Japanese and Spanish flamethrowers

[Tom W.]

I just bought a postcard from 1918 that shows Japanese troops with a static flamethrower. As far as I know the Japanese didn't develop their own flamethrowers in World War I, so it's likely a French model. It could also be a German weapon turned over to the Japanese after the Armistice.

[Tom W.]

The Spanish flamethrower is the Lanzallamas Biosca Modelo 1918. It was a portable device operated by two men: One wore the weapon and the other fired the lance. This photo shows cadets at the Infantry Academy in Toledo training with a Biosca.