Eli5: How effective were flamethrowers when they were still in use in the military and what were the dangers of operating one?

Question

Eli5: How effective were flamethrowers when they were still in use in the military and what were the dangers of operating one?

In: 57

Answer 1

IIRC, the marines on Iwo Jima had to clear hundreds of tunnels, and the best way to use a flame thrower was to start shooting at the entrance and the guy with the flame thrower pretty much had to stand out in the open to get the best angle. The main problem they had was the Japanese had as many as 3 separate tunnel systems over/under each other, so you could be attacking one known location and they’d shoot from another position.

And the main way to find a tunnel entrance was to walk around till someone started shooting at you.