In May 1940, Great Britain, fearing a possible attack by Nazi Germany, created civil self-defense units, later collectively known as the Home Guard. For obvious reasons, this structure for a long time could not count on receiving full-fledged weapons and equipment. Because of this, the fighters had to take the initiative and create the necessary systems on their own. The result of the technical creativity of the militia has become a lot of the most interesting products. One of these was the Nuttall Flamethrower, an impromptu towed flamethrower.
Due to the lack of small arms and ammunition for it, the British army from a certain time began to show interest in flamethrower-incendiary weapons. Soon the Home Guard fighters began to share this interest. A direct consequence of this was the emergence of several designs of amateur flamethrowers and handicraft production. In just a few months, a significant number of home-made flamethrowers entered service with the militia, and some of these products were placed on car chassis.
Perhaps the most interesting flamethrower armament project came from militias from the 24th Staffordshire Militia Battalion. Company "C" from this battalion was formed in the small town of Tettenhall, and it was there that the towed mobile prototype was created.
Around the spring of 1941, one of the C Company militias, named Nuttall, proposed increasing the unit's firepower with flamethrower weapons. Soon, the enthusiast and his colleagues implemented this proposal and built a fully functional prototype. At the beginning of the summer of the same year, the resulting weapon was tested at a training ground, in the role of which one of the local fields was used.
For obvious reasons, the new model did not receive any official designation inherent in the development of the defense industry. However, it was given a name that indicated the creator and the class of technology. A promising weapon was designated as Nuttall Flamethrower - "Nuttall's flamethrower".
Lacking significant resources and having limited production capabilities, the Tettenhall militias were forced to build their own flamethrower exclusively from available components. So, the basis for it was a converted car chassis, and the devices for storing and ejecting flammable liquids consisted of ready-made or specially assembled elements that did not differ in design complexity.
To obtain maximum combat effectiveness, the Nuttall Flamethrower system had to have a large tank with a fire mixture, the transportation of which could be associated with certain problems. For this reason, Mr. Nuttall suggested placing the flamethrower on a slightly redesigned chassis. The militia had an Austin 7 passenger car at their disposal, which was sent for recycling. Apparently, this machine could no longer be used in its original capacity, and therefore received a new role.
From the existing two-axle chassis, built on the basis of the frame, the standard body, engine, transmission, etc. were removed. In their places, only the elements of the chassis remained, the steering column with the corresponding mechanisms and the brake system with a control pedal. It was proposed to install certain elements of a flamethrower directly on the resulting platform. Adequate mobility was to be provided by a chassis with two pairs of single spoke wheels.
There was no own engine, and for that reason, the flamethrower needed a towing vehicle. With his help, the weapon had to go to the firing position. The preservation of the steering system to a certain extent simplified the transfer of the flamethrower: the driver could control the steered wheels, introducing the towed vehicle into turns, and also perform braking.
The largest element of the Nuttall Flamethrower was a tank for storing and dispensing a fire mixture. The militia found a 50 gallon (227.3 L) large metal barrel that was used in construction. With the help of simple fasteners, the barrel was installed in the rear of the existing chassis with a shift to the left side. The space in front of the barrel was intended for other elements of the flamethrower, and the driver was supposed to be to the right of it.
The flamethrower of the 24th battalion was supposed to use a gas system for displacing a flammable liquid. A pump was placed in the front of the chassis to supply atmospheric air and create working pressure in the main tank. Which drive was used with the pump is unknown. It cannot be ruled out that the pump was equipped with a manual drive. Nevertheless, as shown by tests, and such a system could show tolerable characteristics.
From the tank, the fire mixture was supposed to enter a flexible hose ending in a tubular hose with a control valve. The simplest jet ignition system was used with a constantly burning torch located in front of the nozzle. The hose should be held in hand or installed on a suitable base, and then directed towards the enemy. Naturally, guidance could only be carried out manually. Any sighting devices were also not used.
There is no information on the composition of the fire mixture. It can be assumed that the combustible composition did not differ in complexity and could be prepared from common resources available to the militia. Apparently, its main component was gasoline or kerosene.
The combat use of the Nuttall Flamethrower system seemed simple enough. Arriving at the indicated point, the calculation had to equip the firing position and create the necessary pressure in the tank with the fire mixture. Then it was necessary to wait for the approach of the enemy and, when the distance was reduced to minimum values, open the valve. The burning jet was supposed to set fire to various objects, and the unburned mixture falling on the ground could provoke additional fires.
In early June 1941, the Tettenhall militia brought the ready-towed flamethrower to one of the local fields, where it was planned to conduct tests. A 50-gallon tank was filled with a flammable liquid and pressurized. After that, a shot was fired. During the audit, it was found that the gas displacement system, built from available components, cannot provide high performance. The firing range was only 75 feet - less than 23 m. Thus, Nuttoll's Flamethrower, in terms of its main characteristics, was noticeably lagging behind other systems of its time, including wearable ones.
However, the proposed sample had some advantages. The specifics of the design (or design errors) led to the fact that the flamethrower emitted about 1.26 liters of fire mixture per second. For this reason, the militia flamethrower hardly differed from other systems in terms of ammunition consumption. At the same time, he had a large capacity for storing the fire mixture. Its one refueling was enough for continuous flamethrowing for three minutes. Naturally, if necessary, it was possible to make individual shots of the required duration.
A serious problem with the flamethrower was the lack of any protection. The fire mixture tank and other systems were not covered by anything, because of which any bullets or fragments could lead to the most sad consequences. Moreover, the absence of even a light body could lead to water ingress and corrosion of certain parts.
However, the Home Guard's 24th Staffordshire militia simply had no choice. They were forced to adopt not the most successful, but still existing flamethrower. Almost immediately after the completion of the tests, the original Nuttall Flamethrower system was put into operation.
According to the surviving data, if the order was received to deploy the company, the flamethrower crew was supposed to take a position under the bridge at Dam Mill Lake. Apparently, a full-fledged firing position was equipped there with one or another protection from the available materials. The deployment of a flamethrower near the bridge, as expected, made it possible to protect the only highway in the entire area and thereby slow down the advance of enemy troops.
It can be assumed that in the future, Company "C" of the 24th battalion, which built an original towed flamethrower for itself, took part in various exercises and repeatedly got the opportunity to test this weapon in practice. Unfortunately, the details of the operation of the unusual sample remain unknown.
Fortunately, it did not come to the real combat use of the Nuttall Flamethrower flamethrower against a real enemy. Despite all the fears of London, Hitlerite Germany quickly abandoned plans to land troops in the British Isles. In the context of Mr. Nuttall's project, it can be assumed that it was only for the best. The flamethrower on a wheeled chassis was not distinguished by high combat qualities, and therefore did not pose a particular danger to the advancing enemy. Moreover, in some situations it turned out to be more dangerous for its own calculation.
The operation of the original flamethrower could last long enough. At the end of 1944, the Home Guard organization was disbanded as unnecessary, and no later than that, the Nuttall Flamethrower system could be abandoned. The further fate of the flamethrower is unknown, but obvious: hardly anyone would restore the base car. Most likely, the sample was disassembled for parts. It has not survived to our time. Now the flamethrower is known only thanks to a single photograph and a not too detailed description of its history.
The unusual towed flamethrower designed by Mr. Nuttall was not the only member of its class resulting from the work of the militia. Other units had similar systems of one kind or another. A common feature of all such handicraft developments was a low technological level and, as a result, very limited opportunities, often associated with serious risks. Nevertheless, one should not forget that such a weapon was created in a difficult period and was intended for an early rearmament. In addition, it showed the willingness of citizens to defend their country at any cost. Despite numerous technical and operational problems, the improvised weapon successfully coped with such tasks.
