IBN AL-ATHIR

This is the first mention of a flame thrower in the history of warfare. The ancient Greeks had developed “Greek Fire” which was a type of naphtha tar that could be launched with a sling or trebuchet at enemy ships, but they never developed both the liquid form and the pumping and pressure device to send it over a distance. But apparently the Byzantines did develop the technology. However, it was likely that it was almost as much danger to the Byzantines who manned the equipment as it was to the enemy against whom they used it. However, they were not able to deploy enough of the weapons to have made a material difference in the outcome of any large battles as none of the military leaders and observers made any significant mention of it.

This is the first mention of a flame thrower in the history of warfare. The ancient Greeks had developed “Greek Fire” which was a type of naphtha tar that could be launched with a sling or trebuchet at enemy ships, but they never developed both the liquid form and the pumping and pressure device to send it over a distance. But apparently the Byzantines did develop the technology. However, it was likely that it was almost as much danger to the Byzantines who manned the equipment as it was to the enemy against whom they used it. However, they were not able to deploy enough of the weapons to have made a material difference in the outcome of any large battles as none of the military leaders and observers made any significant mention of it.