Afougasse(UK:/fuːˈɡæs/,US:/fuːˈɡɑːs/) is an improvisedmortarconstructed by making a hollow in the ground or rock and filling it with explosives (originally,black powder) and projectiles. The fougasse was used by Samuel Zimmermann atAugsburg[2]in the sixteenth century, referred to byVaubanin the seventeenth century, and well known tomilitary engineersby the mid-eighteenth century. This technique was used in several European wars, theAmerican Revolution,and theAmerican Civil War.The term is still used to describe such devices.
Firing
editThe normal method of firing was to use a burningtorchorslow matchto ignite asaucisson(French for "sausage",a cloth or leather tube waterproofed withpitchand filled with black powder) leading to the main charge. This had numerous disadvantages; the firer was obvious to the attacking enemy, and had to run to get clear after lighting the fuse. The black powder was also very susceptible to moisture, and might not work at all. In 1573 Samuel Zimmermann devised an improved method which incorporated asnaphance(or later,flintlock mechanism) into the charge and connected its trigger to the surface with a wire.[2]This was more resistant to moisture, better concealed and enabled the firer to be further away. It also enabled the fougasse to betripwireactivated, turning it into ananti-personnel fragmentation mine.
In a letter to his sister, Colonel Hugh Robert Hibbert described such a weapon employed during theCrimean War:
These wretched Russians have discovered a new system of annoyance which would be well worthy of invention by Franky [their brother] and which consists of a series of small mines or barrels of gunpowder let into the ground between our works and theirs, and a little tin tube running along the ground a few inches above it, two or three feet long, which tube is filled with some composition which explodes immediately on being touched, so that any unfortunate meandering along the grass without knowing why, suddenly finds himself going up in the air like a squib with his legs and arms flying in different directions. We have had many men blown up by these things and the grass being so long one cannot see the tube at all. The technical name is "Fougasse". Franky will know what they are I daresay. The ground between our old trenches, and the Russian ones that we took the other day is full of them. At night you hear a sudden explosion and you know that some wretched fellow has been crossing from one trench to another, on private speculation to see what he could get, has trod on the tube and been blown up. I often think how the Russians must laugh when they hear these things going up at night in all directions, they must know well what it is.[3]
Types
editThere are several variants according to the material projected by the explosion.
Stone
editThe most common type in early use was thestone fougasse,which was a hole simply filled with large rocks and bricks. When fired, it would scatter a hail of fast-moving stones across the area to its front. Large stone fougasses might hold several tons of rubble and as much as ahundredweightof powder.[4][5][6]
Shell
editTheshell fougassewas loaded with early black powdermortarshells(essentially a large version of an early black powderhand grenade) orincendiary"carcasses".When fired, the powder charge would throw out the shells and ignite their fuses, so the projectiles would be scattered across the target area and then begin exploding, filling the area with fragmentation or flame from all directions in an effect similar to acluster bomb.[citation needed]
Flame
edit
Aflame fougassewas a similar weapon in which the projectile was anflammable liquid,typically a mixture ofpetroland oil. The flame fougasse was developed by the BritishPetroleum Warfare Departmentin response tothe threat of German invasionduringWorld War II.[7]
In Britain, during WWII, the flame fougasse was usually constructed from a 40-gallon drum dug into the roadside and camouflaged. It would be placed at a location such as a corner, steep incline or roadblock where vehicles would be obliged to slow down.Ammonalprovided the propellant charge which, when triggered, caused the weapon to shoot a flame 10 feet (3.0 m) wide and 30 yards (27 m) long. Initially a mixture of 40% petrol and 60% gas oil was used; this was later replaced by an adhesive gel of tar, lime and petrol known as 5B.[8]
The November 1944 issue of the US War Department Intelligence Bulletin refers to 'Fougasse flame throwers' used in the Russian defence at Stalingrad being the basis of a German version found in Italy that were buried with a fixed direction discharge tube and integrated with conventional landmines and barbed wire in defense works. The German weapon, theAbwehrflammenwerfer 42had an 8-gallon fuel tank and the seven in the installation were wired back to a control point and could be fired individually or together.[9]
The flame fougasse has remained in army field manuals as a battlefield expedient. Such expedients are constructed from available fuel containers combined with standard explosive charges or hand grenades triggered electrically or by lengths ofdetonating cord.Some designs use lengths of detonating cord or blasting caps to rupture the fuel container as well as detonate the main charge.[10]Weapons of this sort were widely used in theKoreanandVietnamwars as well as other conflicts.
See also
editNotes
edit- ^"Fougasse, Madliena Tower area, Pembroke"Archived22 December 2015 at theWayback MachineMalta Environment and Planning Authority(MEPA), 2009.
- ^abThe Origins of Military Mines,Major William C. Schneck, Engineer Bulletin July 1998
- ^"The National Archives, records of the UK government".Letters of Hibbert, Hugh Robert, 1828-1895, Colonel, ref. DHB/57 – date: 14 June 1855.Retrieved29 August2010.
- ^Morana, Martin (2011).Bejn Kliem u Storja(in Maltese).Malta:Books Distributors Limited.ISBN978-99957-0137-6.Archived fromthe originalon 20 October 2016.
- ^Spiteri, Stephen C."The Fougasse: The Stone Mortar of Malta".Treasures of Malta.5(2). Fondazzjoni Patrimonju Malti.
- ^Mahan, D.H. (1867).An Elementary Course of Military Engineering – Part I: Field Fortification, Military Mining and Siege Operations.John Wiley & Son. p. 78.
- ^Adrian Armishaw."Flame Fougasse: Poynings Flame Trap".Pillbox Study Group.Retrieved15 January2008.
- ^Hayward, 2001, p. 18.
- ^"Fougasse Flame Throwers – from Intelligence Bulletin, November 1944".lonesentry.Retrieved3 August2010.
- ^FM 20-33, 1967, chapter 6.
References
edit- Hayward, James.The Bodies on the Beach – Sealion, Shingle Street and the Burning Sea Myth of 1940.CD41 Publishing, 2001ISBN0-9540549-0-3.
- FM 20–33.Combat Flame Operations.Headquarters Department of the Army, Washington, June 1967.
External links
edit- "The Fougasse".Archived fromthe originalon 26 July 2008.Retrieved15 April2009.
- "Project for the Identification and Documentation of the Maltese Fougasse".Archived fromthe originalon 27 February 2009.Retrieved15 April2009.
- "Images of petroleum warfare".Imperial War MuseumCollection Search.Retrieved1 July2012.
- "German 'Fougasse flame thrower'".Reference to November 1942 Intelligence Bulletin US War Dept.Retrieved15 April2009.
- Dr. Stephen C. Spiteri PhD."The Fougasses of Malta and Gozo".Military Architecture.Retrieved10 June2010.