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M18 smoke grenade
The M18 Colored Smoke Grenade is the standard issue colored smoke grenade of the United States Armed Forces and is produced by the Pine Bluff Arsenal. Development began in 1942 after the Army Ground Forces requested a smoke hand grenade be made that had a visible range of 10,000 feet and could be used for marking friendly troop positions, identifying American tanks, or to signal location of downed planes. Utilizing previous experience in colored smoke signals, the Chemical Corps took on this task and had the first colored smoke grenades available in April 1943 designated as "M16".
After production of the M16 colored smoke grenades were underway, the Army Ground Forces decided they did not produce sufficient smoke. The M16 grenades were then redesigned, with the improved version being designated "M18". These grenades became standard issue on 24 September 1943, serving as the primary colored smoke grenades for the United States Armed Forces since. The M18 was first used in combat towards the end of World War II after supplies of the M16 grenades were expended.
Despite advancements in other methods used, colored smoke grenades such as the M18 are still regarded as a highly valuable communication method during military operations. They are primarily used for ground-to-ground or ground-to-air signaling, and target or landing zone marking.
Prior to the creation of smoke grenades, basic colored smoke signals and flares were used by the United States Armed Forces (USAF). During World War I, American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) operated in sectors held by the French Army. They used French and British equipment supplied to them, and observed that the French used red and yellow colored smoke signals. These smoke signals were used in a variety of formats such as on rockets with parachutes, rifle grenades, and in various calibers of pistol cartridges. After observing this, it was seen as beneficial to adopt the French Army system of pyrotechnics into the AEF in 1918. In the prior year, the Chemical Corps developed colored smoke signals for the AEF that came in colors of red, yellow, blue, green, and black. However, only yellow was produced at the time as dyes for the other colors were not available in the United States.
After World War I, the research and development of various colored smoke munitions for the USAF increased. Colored smoke would eventually be available in bombs, mortars, canisters for various calibers of projectiles, and hand and rifle grenades.
In 1942, the Army Ground Forces requested a smoke hand grenade be made that had a visible range of 10,000 feet to be used for marking friendly troop positions, identifying American tanks, or to signal location of downed planes. Utilizing previous experience in colored smoke signals while cooperating with the Ordnance Department, the Chemical Corps took on this task. Development of colored smoke hand grenades began in September of that year.
The initial problem that had to be figured out for creating the grenades was finding a mixture of chemicals that could produce smoke of desired color, volume, visibility, and duration while being heat-stable, commercially available, and inexpensive. Additionally the fuel used had to burn with sufficient intensity to volatilize but not destroy the dyes.
First models of the smoke grenades were based on the M7 tear gas grenade, utilizing its tube and fuse assembly. This was a 2+3⁄8-inches wide and 4+5⁄8-inches tall steel cylindrical tube with 3 lines of 6 emission holes going around the body. On top were 4 additional emission holes, and a threaded hole in the center that a M200A1 fuse went into. The fuel mixture chosen consisted of sulfur and potassium chlorate. Sodium bicarbonate was used as a coolant to absorb heat, helping the dye mixture burn longer while preventing it from decomposing. Organic dye mixtures that varied in composition based on color were pressed into the tube before the fuel mixture was added.
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M18 smoke grenade AI simulator
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M18 smoke grenade
The M18 Colored Smoke Grenade is the standard issue colored smoke grenade of the United States Armed Forces and is produced by the Pine Bluff Arsenal. Development began in 1942 after the Army Ground Forces requested a smoke hand grenade be made that had a visible range of 10,000 feet and could be used for marking friendly troop positions, identifying American tanks, or to signal location of downed planes. Utilizing previous experience in colored smoke signals, the Chemical Corps took on this task and had the first colored smoke grenades available in April 1943 designated as "M16".
After production of the M16 colored smoke grenades were underway, the Army Ground Forces decided they did not produce sufficient smoke. The M16 grenades were then redesigned, with the improved version being designated "M18". These grenades became standard issue on 24 September 1943, serving as the primary colored smoke grenades for the United States Armed Forces since. The M18 was first used in combat towards the end of World War II after supplies of the M16 grenades were expended.
Despite advancements in other methods used, colored smoke grenades such as the M18 are still regarded as a highly valuable communication method during military operations. They are primarily used for ground-to-ground or ground-to-air signaling, and target or landing zone marking.
Prior to the creation of smoke grenades, basic colored smoke signals and flares were used by the United States Armed Forces (USAF). During World War I, American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) operated in sectors held by the French Army. They used French and British equipment supplied to them, and observed that the French used red and yellow colored smoke signals. These smoke signals were used in a variety of formats such as on rockets with parachutes, rifle grenades, and in various calibers of pistol cartridges. After observing this, it was seen as beneficial to adopt the French Army system of pyrotechnics into the AEF in 1918. In the prior year, the Chemical Corps developed colored smoke signals for the AEF that came in colors of red, yellow, blue, green, and black. However, only yellow was produced at the time as dyes for the other colors were not available in the United States.
After World War I, the research and development of various colored smoke munitions for the USAF increased. Colored smoke would eventually be available in bombs, mortars, canisters for various calibers of projectiles, and hand and rifle grenades.
In 1942, the Army Ground Forces requested a smoke hand grenade be made that had a visible range of 10,000 feet to be used for marking friendly troop positions, identifying American tanks, or to signal location of downed planes. Utilizing previous experience in colored smoke signals while cooperating with the Ordnance Department, the Chemical Corps took on this task. Development of colored smoke hand grenades began in September of that year.
The initial problem that had to be figured out for creating the grenades was finding a mixture of chemicals that could produce smoke of desired color, volume, visibility, and duration while being heat-stable, commercially available, and inexpensive. Additionally the fuel used had to burn with sufficient intensity to volatilize but not destroy the dyes.
First models of the smoke grenades were based on the M7 tear gas grenade, utilizing its tube and fuse assembly. This was a 2+3⁄8-inches wide and 4+5⁄8-inches tall steel cylindrical tube with 3 lines of 6 emission holes going around the body. On top were 4 additional emission holes, and a threaded hole in the center that a M200A1 fuse went into. The fuel mixture chosen consisted of sulfur and potassium chlorate. Sodium bicarbonate was used as a coolant to absorb heat, helping the dye mixture burn longer while preventing it from decomposing. Organic dye mixtures that varied in composition based on color were pressed into the tube before the fuel mixture was added.