The ROKS-2 and ROKS-3 (Shortened from Russian, Rantseviy Ognemyot Kluyeva-Sergeyeva; Ранцевый Огнемёт Клюева — Сергеева; "Kluyev-Sergeyev backpack flamethrower") were man-portable flamethrowers used by the USSR in the Second World War.
ROKS-2 The ROKS-2 was designed not to draw attention, so the fuel and gas tanks were concealed under a sheet-metal outer casting resembling a knapsack; the flame projector was designed to resemble a standard Mosin–Nagant rifle. Operators of flamethrowers during The Great War were immediately targeted, so by camouflaging it to look like a rifle the ROKS-2 protected the operator from being specifically targeted by the enemy.
ROKS-2 had two vertical fuel tanks connected by pipe to a horizontal pressurized nitrogen tank. The nitrogen tank was pressurized at approximately 113 bars (11,300 kPa) and used a propellant for the fuel. The flame shots were ignited by firing specially modified 7.62×25mm Tokarev cartridges.
The ROKS-2 was used, amongst other engagements, during the close-range fighting during the first days of the Battle of Kursk in 1943.World War II - Willmott, H.P., Dorling Kindersley, 2004, Page 189,
The Finnish designation for captured ROKS-2 units was liekinheitin M/41-r. Captured Soviet flamethrowers saw some use by Finnish forces during the Continuation War. They were operated by two-man teams of combat engineers. They were well regarded by the Finns, although flamethrowers of all kinds saw little use by Finnish forces.
ROKS-3 During the German invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941, production in factories struggled to keep up with the demand for weapons, including production of the ROKS-2. This led to the creation of the ROKS-3. The ROKS-3 was a simplified model designed to be easier to manufacture. It did away with the disguise for the backpack, though it retained the flame projector designed to resemble a rifle. Both models carried around of fuel. The fuel was propelled by nitrogen gas pressurized at and, under ideal circumstances, had a maximum range of around .
Some ROKS-3 units were supplied to North Korea, Czechoslovakia, Kingdom of Yemen (via Czechoslovakia), and North Vietnam.
Users
− Captured ROKS-2 and ROKS-3
− ROKS-3 supplied by the USSR − 50 delivered in 1957, former Czechoslovak stock
See also List of flamethrowers List of Russian weaponry
References
Bibliography
External links
Information on the ROKS flamethrowers Pictures of a ROKS-3