Figure 1. Smoke haze.

Figure 1. Smoke haze.

Figure 2. Smoke blanket.

friendly units. A smoke haze increases the survivability

simultaneously employed to degrade enemy command

of friendly forces without reducing visibility of friendly

control and communications. Smoke has the added effect

forces to such an extent that the mission cannot be

of reducing the thermal effects of nuclear weapons.

accomplished. It is produced by smoke generators and

US forces use smoke in one or more of the ways just

smoke pots.

discussed to-

A smoke blanket (Figure 2) is used primarily over

 Deny the enemy observation.

friendly areas to screen them from enemy visual

 Reduce effectiveness of enemy target acquisition

observation and hinder enemy aerial observation. A

means.

smoke blanket can also be used to hinder enemy visual

 Restrict nap-of-the-earth and contour approaches

precision bombing. A smoke blanket may restrict

for aircraft.

movement and activity within the screen, thus hampering

 Disrupt enemy movement, operations, and

operations of friendly troops. The smoke blanket is

command control.

produced by smoke generators and smoke pots.

 Create conditions to surprise the enemy.

A smoke curtain (Figure 3) is a dense vertical

 Deceive the enemy.

development of smoke rather than a horizontal blanket

over an area. It is placed between friendly and enemy

Part B - Describe the Types of

positions. It is used to obscure or restrict enemy ground

Smoke Pots

observation of friendly positions and activities; it will not

prevent aerial observation. Artillery, mortars, grenades,

Smoke pots are essentially portable steel containers

and rockets are used for producing hasty smoke curtains.

filled with a smoke-producing agent. An essential

Smoke should be planned for and used during

difference between land-type smoke pots and floating

darkness and other periods of reduced visibility to further

smoke pots lies in the ratio of total bulk of the smoke pots

degrade enemy observation, particularly electro-optical

to bulk of smoke-producing agent. Floating smoke pots

devices not defeated by natural obscuration. Smoke

are not completely filled with agents; voids in the

increases the overall effectiveness of chemical and

container permit the pot to float in water.

conventional munitions (including scattering mines) by

The smoke pots in current use are the ABC-M5 and

masking their employment.

M4A2. Both smoke pots can be used on land. The

Similarly, the effects of smoke on enemy operations

are compounded when electronic warfare is

5