Cutaway model of a DM34 HAFLA (HAnd FLAmmpatrone / HAnd FLAme cartridge) single shot disposable flamethrower. The name flamethrower is somewhat misleading here as no flame appears from the barrel like a normal flamethrower, it can better be described as a incendiary charge thrower, the incendiary charge consisting of three stacked cilinders red phosphorus with an explosive dispersion charge running through the center which explodes at a maximum of 90 meters from the launching point, exploding more like a phosphourus handgrenade.
The HAFLA can be used for several purposes:
-setting fire to abandoned -or enemy- vehicles and supplies
-creating an instant smoke screen
-against uncovered enemy personel in the open
-in house to house combat
The HAFLA consists of an aluminium barrel pipe around which a cartboard reinforcement sleeve is glued. On the aft end of the aluminium pipe is a flange with a threaded hole in which the brown plastic pistol handgrip is screwed. A plastic cover with weakenings seams is pressed over the front end of the barrel to keep the inner works of the HAFLA watertight.
In this aluminium barrel pipe a thin aluminium pipe is placed over the whole length of the barrel pipe in which the three cilinders of red Phosphorus are placed, behind that the aluminium cup which houses the propulsion charge and the pyrotechnic delay cup (red), and the aluminium tube housing the dispersion charge (black) running through the cilinders of red phosphoros. A white rubber cap closes the front end of the aluminium pipe. Picture 05 shows this complete projectile.
In safe position the pistol grip is folded forward, causing the firing pin to be near untensioned. This firing pin is tensioned by pushing the button on the aft end of the pistol grip inward, allowing the pistol grip to be rotated, pushing the button inward permanently and tensioning the firing pin spring. Two opposite buttons at the root of the pistol grip are pushed outward by a spring between them, locking the pistol grip in the armed condition. The trigger falls downward, ready for usage. The firing pin is held back by a rotating block that is placed in a groove in the firing pin, which is prevented from rotating by the trigger. By pulling the trigger, this block is released, allowing the firing pin to move forward into the firing cap of the expulsion charge. This expulsion charge throws a flame forward into the propulsion charge pushing the projectile (picture 05) out of the barrel through the weakening seams of the front cover.
If the projectile is fired against a hard object on a 8 meters distance, the aluminium tube breaks open and the red Phosphorus is dispersed over an area of about 5 to 8 meter, ignited by the heat caused by friction upon impact; the dispersion charge has no further influence on the dispersion and ignition.
If the HAFLA is fired in an appr. 40 degree ange upwards towards a target, the pyrotechnic delay (red) will ignite the bursting charge (black) in an airburst over the target at a 90 meters range maximum, raining down burning phosphorus.
One of the interesting properties of red Phospor is that when red Phosphorus is heated up to 260 degrees Celcius, it changes into white phosphorus, a temperature which is reached when the bursting charge explodes. The phosporus will burn for approximately two minutes at a temperature of 1300 degrees Celcius and is spread over an area 10 meters wide and 15 meters long.
The DM34 HAFLA was used by the Bundeswehr from 1976 to 2001 after which it was withdrawn from service. The HAFLA was produced by the Buck KG company.
Length : unfolded 453mm, folded 397mm
Calibre: 35mm
Weight : 625 grams
Charge : three 80 gram cilinders red Phosphorus
Range : minimal 8 meters, maximum 90 meters
Three HAFLA’s are packed in a watertight pouch, a crate contains 51 HAFLA’s
THE HAFLA was also produced by the Belgian PRB ordnance factory under the name CALID Nr.179
Regards, DJH
The HAFLA can be used for several purposes:
-setting fire to abandoned -or enemy- vehicles and supplies
-creating an instant smoke screen
-against uncovered enemy personel in the open
-in house to house combat
The HAFLA consists of an aluminium barrel pipe around which a cartboard reinforcement sleeve is glued. On the aft end of the aluminium pipe is a flange with a threaded hole in which the brown plastic pistol handgrip is screwed. A plastic cover with weakenings seams is pressed over the front end of the barrel to keep the inner works of the HAFLA watertight.
In this aluminium barrel pipe a thin aluminium pipe is placed over the whole length of the barrel pipe in which the three cilinders of red Phosphorus are placed, behind that the aluminium cup which houses the propulsion charge and the pyrotechnic delay cup (red), and the aluminium tube housing the dispersion charge (black) running through the cilinders of red phosphoros. A white rubber cap closes the front end of the aluminium pipe. Picture 05 shows this complete projectile.
In safe position the pistol grip is folded forward, causing the firing pin to be near untensioned. This firing pin is tensioned by pushing the button on the aft end of the pistol grip inward, allowing the pistol grip to be rotated, pushing the button inward permanently and tensioning the firing pin spring. Two opposite buttons at the root of the pistol grip are pushed outward by a spring between them, locking the pistol grip in the armed condition. The trigger falls downward, ready for usage. The firing pin is held back by a rotating block that is placed in a groove in the firing pin, which is prevented from rotating by the trigger. By pulling the trigger, this block is released, allowing the firing pin to move forward into the firing cap of the expulsion charge. This expulsion charge throws a flame forward into the propulsion charge pushing the projectile (picture 05) out of the barrel through the weakening seams of the front cover.
If the projectile is fired against a hard object on a 8 meters distance, the aluminium tube breaks open and the red Phosphorus is dispersed over an area of about 5 to 8 meter, ignited by the heat caused by friction upon impact; the dispersion charge has no further influence on the dispersion and ignition.
If the HAFLA is fired in an appr. 40 degree ange upwards towards a target, the pyrotechnic delay (red) will ignite the bursting charge (black) in an airburst over the target at a 90 meters range maximum, raining down burning phosphorus.
One of the interesting properties of red Phospor is that when red Phosphorus is heated up to 260 degrees Celcius, it changes into white phosphorus, a temperature which is reached when the bursting charge explodes. The phosporus will burn for approximately two minutes at a temperature of 1300 degrees Celcius and is spread over an area 10 meters wide and 15 meters long.
The DM34 HAFLA was used by the Bundeswehr from 1976 to 2001 after which it was withdrawn from service. The HAFLA was produced by the Buck KG company.
Length : unfolded 453mm, folded 397mm
Calibre: 35mm
Weight : 625 grams
Charge : three 80 gram cilinders red Phosphorus
Range : minimal 8 meters, maximum 90 meters
Three HAFLA’s are packed in a watertight pouch, a crate contains 51 HAFLA’s
THE HAFLA was also produced by the Belgian PRB ordnance factory under the name CALID Nr.179
Regards, DJH
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