| Gaz0045 | 02 Jul 2015 5:37 a.m. PST |
After a discussion elsewhere on Russian tanks etc having the ability to create smoke by injecting diesel into their exhaust systems, the question now asked is which Western AFV's can do the same?
The Challenger 2 and the M60 have this ability………any others? |
| MajorB | 02 Jul 2015 5:54 a.m. PST |
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 Legion 4  | 02 Jul 2015 6:07 a.m. PST |
I know many like even my old M113 had smoke grenade launchers … |
| John Treadaway | 02 Jul 2015 7:37 a.m. PST |
I assume those featuring gas turbines (Abrams for eg) do not. But that's an assumption, I grant you. John T |
| Buck215 | 02 Jul 2015 7:42 a.m. PST |
The M1 IP Abrams we had at Fort Polk, La. Had smoke generation capability at the flick of a switch. We always drilled using smoke capability to make a quick disappearance from the OPFOR… |
| tuscaloosa | 02 Jul 2015 8:54 a.m. PST |
My understanding is, and I welcome correction, is that the Russian technique consists of spraying diesel onto the hot exhaust manifold itself to create the smoke screen. So it only works to create smoke behind the tank, either leaving a smoke trail behind it, or the tank could back into the smoke screen for concealment. To my knowledge, no Western tanks use this system. However, both Russian and Western tanks have smoke grenade projectors which fire forward. Both systems create smoke, but are used differently. |
| Cold Steel | 02 Jul 2015 9:16 a.m. PST |
Tuscaloosa is correct on the method of creating a smoke screen, but not on who had it. US tanks since the M60A1 RISE Passive had it factory-installed (my M60A1 had it in 1981). Older equipment was retrofitted. I even saw some NG M48A5s with it. The smoke grenade launchers were added on the M60A3 and M1s. By the late 80s, most US AFVs had them. |
| John Treadaway | 02 Jul 2015 10:15 a.m. PST |
@ Buck215 Do you know how it worked? It it diesel (not sure what the engines normally run on) and where is it burnt? Is it the exhaust? John T |
| Ron W DuBray | 02 Jul 2015 11:04 a.m. PST |
The engine is also equipped with a smoke generator that is triggered by the driver. When activated, fuel is sprayed into the hot turbine exhaust, creating the thick smoke. However, due to the change from diesel as a primary fuel to the use of JP-8, this system is disabled on most Abrams today because of a slightly elevated risk of fire damage to the engine compartment. |
| paulgenna | 02 Jul 2015 11:55 a.m. PST |
I know the Marines AAV had the ability. |
| tuscaloosa | 02 Jul 2015 12:17 p.m. PST |
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| Weasel | 02 Jul 2015 1:03 p.m. PST |
So possible smoke deployment systems out there: Smoke grenades fired from hull mounted launchers. Smoke shells fired from hte main gun, ww2 style (is this still in use?) Engine-smoke dischargers. Anything else? |
| tuscaloosa | 02 Jul 2015 7:39 p.m. PST |
Good summary. "Smoke grenades fired from hull mounted launchers." Very minor point: usually turret mounted, which makes sense, because usually the turret will be pointing at the enemy. Of course, if the AFV has no turret… |
| Legion 4 | 03 Jul 2015 8:37 a.m. PST |
Like the M113 …  |
| Gaz0045 | 03 Jul 2015 10:35 a.m. PST |
Apparently South African built vehicles ( Rooikat etc) have the smoke making capability……….as do 'some' IDF vehicles-whether that ties in with the M60 series and re-purposed ex-Arab Warpac supplied vehicles rather than indigenous designs is unclear………… |
| Weasel | 04 Jul 2015 12:00 p.m. PST |
Tuscaloosa – makes sense, thanks! Anyone know whether tank main guns still use smoke shells regularly? For some reason, in my head, I always associate it with ww2 (for blinding AT guns) but I could be very wrong. |
finally begins Vietnam.
