13-036-939
NAME – Finnish Molotov Cocktail
NAME (NATIVE) – Molotovin koktaili {Molotov Cocktail], Polttopullo [Fire bomb]
COMMON NAMES – Fire bomb
TYPE – Improvised Incendiary bomb
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN – Finland
DATE OF MANUFACTURE – 1939
LENGTH – 26.7 cm (10.5 in)
WIDTH (DIAMETER) – 7.6 cm (3.99 in)
WEIGHT – 0.987 kg (2 lb 3 oz)
EFFECT – Spreads burning liquid over the burst area
BURST RADIUS – 3 to 5 m (3.25 to 5.5 yards)
BURN TIME – 40 to 60 seconds
FUSE TYPE – Exterior matches – “Woodsman” or “Storm” type (production version), Simple wick (Improvised version)
FUSE INITIATION – Matches struck with striking surface (Production version), Ignition with external source (Improvised version
FUSE DELAY – None, ignites on impact
FILLER – Alcohol, Kerosene, Tar, (production version, Gasoline (improvised version)
FILLER WEIGHT – 0.57 kg (1 lb 4 oz) [750 ml (0.76 quart)]
AVERAGE RANGE – 20 m (22 yards)
COLOR CODE – None
MARKINGS – Dependent on container
MANUFACTURER – ALKO, State Liquor and Distilling Monopoly, Helsinki, Finland, also Locally produced (Improvised)
STATUS – Obsolescent but widespread internationally
SERVICE – Finland (Winter War), international use
The Finns were not the inventors of the Molotov Cocktail, but they did give it the name by which it is best known. The Molotov Cocktail is simply a frangible container with a flammable liquid inside it and a form of ignition attached. The ignition source is usually a burning wick of some sort.
The actual Frangible Firebomb goes back to at least the 1500’s with the clay containers and a burning wick being thrown over city walls to start fires. During the Winter War of 1939-1940, Finland was invaded by forces from the Soviet Union. What Stalin though would be a quick victory turned into a very costly almost stalemate for the Soviet forces.
The Finns, fighting for their own country, knew the terrain and took on the Soviets effectively. One of the most popular antitank weapons for the lightly equipped Finns was the frangible firebomb. So popular was the weapon that the State produced them in a standard design in large numbers.
The Finns blamed Vyacheslav Molotov for the war. Molotov was the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Soviet Union between 1939 and 1949. The Finns suggested that Molotov “take a drink” of flaming gasoline, as if he were in every invading Soviet armored vehicle. This resulted in the worldwide name of “Molotov Cocktail” for the Finnish version of the firebomb.
