I have only seen this weapon twice in my life. The first was in a movie called The Commando starring Arnold Schwarzenegger as retired Army Colonel John Matrix. The second time was in the Spring of 2016 while viewing the private museum of a very prominent MILSURP collector.
At the time, I only recognized it as, “The Commando Bazooka”. And up until that very moment, I wasn’t even sure the device portrayed was real. Frankly I had serious doubts even back then.
Well…it turns out it isn’t a bazooka at all. But is known as the M202A1 FLASH: FLame Assault SHoulder Weapon. The device is loaded with incendiary munitions not high-explosives and is designed to replace the flame thrower! Go figure.
It has a 200 yard point-blank range, and effective range to 700 yards. That’s some long range flame throwing!
I thoroughly enjoyed seeing it. Was surprised to learn what it actually was when researching this article. We would love to have a discarded one for the armory reference collection. And for the record, I have zero interest in ever firing a military or civilian legal flamethrower.
Honestly, I wouldn’t even want to be on the same range if someone else were operating it. Every weapon malfunctions at some point, and I want no part of whatever that means for this system.
Marky
www.John1911.com
“Shooting Guns & Having Fun”
Areas of focus: Defense and National Security, Modern Light Weapons, Small Arms, Weapons Training.
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