Molotov cocktail

Finnish made Molotov cocktail with more handy storm matches instead of a rag. Such used in Winter War, 1939.

Molotov cocktail, named after Vyacheslav Molotov also known as petrol bomb, benzine torch, molotov grenade or molotov bomb, is the generic name for a variety of crude incendiary weapons. While they are commonly associated with irregular military forces and rioters, they are actually more frequently used for basic arson. In urban slang, they are often referred to as a homemade frag or "the poor man's hand grenade."

Mechanism

A Molotov cocktail consists of a glass bottle partly filled with flammable liquid, typically alcohol (methanol, ethanol, ...), or gasoline. When gasoline is used as the main ingredient, motor oil or sugar is commonly added to help the gasoline cling to the target. A burning match is dropped into the liquid in the bottle, but due to small surface area of combustion, as well as a lack of air caused by the small and narrow opening, just a small flame is emitted. When thrown, however, the bottle breaks on impact, and with sudden oxygen available throughout the fuel, the burning fuel quickly sets the target on fire in an explosive manner.

This is the simplest and most widespread construction, although some prefer for the bottle to be airtight prior to impact, and set on fire due to a burning rag or torch attached to the bottle. There are also sophisticated methods for igniting, such as use of pyrophoric mass Bengal fire or a chemical igniter based on reaction of sulfuric acid and potassium chlorate, which do not need initial fire to work. Additional substances may be added to the basic Molotov cocktail to enhance its use as a weapon.

History

File:Mural - Battle of the bogside 2004 SMC.jpg

A mural in Derry of a young boy in a gas mask holding a petrol bomb during the Battle of the Bogside, August 1969.

The name "Molotov cocktail" is derived from Vyacheslav Mikhailovich Molotov, a Soviet politician who was the People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs, or the Foreign Minister, of the Soviet Union, with an ironic reference to the 1930s fashion for pre-dinner "cocktails". During the buildup to World War II, when Finland refused to surrender some strategic ports to the Soviet Union, the Soviets invaded with the excuse of Finnish artillery barraging a Russian village (the shots were most likely shot by Soviets themselves to get a reason for invansion). The heavily-outnumbered Finnish Army, facing Red Army tanks in what came to be known as the Winter War, borrowed an improvised incendiary device design from the 1936-39 Spanish Civil War; in that conflict, the Spanish Nationalists under the orders of General Francisco Franco had used the weapon against Soviet T-26 tanks supporting the Spanish Republicans in a failed 1936 Soviet assault near Toledo, 30 km from Madrid.

When Molotov claimed in radio broadcasts that the Soviet Union was not dropping bombs but rather delivering food to the starving Finns, the Finns started to call the air bombs satirically "Molotov picnic baskets." Soon they responded by saluting the advancing tanks with "Molotov cocktails." At first the term was used to describe only the burning mixture itself, but in practical use the term was soon applied to the combination of both the bottle and its contents. This Finnish use of the hand- or sling-thrown explosive against Soviet tanks was repeated in the subsequent Continuation War. Molotov cocktails were eventually mass-produced by the Alko corporation at its Rajamäki distillery, bundled with matches to light them. Production totalled 450 000 during the Winter War. The original design of Molotov cocktail was a mixture of ethanol, tar and gasoline in 0.75 litre bottle. The bottle had a pyrophoric matter (Bengal fire stick) attached on its side. Before use the Bengal fire stick was lit; when the bottle broke on impact, it ignited the mixture. The Bengal fire was found to be safer to use than a burning rag on the mouth of the bottle.

A cocktail as used during the Warsaw Uprising...

They also saw extensive use during the Nomonhan Incident, a border conflict ostensibly between Mongolia and Manchukuo that saw heavy fighting between Japanese and Soviet forces. Short of anti-tank equipment, Japanese infantry attacked Soviet tanks with bottles filled with gasoline. Due to the hot and dry climate of the Mongolian summer, the gasoline bottles almost invariably ignited in contact with tanks, even without burning rags. Japanese infantrymen claimed several hundred Soviet tanks destroyed through the use of Molotov cocktails .

These weapons saw widespread use by all sides in World War II. They were very effective against light tanks, and very bad for enemy morale. The following is a first-hand description of their effects, written during the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising in 1943:

The well-aimed bottles hit the tank. The flames spread quickly. The blast of the explosion is heard. The machine stands motionless. The crew is burned alive. The other two tanks turn around and withdraw. The Germans who took cover behind them withdraw in panic. We take leave of them with a few well-aimed shots and grenades.

During the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, members of the Israeli Kibbutz Degania managed to stop a Syrian tank assault by using Molotov cocktails.

Molotov cocktail was also a favorite weapon of Hungarian freedom fighters of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution. The narrow streets of Budapest greased the skids to aim and drop from the upstairs windows of the bulidings. This way they could burn down many Soviet T-34 tanks. A special variant was called the Ribbentrop-Molotov cocktail wich was a simple Molotov-cocktail bounded with 3 German hand grenades. It's name is an ironic reference to the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact. It was said that 3-4 Molotov-cocktails were needed to stop a T-34, but only one Ribbentrop-Molotov cocktail (shortly was called just Ribi) was enough.

The weapon has been used against tanks effectively because of the conformation of parts of tanks, particularly around the undersides and fuel tank "entrances". A Molotov cocktail could blow up the fuel tank, destroying the machine, particularly for older (before 1940) tank models. Molotov cocktails are much more effective against gasoline engines than diesel engine tanks. This is because Diesel has a high flashpoint of 64°C - making it more difficult to ignite compared to petrol. Some Soviet tanks actually had an entry to the gas tank on the side of the vehicle, which could be opened by combatants in close quarters, letting out the highly flammable liquid and making destruction of the tank even easier. Note that these tactics were only effective due to the advantage guerrillas had in close quarters; tanks do not have a tight turn radius, and are rendered near useless in such concentrated street fighting, making them vulnerable to close combat attackers (especially ones with incendiary bombs).

Petrol bombs were widely used throughout the Troubles in Northern Ireland in riot situations, directed towards the RUC or the British Army. They are still occasionally used against the PSNI (formerly known as the RUC) and army, they are frequently used in sectarian attacks on homes and businesses by both communities. Fireworks and homemade grenades, known as blast bombs now commonly accompany petrol bomb attacks on the security forces.

...and a catapult devised to launch cocktails over obstacles such as walls or buildings

Legality

As incendiary devices, Molotov cocktails are illegal to manufacture or possess in many regions. Their use against people is typically covered under a variety of charges, including assault, actual or grievous bodily harm, manslaughter, attempted murder, and murder, depending upon their effect and upon local laws. Their use against property is usually covered under arson charges. In the United States, Molotov cocktails are considered "destructive devices" and regulated by the ATF.

Recent use

Molotov cocktails were put to use recently during the riotous 2005 civil unrest in France. They are also frequently used in the Palestanian Intifada.

Molotov cocktails are frequently used in riots in Athens, Greece by insurrectionist anarchists.

In Sydney, during the 2005 Cronulla riots, rioters carrying Molotov cocktails were apprehended when they carried open bottles in a bus. The resulting smell of petrol alerted the driver, who in turn alerted the police.

During the highly violent and intense Oldham Race Riots on May 26 2001 in Oldham, England, petrol bombs were the primary projectile used by South Asian youths against riot police. No one was killed.

During the Columbine High School massacre, the two gunmen built and threw several Molotov cocktails; none of them, however, exploded.

Several games, for example the Grand Theft Auto series, or Commandos feature Molotov Cocktails as weapons.

External links

• A detailed technology of the Molotov cocktail
• Molotov Cocktail on WW2