Flamethrower Infantry - WW2 - United States

Axis & Allies RTS > Infantry > Flamethrower

USA - Flamethrower
Infantry

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AXIS and ALLIES RTS | Flamethrower Infantry

The man-portable flamethrower was first used in WWI, primarily against battlefield fortifications such as trenches and bunkers. Flamethrowers grew in popularity during WWII, with most countries eventually having some type of flamethrower in their arsenal. This popularity was largely due to the strong psychological effect flamethrowers had on enemy soldiers. Flamethrower infantry where often easy targets, due to the weapon's short range and the high visability of the backpack; and the fact the operator would usually have to expose himself to fire the weapon. Infantry flamethrowers where eventually phased-out for this reason, however most countries had tank-mounted flamethrowers (flame tanks), such as the Churchill Crocodile

In Axis and Allies RTS, flamethrower infantry has a very limited role, despite the fact they do more morale damage than any other infantry, excluding Japanese mortars. A good player could probably find a way to use flamethrower infantry effectively, but they are only available to the United States; which is usually in a hurry to get to the mech stage of the game.

AXIS and ALLIES RTS | Flamethrower or Mortar?

Mortar Unit
health = 150
defense = 1
speed-max = 2
max-targets = 8
range = 30
recharge-time = 9
BlastDamageEffect
amount = 30
area = 3
MoraleLossEffect
amount = .75

Flamethrower Unit
health = 150
defense = 1
speed-max = 2.5
max-targets = NA
range = 6
recharge-time = 6
FireDamageEffect
amount = 40
area = 3
MoraleLossEffect
amount = 1

Flamethrower infantry is actually stronger than Mortar infantry in most cases, lets take a look at how the USA mortar and flamethrower units matchup (to the left). Better attack and morale damage, and no units in the game have resistance to fire attacks, unlike explosive damage, which some units have resistance to. Not to mention the flamethrower regiment features two MG units, where all mortar regiments (except Germany) only have one.

As in real-life, their weakness is the short range of the flamethrower. This requires them to be on the front-lines and makes them an easy kill for any sniper based infantry. At least with mortars the strongest units are in the back, and are less likely to be killed by snipers.

AXIS and ALLIES RTS | Flamethrower Conclusion

In theory, flamethrower infantry could be used in the mid-game as a screening force for your mech, but only makes sense versus non-sniper infantry and probably only on heavily forested maps as well. Even then it's use is questionable, as the United States is just too strong in other areas on the game, namely AT-Mech, Arties, and Airpower.

Whatever you choose to deploy, it's up to you as commander to put your forces in an advantageous position with an understanding of base resistances, terrain modifiers, formation, upgrades, special ops, military tactics, and more.

FLAMETHROWER INFANTRY - That concludes the basics of US Flamethrower Infantry. Like our story? Please Digg it! Have a correction, addition, question, or other? You can contribute to ur A&A wiki, post in the official forum thread..