Are flamethrowers still used in modern warfare?

Flamethrowers have not been in the U.S. arsenal since 1978, when the Department of Defense unilaterally stopped using them ⁠— ⁠the last American infantry flamethrower was the Vietnam-era M9-7. They have been deemed of questionable effectiveness in modern combat.

Are flamethrowers banned in modern warfare?

Incendiary Weapons The use of weapons designed just to burn or set fire to large areas which may be full of civilians are also prohibited. The ban covers actual flame, heat or chemical reactions, so this limits the use of flamethrowers, napalm, and white phosphorus.

Why are flamethrowers no longer used in modern warfare?

Modern flamethrowers are not exactly what they were in the good ol’days, but the essence effect is much the same (only multiply by ten): , Credentials add credibility to your content! Flamethrowers are no longer used by modern militaries. This is because they aren’t very effective weapons for the risk.

Should flamethrowers be banned?

Whether this would call for a ban on such weapons is unclear according to legal experts: “It is uncontroversial that any use of a flamethrower, be it a proper incendiary weapon or not, in breach of those rules on the protection of civilians would be unlawful. The same would hold true for any weapon.”

Why were flamethrowers used in the Vietnam War?

In Vietnam various flamethrowers were also seen as a valuable close combat weapon —one that could demoralize enemy troops and reduce positions that have otherwise resisted other forms of attack.

How does a flamethrower kill an enemy?

Thus, the enemy either burns or asphyxiates due to the lack of oxygen available to breathe. In the urban environment, the flamethrower can shoot fire around corners to enhance movement past dead or blind angles. Besides causing death and destruction, the flamethrower can greatly impact an enemy psychologically.