Marines' Tactical Choices: M18 Smoke Grenades And Their Afghanistan Theatre Utility

The M18 smoke grenade is a US Army grenade used for ground-to-ground or ground-to-air signalling, target or landing zone marking, or screening for unit maneuvering. Developed in 1942 during World War II, it replaced the M16 smoke grenade, which had a shorter burn time and was less vivid. The M18 is available in red, yellow, green, and violet, and produces a cloud of coloured smoke for 50 to 90 seconds. While I cannot find explicit confirmation of their use in Afghanistan, the M18 smoke grenade is used by the US military, and therefore it is likely that they have been used in Afghanistan.

M18 smoke grenades are used for ground-to-air signalling

The M18 smoke grenade is a US Army grenade used for ground-to-air signalling. It was developed in 1942 during World War II and was designed to replace the M16 smoke grenade, which did not burn as long or as vividly. The M18 was designated standard issue in the fall of 1943 and is available in red, green, yellow, and violet. The grenade produces a cloud of coloured smoke for 50 to 90 seconds and can be thrown 35 metres by an average soldier.

The M18 is used for ground-to-air signalling, target marking, and screening for unit movements. When used for ground-to-air signalling, the M18 emits a cloud of coloured smoke that can be spotted by aircraft. This allows ground troops to identify their location to aircraft, especially in areas with thick forest canopy where locating a target from above can be difficult. The specific colour of the smoke is not communicated to the aircraft to prevent confusion if the enemy is monitoring the radio frequency. Instead, the aircraft is asked to identify the colour they see, and the colours are sometimes given code names like cherry (red) or grape (violet).

The M18 is also used as a screening device for unit movements. Smoke grenades are often used to create a smoke screen to obscure and conceal movement, giving rise to the phrase "to smoke", which means to fake or bluff. They can be thrown prior to movement to provide a wall of visual distraction that reduces the accuracy of enemy fire and temporarily deceives them as to the force's location.

In addition to the M18, the AN-M8 HC Smoke Grenade is another type of smoke grenade used by the US military. The AN-M8 emits a dense cloud of white or grey smoke and is used for smoke screening, target marking, and signalling. However, the M18 coloured smoke grenades are mainly used for signalling purposes due to their bright colours.

M18 smoke grenades are used for target marking

The M18 smoke grenade is a US Army grenade used for target marking, among other purposes. It was developed in 1942 during World War II and was designed to replace the M16 smoke grenade, which did not burn as long or as vividly. The M18 was designated standard issue in the fall of 1943 and remained in use until it was declared obsolete in the early 1990s.

The M18 smoke grenade is effective as a ground-to-ground or ground-to-air signaling device, a target or landing zone marking device, or a screening device for unit movements. When used for target marking, the M18 grenade can be filled with any one of four smoke colours: green, yellow, red, or violet. Each grenade emits smoke for 50 to 90 seconds and can be thrown 30 to 35 meters by an average soldier.

The M18 smoke grenade has an olive drab body with a pale green or light gray band and markings. The top is painted to indicate the smoke colour, and the colour's name is marked on the side. The grenade features a M201A1 Pull-ring Igniter, a "mouse trap" type igniting fuze with a 1.2 to 2.0-second delay, and contains 11.5 ounces of coloured smoke mixture. It weighs 19 ounces.

When employing the M18 grenade, it is important to note that there is a danger of starting a fire if used in a dry area. The grenade casings can remain hot for some time after burning out, and the smoke can be harmful if inhaled for prolonged periods. Therefore, it is crucial to exercise caution and follow safety protocols when using the M18 smoke grenade for target marking or any other purpose.

M18 smoke grenades are used for screening

The M18 smoke grenade is a US Army grenade used for screening unit movements. It is a ground-to-ground or ground-to-air device that emits a cloud of dense smoke. The M18 was developed in 1942 during World War II and was designed to replace the M16 smoke grenade, which had a shorter burn time and was less vivid. The M18 is available in red, green, yellow, and violet. Each grenade emits smoke for 50 to 90 seconds and can be thrown 35 meters by an average soldier.

The M18 smoke grenade is used for screening unit movements by creating a smoke screen that obscures the movement of troops and vehicles. This can be used to deceive the enemy and reduce the accuracy of enemy fire. Smoke grenades are also used for signalling and marking targets or landing zones.

When using the M18 smoke grenade, it is important to be cautious as there is a risk of starting a fire if used in a dry area. The grenade casing can remain hot for some time after use, and it should not be picked up bare-handed. Additionally, the smoke can be harmful if inhaled for prolonged periods, and it can cause respiratory issues or oxygen deprivation in enclosed spaces.

The M18 smoke grenade is a valuable tool for screening unit movements and providing cover during military operations. It has been used by the US Army and other allied forces in various conflicts, including World War II and the war in Afghanistan.

M18 smoke grenades are used for training

The M18 is a US Army grenade used as a ground-to-ground or ground-to-air signalling device, a target or landing zone marking device, or a screening device for unit movements. The grenade can be filled with any one of four smoke colours: green, yellow, red, and violet. Each grenade will emit smoke for 50 to 90 seconds and can be thrown 35 metres by an average soldier.

The M18 is one of three types of smoke grenades used by the US Army, the others being the M83 smoke grenade and the M106 Screen Obscurant Device. The M18 is painted green with white letters and the top is coloured in either red, yellow, green, white, or purple.

The M18 is also used to simulate exposure to chemical warfare agents during training.

M18 smoke grenades are used for creating distractions

The M18 was developed in 1942 during World War II and was designed to replace the M16 smoke grenade, which did not burn as long or as vividly. The M18 is a US Army grenade used as a ground-to-ground or ground-to-air signaling device, a target or landing zone marking device, or a screening device for unit maneuvering. It is available in red, yellow, green, and violet, and produces a cloud of colored smoke for 50 to 90 seconds.

The M18 smoke grenade is also used for training and signaling purposes. It is often used to signal aircraft, as locating a target from above can be difficult, even with good radio contact. The colored smoke allows aircraft to spot friendly forces quickly, which is especially important in CASEVAC and close air support situations.

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