Smoke Grenades
| Factions | Smoke Grenades | Icon | Classes | Stats | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smoke Radius | Duration | Color | ||||
 US |
 AN-M8 Smoke |
 |
 Assault Medic Gunner Sniper |
500 | 10 seconds | White |
US |
 M18 Smoke |
 |
Assault Medic Gunner Sniper |
500 | 10 seconds | Red, green, yellow, violet |
 VC |
 RDG-1 Smoke |
 |
Assault Medic Gunner Sniper |
500 | 10 seconds | White, dark gray |
Smoke Grenades are throwable equipment items that create temporary smoke screens. They are used to cover movement, block sightlines, mark positions, and help teammates read what is happening in a fight.
The smoke grenade set includes the U.S. AN-M8 Smoke for white smoke, the U.S. M18 Smoke for colored smoke, and the VC RDG-1 Smoke for white or dark gray smoke.
In-Game Function
Smoke grenades are thrown like grenades and begin producing smoke after a short fuse. Each smoke grenade has a smoke radius of 500 and lasts 10 seconds. They are available to the Assault, Medic, Gunner, and Sniper classes.
White smoke is best for concealment and blocking sightlines. Colored smoke can do the same job, but it is also useful for marking a location because the color stands out more clearly.
HISTORY
Hand smoke grenades are pyrotechnic devices built to make smoke rather than blast or fragments. Most work by igniting a smoke composition inside the body of the grenade, then letting smoke escape through vents or openings as the mixture burns.
Smoke had a wide range of uses during the Vietnam War. It could screen movement across exposed ground, mark a landing zone, signal aircraft, identify friendly positions, or help units coordinate through jungle cover and confusing terrain. White smoke was useful for simple concealment, while colored smoke let troops send a more specific visual signal.
Sources
- Grenade, Hand, Smoke, HC, AN-M8 | Bulletpicker
- Grenade, Hand, Smoke, M18 | Bulletpicker
- TC 3-23.30 Grenades and Pyrotechnic Signals | U.S. Army
- RDG-1 Smoke Grenade | IMFDB
- RDG-1 | Ruwiki
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Drawing of the AN/M8 smoke grenade -
A Yellow M18 colored smoke grenade with it's carboard container tube. -
Operation ?Cook?, was a search and destroy mission conducted in the mountains of Quang Ngai Province, RVN about 320 miles NE of Saigon. -
Members of the 2nd Battalion, 506th Infantry, 101st Airborne Division, "pop" a smoke grenade to guide in a CH-47 Chinook helicopter which is bringing supplies to Fire Support Base Ripcord. NARA 111-CCV-626-CC70183 -
Drawing of an American M18 smoke grenade.
