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Wasp Flame-Throwing Carriers
The development of the Wasp series of flame-throwing carriers began in 1940 when experiments were conducted with a flame-projecting cylinder that had originally been intended for use in anti-tank ditch defence. The resultant flaming device was known as the Adey-Martin Drain Pipe. It was attached to the side of a carrier and eventually progressed to the testing stage. Further development of the design led to the prototype Ronson flame-throwing device. The Ronson prototype consisted of a pressurized device fitted to a Universal Carrier with two sixty gallon fuel drums mounted at the rear of the vehicle, on the outside. The flame-gun was mounted above the front gunner's position and it was fed by a fuel line that ran along the left side of the vehicle. The British never adopted the Ronson equipment but Canada produced at least twenty of the devices which were sent to the Pacific theatre of operations where they were mounted in M3A1 Light Tanks by the U.S. Marine Corps and called "Satan". Further experimental work on flame-throwing equipment continued in the years 1941-42 which eventually led to the Wasp series of vehicles.
Wasp Mk. I (FT, Transportable, No 2, Mk I)
In this first production vehicle, there were 40 and 60 gallon pressurized fuel tanks mounted inside the carrier. The flame-projector had a range of 80 to 100 yards which was a vast improvement over the earlier experimental versions. The projector was still located over the front gunner's superstructure, there was no other armament mounted in the vehicle and the crew consisted of two. An order for 1000 vehicles was placed in September 1942 and production was completed in November 1943 as production was switched to the Wasp Mk. II. The Wasp Mk. I was ultimately used for training purposes and several were equipped with floatation equipment for swimming trials.
Wasp Mk.II (FT, Transportable, No 2, Mk II)
This improved version was first tested in August 1943. The single greatest improvement was a newly designed flame-projector which was mounted in the machine gun housing of the carrier. It gave a better flaming performance due to improved aiming, elevation, traverse and depression features. The flame-projector had also been redesigned to have a "clean" flame cutoff at the end of the flaming shot, to reduce the possibility of the carrier catching fire. Production of the Mk. II concluded in June 1944.
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Wasp Mk. II with Flaming Tanks
Mounted
Within the Vehicle and Flame-gun in the Machine
Gun Position.
Wasp Mk. IIC (FT, Transportable, No 2, Mk IIC)
This version was developed for the Canadian Army and was first used by Canadian units during the advance to Falaise. It had only one 75 gallon flame-fuel tank which was mounted on the outside rear end of the vehicle. That alteration in design allowed for the inclusion of a third crew member equipped with a Bren gun or 2" mortar. The Canadian design was an attempt to marry the flame-thrower with the normal role of the carrier, in contrast to the British who had intended the Wasp as strictly a specialized flame-thrower. The Canadian Mk. IIC was to prove to be a complete success, and much preferred over the Mk. II. Upon the conclusion of Mk. II production, all production was switched to the Mk. IIC. Local conversions were also carried out in the field from existing Mk. II vehicles. Most infantry battalions were eventually equipped with six Wasp IICs.
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Wasp Mk. IIC Showing the Flame-tanks Externally
Mounted on the Rear of the Vehicle
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© Chris Johnson, 1997