Usmc oob

[Suhiir]

What I found interesting was the number of Japanese holdouts they were still getting.

Yeah I know Jul-Sep (or Oct) was the field test but unless you can find a fairly solid date on wide-spread use it'll do since it's probable they didn't pack them and any ammo they had back up and ship it to CONUS. And since they didn't use flame weapons all that much in Vietnam anyway I'd suspect if they actually felt one was needed they'd probably break out an M202 unless all they were doing was clearing tunnels in which case the standard flamethrower would be better suited.
Come to think of it I don't even recall seeing an M202 since around 1976 but then I hadn't seen an M79 since about then either till 1991 when I saw a few in Kuwait.

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

Concerning the M202 found it interesting that the launcher could also fire an HE package. Also saw some that said the AT rocket as well. Read a lot of USMC blogs from flamethrower operators that they preferred the M202/A1/A2 because of it's range and relative accuracy. There were reported draw backs such as "drops" when reloading (NOT GOOD) and as the rockets got older, a fuel leakage issue down on the back of the operator, I suspect fuel-rocket motor ignition exhaust again-NOT GOOD! I think the dates are fine as well also.

Outta here!!

Regards,
Pat