Re: Do tankers ever use the smoke grenades?

>Hobo wrote:
>
>> I don't remember ever reading an acount of a recent battle which
>> mentioned the use of smoke grenades by tanks. Are they often used and
>> are they valueable?
>

Smoke grenades on tanks are red phosphorus (as opposed to white phosphorus on
regular smoke grenades)  This makes them extremely quick burning and puts up an
instant cloud of smoke out in an arc in front of the tank.  

This is primarily for a tank that takes fire and is lucky enough to survive the
first shot.  The TC launches smoke and disappears behind a cloud of smoke. 
This gives the crew a few seconds to seek defilade to return fire.  In a
movement to contact when the lead element encounters ATGM the crew may execute
a "sagger drill" where they launch smoke and jink the tank in an attempt to
throw off the gunner's aim.  BTW it would not be very bright to continue to
move towards the enemy because you will quickly run through your smoke and
present yourself as a great target with a really nice smoke background that
makes your tank stand out like a sore thumb!!

Theories vary as to how effective this is.  IIRC red phosphorus is opaque in
the visable spectrum but may be transparant in the thermal spectrum.   Smoke
and counter smoke capabilities go back and forth and I am not sure who is up
right now. 

I do know this though:  1) Smoke grenade launchers put up a nearly instant wall
of very dense smoke.  2) I definately would not want to be a dismount walking
20-30 meters in front of a track that popped smoke.  You would be standing in a
shower of red phosphorus and that would be no fun at all!

Mike Burk