Ampulomet
{{Infobox weapon
|name=Ampulomet
| image=125 mm ampulomet battle of stalingrad museum.jpg
| image_size = 300
|caption=Ampulomet and PM M1910 machine gun at the Museum of the Battle of Stalingrad.
|origin=Soviet Union
|type=
|is_ranged=
|is_bladed=
|is_explosive=
|is_artillery=yes
|is_vehicle=
|is_UK=
|service=1941–1945
|used_by={{USSR}}
{{flag|Finland}} (Captured)
{{flag|Nazi Germany}} (Captured)
|wars=World War II
|designer=
|design_date=
|manufacturer=Leningrad
|production_date=1941–1942
|number=
|variants=
|weight={{convert|26|kg|lboz|abbr=on}}
|length={{convert|1|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
|part_length={{convert|.84|m|ftin|abbr=on}}{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/infantrymountain0000cham/page/63|title=Infantry, mountain, and airborne guns|last=Chamberlain|first=Peter|date=1975|page=[https://archive.org/details/infantrymountain0000cham/page/63 63]|publisher=Arco|others=Gander, Terry|isbn=0668038195|location=New York|oclc=2067391}}
|width=
|height=
|cartridge=Separate loading black powder charge and AZh-2 projectile containing KS incendiary.
|cartridge_weight={{convert|1.5|kg|lboz|abbr=on}}{{cite book|author=David M. Glantz|title=Companion To Colossus Reborn: Key Documents And Statistics|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rAJnAAAAMAAJ|year=2005|publisher=University Press of Kansas|isbn=978-0-7006-1359-5|page=154}}
|caliber={{convert|125|mm|in|abbr=on}}
|action=
|rate=8 rpm
|velocity={{convert|50|m/s|ft/s|abbr=on}}
|range=
|max_range={{convert|250|m|ft|abbr=on}}
|feed=
|sights=
|breech=
|recoil=None
|carriage=
|elevation=0° to +12°
}}
The Ampulomet ({{langx|ru|125-мм ампуломёт образца 1941 года}}, also rendered Ampulomyot, ampulla mortar, etc., lit. "ampule/vial thrower" cf. миномёт) was an expedient anti-tank weapon which launched a 125 mm incendiary projectile made of spherical glass.{{cite book|author=Círculo Militar (Buenos Aires, Argentina)|title=Revista|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cHwPAAAAIAAJ|year=1945|publisher=Calle de Viamonte.|page=562}}{{cite book|author=Gordon L. Rottman|title=Soviet Rifleman 1941-45|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XTc2Ffyt_X0C&pg=PA30|year=2007|publisher=Osprey Publishing|isbn=978-1-84603-127-4|pages=30–}} This weapon was introduced in 1941 and used (to a limited degree) by the Red Army in World War II, but by 1942 was largely obsolete.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vCwV1bC47-cC&pg=PA47|title=World War II Infantry Anti-Tank Tactics|author=Gordon L. Rottman|publisher=Osprey Publishing|year=2005|isbn=978-1-84176-842-7|pages=47–}}
Design
File:125 mm ampoule thrower finnish army test.jpg The weapon consisted of an unrifled tube with a crude breech mounted on a Y-shaped pedestal which pivoted on trunnions to provide elevation. Two breech mounted inverted horns were provided for traverse/elevation and a simple inclinometer for targeting and range calculation. A black powder charge was inserted into the breech and fired by a percussion cap to propel the AZh-2 glass ampule. The ampules were filled with an incendiary mixture known as KS. KS was a mixture of 80% phosphorus and 20% sulfur which ignited when exposed to air. The burning mixture created a bright flame, thick white smoke and would burn for up to three minutes at temperatures between {{convert|800-1000|C|F|abbr=on}}. The burning liquid would seep through vision slots or engine grilles on a tank and ignite ammunition or fuel as well as choke and blind the crew.{{Cite book|title=The Trophies Of The Red Army During The Great Patriotic War 1941-1945. Volume 1|last=Natzvaladze|first=Yury|publisher=Land O'Sun Printers|year=1996|location=Scottsdale, Arizona|pages=31–34}}
See also
Northover Projector — A similar British weapon used by the Home Guard during World War II
References
{{reflist}}
{{Commons category|125 mm ampulomet model 1941}}
Category:World War II infantry weapons of the Soviet Union