The German flamethrowers on the Western Front, 1917

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A flamethrower is a ranged incendiary device designed to project a controllable jet of fire. First deployed by the Byzantine Greeks in the 1st century AD, flamethrowers saw use in modern times during World War I, and more widely in World War II as a tactical siege weapon against fortifications.

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Most military flamethrowers use liquid fuel, typically either gasoline or diesel. The flamethrower was first used in World War I on February 26, 1915, when it was briefly used against the French outside Verdun. On July 30, 1915, it was first used in a concerted action, against British trenches at Hooge, where the lines were 4.5 m (4.9 yd) apart - even there, the casualties were caused mainly by soldiers being flushed into the open and then shot rather than from the fire itself.

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The British experimented with flamethrowers in the Battle of the Somme. The weapon was enormous and completely non-portable. The weapon had an effective range of 90 yards, which proved effective at clearing trenches, but with no other benefit the project was abandoned.

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The French, Italians and Russians all used flamethrowers in World War 1.

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The military use of flamethrowers is restricted through the Protocol on Incendiary Weapons.

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Apart from the military applications, flamethrowers have peacetime applications where there is a need for controlled burning, such as in sugarcane harvesting and other land-management tasks. Various forms are designed for an operator to carry, while others are mounted on vehicles.

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Source: Wikipedia