Flare Guns
Flare guns can spot enemies when shot above them. You can also shoot the flares themselves at enemies to light them on fire.
| Factions | Flare Guns | Icon | Classes | Ammo | Damage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Projectile Hit | Burn Over Time | |||||
 US |
 M8 Flaregun |
 |
 Sniper |
1 / 2 | 40 | 45 |
 VC |
 Type 97 Flaregun |
 |
Sniper |
1 / 2 | 40 | 45 |
Flare guns (also called signal pistols or “Very” pistols) are large-bore handguns designed to launch flares, smoke, or blank signal cartridges for visual communication and illumination. They are primarily signaling tools rather than combat weapons, used to mark locations, coordinate movement, and communicate with aircraft or other units when a visible signal is needed. In the Vietnam War era, flare pistols and related pyrotechnic projectors remained common field signaling equipment alongside other pyrotechnic signals.
DEFINITION & CHARACTERISTICS
A flare gun is defined by what it launches: a pyrotechnic signal round (flare, smoke, or blank) intended to be seen rather than to deliver a projectile for direct fire. Many are single-shot, break-open designs, though military forces have also fielded dedicated “pyrotechnic pistols” and projectors intended for ground-air signaling and illumination.
- Common traits
- Role: Visual signaling and illumination (marking positions, signaling aircraft/units, emergency/distress signals).
- Typical cartridges: Large-bore pyrotechnic signal rounds (often around the “one inch” / ~26.5–25 mm family in many military patterns; other bores exist by nation and period).
- Typical fire modes: Single-shot is common; fired as needed rather than in sustained use.
- Typical feeding: Breech-loaded, break-open actions are common; some designs have vehicle/aircraft mounting features.
- Common engagement ranges: Used for visible effect at distance (altitude/visibility depends on the specific flare/signal round).
- Notable tradeoffs: Simple and reliable signaling tool, but limited ammunition capacity and visibility that can reveal the user’s position; performance depends heavily on the specific signal cartridge (color, burn time, brightness, smoke, etc.).
HISTORY
Signal pistols became widespread in the early 20th century as militaries and navies adopted standardized pyrotechnic signals for communication, identification, and distress. The “Very” pistol (named after Edward W. Very) became a widely recognized pattern of signal pistol, and the one-inch class of flare pistols (often cited around 26.5 mm) remained common in multiple countries for decades. Over time, forces fielded both general “signal pistols” and more specialized pyrotechnic pistols/projectors paired with specific signal cartridges.
During the Vietnam War period, visual pyrotechnic signaling continued to matter in dense terrain and in operations involving frequent coordination with aircraft and other maneuver elements. U.S. technical manuals for pyrotechnic projectors describe the AN-M8 pyrotechnic pistol as a single-loading pistol that could be fired by hand or from an aircraft mount, used for projecting aircraft signals and for signaling to troops on the ground or to other aircraft. Commonwealth and allied forces also used signal pistols in similar roles, with museum collection records documenting service signal pistols and their standard signal ammunition.
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flare_gun Flare gun / Very pistol overview (terminology, common bore context) | Wikipedia
- https://radionerds.com/images/4/43/TM_9-290.pdf TM 9-290: Pyrotechnic Projectors, All Types (AN-M8 purpose and use) | U.S. War Department (PDF)
- https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1036292 Signal Pistol (25 mm / 1 inch standard signal pistol description) | Australian War Memorial
- https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C235953 American M8 Signal Pistol (pyrotechnic pistol description and markings) | Australian War Memorial