| ROKS-2 flamethrower | |
| Origin: | Soviet Union |
| Type: | Flamethrower |
| Is Ranged: | yes |
| Service: | 1935−1945 (USSR) |
| Used By: | Soviet Union |
| Wars: | Second World War, Vietnam War |
| Manufacturer: | Different manufacturers |
| Production Date: | 1935-1941 |
| Weight: | 22.71NaN1 |
| Crew: | 1 |
| Range: | 25m (82feet) |
| Max Range: | 45m (148feet) |
| Feed: | 9l fuel tank 1 nitrogen tank (propellant) |
| Sights: | None |
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.
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. The purpose of this was to prevent the operator from being specifically targeted by the enemy.[1] 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.[2]
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 9L of fuel. The fuel was propelled by nitrogen gas pressurized at and, under ideal circumstances, had a maximum range of around 45m (148feet).
thumb|A Finnish soldier with a captured ROKS-3 flamethrower, June 1943
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.[3]
Some ROKS-3 units were supplied to North Korea,[4] Czechoslovakia, Kingdom of Yemen (via Czechoslovakia), and North Vietnam.
Yemen − 50 delivered in 1957, former Czechoslovak stock