarrelextension.Usingaflamethrowerwithoutanextra-longbarreltokeepthedischargeawayfromtheuserisfoolishanddangerous.Thebarrelextensionalsoprovidesaplacetomountaforwardhandgripfortheusertoholdonto,aswellasamountingplaneforthepilot-lightassembly.Theforward

handgripshouldbemountedatacomfortableplaceonthebarrelusingU-boltsofhoseclamps.Settingupone'shosestoadequatelyandsafelyattachtothegun,aswellasfittingtheunitwithappropriatenozzles,canbecomeanexpensive,time-consumingexercise.Tofindthecorrectnozzlesforaspecificgun,theonlymethodseemstobetrialanderror.Everyhigh-pressuregunmakerseemstohavehisownsetofnozzlesandnozzlecodes.Attimes,Ihavehadtocallthedistributororfactorytogetappropriatenumbers,whichcauseslongandexasperatingdelays.Commercialmodelsthathaveabatteryasanintegralpartofthe

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assemblyaredrilledandtappedsothatamicroswitchcanbeplacedinthetriggermechanismofthegun(suitableswitchesareavailablefromRadioShackorotherelectronicsstores).Pullingthetriggeralsoengagestheelectricclutchbetweenthepumpandengine.Electriclinesfromthebatterytotheclutchmustberunupthehose,addingmarginallytothetotalweight.Pressingtheswitchresultsinamomentarypauseasthesystembuildsenoughpressuretoexpelnapalmoveritsdesigndistance.Beforeinstallingthepilotlight,beabsolutelysurethemachinewilloperatereliablywithoutleaksorspills.Extracaretakenintheassemblingandmountingofthepilotlightwilleliminateorminimizeproblemsthatmightotherwisearise.Onetricktorememberinmountingthepilotlightistopositiontheflameatleastfourinchesawayfromthedischargeportonthegun.Thisalmostalwaysentailsusingapieceofcopperpipetoextendtheflametoitscorrectposition.Useacommonpropanecylinderfittedwithanextra-longnozzleassembly.Hose-clampthepropercylinderinabalanced,easy-to-usepositionbackonthegun-extensionpipe.Keepthetankatleasttwelveinchestotherearofthedischargenozzle.Runthepieceofcopperextensionfromthecylinderregulatoruppasttheendofthegun.Aimtheflamedownatatwenty-degreeanglethroughthestreamofnapalm.Turnthecylinderonandadjusttheflamesothatitisbrightandvigorous.Userswilldiscoverthatittakesseveralfour-hundred-gramcylinderstokeeptheirdragonsrunningforanylengthoftime.Gasconsumptioncanbecutbyturningtheflamedownsothatitisbarely

visiblewhennotactuallyinuse.However,thewiseuserwillplanforrapiddepletionofhisLPgassupplyandhaveextracanistersavailable.Afterconfirmingthattheengineandpumpareproperlymatched,thenextstepistomixthenapalmanddoatrialrun.Successfullymixingnapalmismuchmoredifficultthanonemightexpect,especiallywhenthepropercommercialchemicalsareunavailable.(Sincethequalityofthefuelistheprincipaldeterminantoftheflamethrower'seffectiveness,thenextchapterisonfuelmixingprocedures.)Bywhatevermeans,makecertainthatyouhavethoroughlytestedthepumpandengineasanapalmslimerbeforeeventhinkingaboutturningontheburner.Checkforleaksorspillsanyplaceonthedevice.Ifanyfittingsshowsignsofleaking,donoteconomizeonparts.Removethedefectivepartsandstartanew.Asanaddedprecaution,Iwouldrecommend

settingbackpackflamethrowersonthegroundbeforedeploying,unlessanemergencydictatesotherwise.Pricesmayvaryabitfromplacetoplace,butwhenassernblingadragon,thefollowingbudgetshouldbeclose,althoughperhapsabitonthehighside:

12-HPelectric-startgasengine$400High-pressurebronzegearpump100Gunfittedwithelectricpressureswitch100Electricclutchassembly150Industrialgradehose(50feet)65Surpluspolytank(55gallon)25Aluminumhamematerial15

Battery50Fittingsandwire25--------------------------------------------Total$930

Addanother$20ifanewpackframeforaman-portableunitisneeded.Totalpricewouldstillbewellunder$1,000,asmallpricetopayforsomethingthatwouldeasilytakeoutanarmoredcar.Peoplewhoenjoyputteringaroundwithdevicesofthissortcanusuallypickupalloftheessentialcomponentsatgreatlyreducedprices.

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Usingasurpluschain-sawengineandfarmchemicalpumpwillusuallykeepthepriceunder$500.Atoneme,Ievenfoundanadequategunamongsomeoldfarmsuppliesthatwasfittedwithabarrelextension,pressureswitch,andnewnozzleforuseonaportableunit.Theonlyusedcomponentsyoushouldavoidarehigh-pressurehosesandpressure-reliefvalves.Althoughnovicebuildersgenerallyoverestimatetheamountofmoneyneededtomakeaflamethrower,theygenerallyunderestimatetheamountoftimeneededtoscroungeandconstructtheirfirstunit.Assumingonehasaccesstoawell-suppliedagricultureorautosupplystore(andalotofcash),agoodestimateisaboutonesolidweekthefirsttimethrough,usingallnewparts.Itseemslikeathousandyearsago,butIcanvividlyrecallasakidcrouchingnexttoathree-gallonlardcanhalf-filledwithgasolinethatIwasheatingonasmallcampstove.IwastryingtomakenapalmfollowinginstructionsfromanoldWorldWarIIOfficeofStrategicServices(OSS)operationsmanual.Theincidentoccurredsolongagothatmostofthedetailsareblurred.Forinstance,Idon'trememberexactlywhyIwastryingtomakenapalm.IdorememberthatIhadnopracticaluseforit;wedidn'townaflamethrower,andIhadnoideahowtoconstructone.Onethingisverycleartome,however.EventhoughIwasoperatingupwindofasteadybreeze,Iremembermysixthsensekepttellingmethiswasreallyaverydangerous,dumbthingtodo.EverytimeIputthecanonthefire,thegasolinestartedboilingfuriously.Carefullyandmeticulously,Ishavedmicroscopicallythin

sliversfromabarof99-percentpureIvorysoapintotheboilinggasoline.Eventually,mostofthegasolineboiledawayleavingabrown,varnishlikesludgeinthebottomofthecan.Thesoapneverdidjellthegasoline,leadingmetotheconclusionthattherereallywasnosuchanimalasanexpedientnapalmformula.Asaresult,IabandonedthisprojectuntilmuchlaterinlifewhenIdiscoveredgood,reliablecommercialnapalmchemicals.Commercialusesmaintainthatproducingagoodbatchofnapalmistougherthanbuildingtheflamethrower.Thetaskofgettingthenapalmrightwouldbevirtuallyimpossiblewereitnotforthenew,improvedchemicalformulations.However,variationsintemperatureandhumiditystillprecludetheprocedurefromeverbeingcutanddried.Tomakemattersworse,inadditiontobeingsensitivetoweatherconditions,theformulaisalwayspeculiartoeachindividualflamethrower,aswellasbeingsubject

totheavailabilityofvariouschemicals.ForanumberofyearsIusedmilitary-gradepetroleumgelchemicalspurchasedfromsurplusstores,whichwereusuallyquitecheap.Invariablytheycameinbatteredfive-gallonpailscontainingtwentypoundsofcream-coloredchemical.Thepailswererugged,durablecontainersthatwereinandofthemselvesworththefortycentsperpoundIusuallypaidforthechemicalinside.Thechemicalwascalledalumagel,anditcameintwodistinctvarieties:M-2foruseinwarmweather(definedastemperaturesabove60øF)andM-4forcold-weatheruse.IcarriedbothM-2andM-4tothefieldfortesting,anditwasusuallyatoss-upastowhichformulawouldperformbestonagivenday.Asageneralrule,italwaystookconsiderablymorechemicalofeithertypetoachievethedesiredperformancewhentemperatureswereatthelowerendoftherange.

Assumingalumagelisstillsoldinasurplusstorenearyou,Irecommendthefollowingpercentagesasastartingpoint:

Fuel/gal.M-2/lbs.5510.00406.75305.00254.50203.40152.50

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101.7050.81

M-2(warm-weatheralumagel)isforusewhentemperaturesexceed60øF.Whenthetemperaturefallsbelow6øF,flamethroweroperatorsmustswitchfromM-2toM-4alumagel.UsethefollowingratiosasstartingpointsforacoldweatherM-4mix.(Allratiosareapproximationsthatmustbeadjustedforlocalconditions.)

Fuel/gal.M-4/lbs.556.70404.50303.75253.00202.30151.75101.2050.60

Generally,fivetofifteenminutesofmixingtimewillberequiredtowhipupabatchofgel.Usingtheaboveratios,beginwithasmallamountoffueltotrytheformula.Siftthealumagelthroughascreentobreakupanylumpsthatmayhaveformedbecauseofhighhumidityorlongstorage.Caution:youmustsiftalloftherecommendedamountofalumagel

intothefuelontheinitialpour.Addingextraalumagelpowderlatertocorrectarunnyformulacausesunevendistributionofthepowderinthefuel,producingnapalmthatistoothick,ropy,andlumpytobeusable.Thosewhosedragonswillmixthenapalmbyrunningitthroughthesystemcanexpectafarsuperiorproductofmuchsmootherconsistencythanthatwhichresultsfromstirnngitinatankwithapaddle.Toomuchalumagelsiftedintothebasefuelcreatesafinalproductthatisbeyondthecapabilitiesofthedragon'smotorandpump.Shouldthishappen,waittenminutestobesureithascompletedthejellingprocessandthenmixintwotothreeadditionalgallonsofgasoline-assumingthatthisisatwenty-fivetofifty-fivegallonstartingbatch.Ifthetestbatchisfivegallonsorless,one-halfgallonofadditionalgasolineshouldthinthebatchsufficientlytorunthroughthemachine.Alwaysusegasolinetothin,

neverdieselfuel,evenifthemixturewasoriginallythoughttobelowonfueloil.Ifthegelwillbecarriedaroundforseveralhoursbeforeusing,makethemixtureslightlythinnerthanusual.Itshouldsetupadequatelyafterafewhours,especiallyinrisingtemperatures.Remembertocirculateitthroughsimilarincolorandconsistencytoapplebutter,anditlosessomeofitsintensevolatility.Jelledgasolineburnsmorelikelighterfuel,exceptithasgreaterenduranceandbody.TheendproductshouldhavethesamethicknessandstickinessasKarosyrup,withafewfloatingsoftlumpsthatlookmuchlikewhippedmargarine.Thebeststartingfuelsusuallycombinegasolineandfueloil.Gasolineprovidesvolatility,whilethefueloiladdsthestayingpowernecessarytoeatthroughbodypanelsandplasterwallsandtosetvehicle

enginesonfire.Aheaviermixturewillpropelfartherandwillsplashandricochet,causingmoremayhem.Mypreferredformulaforsmallportableflamethrowersisaboutfifty/fiftygasanddiesel.Yourexperimentsmayshowthatamixtureof40percentoiland60percentgasolineworksbetteronagivenday.Becausealumagelisextremelysensitivetoatmosphericconditions,itisdifficulttopredictaheadoftimewhichformulawillworkbest.Largercommercialunitsoftenperformbestbyreversingtheratiosto60percentoiland40percentgasoline.SurplusJP-4(jetfuel)isoftenavailablefromaircraftfuel-tankmaintenance.Itmakesexcellent

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flamethrowerfuel.NapalmmadefromJP-4willoftenremainingoodconditionfortwotothreeweeks.Atabouttwoweeks,napalmmadefromregularfueloilandgasolineusuallystartsseparatingintoathin,waterysolutionorcongealingintoaheavygluelikesubstance.Neitherisusable.Totestyourformula'sshelflifesetasidefiveortengallonsforafewweeksandseewhathappens.Inmyopinion,expedientmethodsofmakingnapalmhavenotimprovedsincemyfailedchildhoodexperiment.Istronglyrecommendthatyouuseonlycommercialormilitarysurpluschemicalswhenpreparingnapalm,especiallyifthesituationisaseriousparamilitaryone.Somereadersmaydevelopaworkable,expedientmethodofjellingpetroleum,butatthispoint,Idoubtit.Military-surplusalumagelperformsadequatelyforitsintendedpurpose,butbecauseitissosensitivetotemperatureandmoisturefluctuations,InowuseamaterialcalledSureFire(availablefromSimplexManufacturingCo.,13340N.E.WhitakerWay,Portland,Oregon97230;503-257-3511).Sure-Fireworkswellundermostmoistureconditionsandintemperaturesrangingfrom32øto70øF.Asdoall"miracle"products,Sure-Firehasadownside.Whilealumagelcostsbetweenfortycentsandonedollarperpound,SureFirecostsaminimumoffourdollarsperpound.Asanaddeddisincentive(incasethisdidn'tmakeupyourmind),Sure-Fireisalmostalwayssoldinfifty-poundbags.WesternHelicopters(Box369,Newburg,Oregon97132;503-538-9469)willoccasionallyshipsmallerquantities.Contactthemdirectlytofind

outaboutselection,price,quantity,andshippinginstructions.BothWesternHelicoptersandSimplexarebasicallyfarmandloggersupplyhouses,soinquiringaboutSure-Firewillnotgenerateconcernorhostility,providedtheinquirermaintainsthepostureofhavinganagriculturalorforestryuseforthematerial.Sure-Fireisusedinfarsmallerquantitiesthanalumagel,mitigatingitscostperpoundsomewhat.One-twentiethofapound(atacostofabouttwentycents)willusuallyjellonegallonofregulargasolineandoilmixtureinabouttwenty-threeminutes.Ifthetemperaturedropsbelow30"F,itmaytaketwo-thirdsofapoundpergallontodothejobinthesametime.PlantousethreepoundsofSure-Fireinthirtygallonsoffueltojellthemixtureintwentyminutesat50"F.Aswithotherproductsofthis

nature,Sure-Firemustbesiftedgentlyintothefueltoavoidcaking,roping,andlumping.Usingtheflamethrower'spumptocirculatethismixtureisthepreferredmethodofmixing,assumingone'sdragonhasthisinternalability.Notethatwithallchemicalsofthisnature,thesefiguresaretobeusedonlyasstartingpoints.Intelligentuserswillexperimenttofindsuitablemixturesthatperformwellintheirweapons.Ownersarelookingforaformulathatwillgivethemthelongestpropulsion,hottestburn,andmostsustainedjell.ExperiencedfirefighterswearNomexpantsandshirtswhenworkingaroundflamethrowers.Itmaynotbenecessarytowearthisspecialflame-resistantclothing,butitisimperativethatusersneverwearsyntheticclothingincludingnylon,rayon,orpolyesterofanysort-whenusingadragon.Whensubjectedtohighheat,syntheticsmelttoone'sskin,

subjectingittougly,painfulburnsthatwouldnotresultfromnaturalfabrics.Whentryingtheflamethrowerforthefirstfewtimes,beespeciallycautiousthaterrantbreezesdonotsendthenapalmarcingbackontoyou.Itisalwaysbesttothrowthenapalmwiththewind,butthismaynotbepossible,especiallyfromadefensiveposition.Inthecaseofanupwindattack,trytooperatefromanuphillposition.Aftersometrialruns,itmayevenbenecessarytoinstalladifferent,moreappropriateorificeinthegun.Mixingsuitablenapalm,evenwithasuperiorproductsuchas

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Sure-Fire,ismoreanartthanascience.Determinedsurvivorswhoelecttouseflamethrowersmustdecideaheadtoinvestenoughmoneyandtimetodothejobproperly.

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