Molotov cocktail

Also known as petrol bomb, fire bomb, poor man's grenade, Molotov cocktails, cocktail for Molotov

incendiary weapon using flammable liquid in a bottle

AI overview

A Molotov cocktail is a simple incendiary weapon made by filling a bottle with flammable liquid, typically gasoline, which ignites when thrown and breaks. It matters historically and in current conflicts because it is an improvised weapon that can be produced with readily available materials, making it relevant in both military and civilian contexts.

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Image: Training bijstandseenheid 12 (molotov zoom).jpg

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Article

A Molotov cocktail (among several other names – see § Etymology) is a hand-thrown incendiary weapon consisting of a frangible container filled with flammable substances and equipped with a fuse (typically a glass bottle filled with flammable liquids sealed with a cloth wick). In use, the fuse attached to the container is lit and the weapon is thrown, shattering on impact. This ignites the flammable substances contained in the bottle and spreads flames as the fuel burns.

Due to their relative ease of production, Molotov cocktails are typically improvised weapons. Their improvised usage spans criminals, gangsters, rioters, football hooligans, urban guerrillas, terrorists, irregular soldiers, freedom fighters, and even regular soldiers; usage in the latter case is often due to a shortage of equivalent military-issued munitions. Despite the weapon's improvised nature and uncertain quality, many modern militaries exercise the use of Molotov cocktails.