ROKS Flamethrowers

ROKS-2 flamethrower
A captured ROKS-2 flamethrower at the Mikkeli Infantry museum, Finland (2011)
TypeFlamethrower
Place of originSoviet Union
Service history
In service1935−1945 (USSR)
Used bySoviet Union
WarsSecond World War, Vietnam War
Production history
ManufacturerDifferent manufacturers
Produced1935-1941
Specifications
Mass22.7 kg (50.0 lb)
Crew1
Effective firing range25 m (27 yd)
Maximum firing range45 m (49 yd)
Feed system9 L (2.4 US gal) fuel tank
1 nitrogen tank (propellant)
SightsNone

The ROKS-2 and ROKS-3 (Shortened from Russian, Rantseviy Ognemyot Kluyeva-Sergeyeva; Ранцевый Огнемёт Клюева — Сергеева; "Kluyev-Sergeyev backpack flamethrower") were man-portable flamethrowers used by the USSR in the Second World War.

ROKS-2

The ROKS-2 was designed not to draw attention, so the fuel and gas tanks were concealed under a sheet-metal outer casting resembling a knapsack; the flame projector was designed to resemble a standard Mosin–Nagant rifle. Operators of flamethrowers during The Great War were immediately targeted, so by camouflaging it to look like a rifle the ROKS-2 protected the operator from being specifically targeted by the enemy.

ROKS-2 had two vertical fuel tanks connected by pipe to a horizontal pressurized nitrogen tank. The nitrogen tank was pressurized at approximately 113 bars (11,300 kPa) and used a propellant for the fuel. The flame shots were ignited by firing specially modified 7.62×25mm Tokarev cartridges.

The ROKS-2 was used, amongst other engagements, during the close-range fighting during the first days of the Battle of Kursk in 1943.

The Finnish designation for captured ROKS-2 units was liekinheitin M/41-r. Captured Soviet flamethrowers saw some use by Finnish forces during the Continuation War. They were operated by two-man teams of combat engineers. They were well regarded by the Finns, although flamethrowers of all kinds saw little use by Finnish forces.

ROKS-3

During the German invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941, production in factories struggled to keep up with the demand for weapons, including production of the ROKS-2. This led to the creation of the ROKS-3. The ROKS-3 was a simplified model designed to be easier to manufacture. It did away with the disguise for the backpack, though it retained the flame projector designed to resemble a rifle. Both models carried around 9 litres (2.4 US gal) of fuel. The fuel was propelled by nitrogen gas pressurized at 115 bars (11,500 kPa) and, under ideal circumstances, had a maximum range of around 45 metres (49 yd).

A Finnish soldier with a captured ROKS-3 flamethrower, June 1943

Some ROKS-3 units were supplied to North Korea, Czechoslovakia, Kingdom of Yemen (via Czechoslovakia), and North Vietnam.

Users

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Chris Bishop (2002). The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II. Sterling Publishing Company, Inc. pp. 270–. ISBN 978-1-58663-762-0.
  2. 1 2 3 "Portable Flame-throwers". JAEGER PLATOON: FINNISH ARMY 1918 - 1945 WEBSITE. May 9, 2013.
  3. ↑ World War II - Willmott, H.P., Dorling Kindersley, 2004, Page 189, ISBN 1-4053-0477-4
  4. 1 2 US Department of Defense. "ROKS-3 FLAMETHROWER". North Korea Country Handbook 1997, Appendix A: Equipment Recognition (PDF). p. A-88.
  5. 1 2 3 Smisek 2023, p. 96.
  6. 1 2 Embassy of Vietnam 1971, p. 19.
  7. ↑ Green 2022, p. 72.

Bibliography