Smoke grenade

A British L83A1 smoke grenade, manufactured in May 2008. This grenade has already been used.

A smoke grenade is a canister-type grenade used as a signaling device, target or landing zone marking device, or as a screening device for unit movements.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=picam18>Template:Cite web</ref>

Smoke grenades are generally more complex and emit a far larger amount of smoke than smoke bombs, which are a type of firework typically started with an external fuse rather than a pin. Smoke grenades often cost around Template:USD compared to smoke bombs, which can often cost just a few cents. The phrase "to smoke", meaning to fake, bluff, or beat around the bush, comes from the military usage of smoke grenades to obscure and conceal movement;Template:Citation needed similarly, "pop smoke", derived from a common way of ordering the use of smoke grenades, is used as a slang term for quickly leaving a place.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Design

Diagram and cross section of an M18 smoke grenade

A typical design consists of a sheet steel cylinder with four emission holes on top and one on the bottom to allow smoke release when the grenade is ignited. The filler consists of 250 to 350 grams of colored smoke composition (mostly potassium chlorate, lactose, and a dye) in virtually any color. White smoke grenades typically use hexachloroethane-zinc and granular aluminum. The reaction is exothermic and though they remain intact, smoke grenade casings will often remain scalding hot for some time even after the grenade is no longer emitting smoke. Although modern smoke grenades are designed not to directly emit fire or sparks, they remain a fire hazard and are capable of igniting dry vegetation or flammable substances if used carelessly.

Another type of smoke grenade is the bursting variation. These are filled with white phosphorus (WP), a pyrophoric agent that is spread quickly into a cloud by an internal bursting charge. White phosphorus burns with a brilliant yellow flame while producing copious amounts of white smoke (phosphorus pentoxide). This type of smoke grenade is favored for its ability to produce a very dense and nearly instantaneous cloud of white concealment smoke as compared to the more common solid-filler grenades which expel a slower stream of smoke over a period of roughly 1 minute. For this reason, they are favored for use in onboard grenade launching attachments on armored vehicles, which require extremely fast concealment in the event they are targeted by anti-armor weaponry and need to rapidly retreat.

Use

A violet smoke grenade used to mark a helicopter landing zone during the Vietnam War, 1967

Smoke grenades used to create a smoke screen during protest demonstrations in Paris, 2008

Smoke grenades are used for several purposes. The primary use is the creation of smoke screens for concealment and the signaling of aircraft.

If movement (such as flanking maneuvers or retreat) is necessary, smoke grenades can be thrown prior to movement in order to provide a wall of visual distraction that reduces the accuracy of enemy fire and temporarily deceives them as to the force's location.

Smoke grenades can also be used to signal aircraft. Since locating a target from above (especially in thick forest canopy) can be nearly impossible, even with good radio contact, colored smoke grenades are often used to allow aircraft to spot them. Colored signaling smoke grenades <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> are widely used in CASEVAC and close air support situations where quickly locating friendly ground forces is of paramount importance. Common colors are red, yellow, green and purple, and all use very brightly colored dyes to increase the likelihood of being spotted from above.

Other uses

Assault Amphibious Vehicles firing smoke grenades

Smoke grenades are functionally identical to many forms of chemical grenades (such as CS gas riot control grenades) and incendiary grenades (such as thermite grenades) which use a fuse to ignite a solid filler inside a steel canister, which then slowly propels the combustion products out through holes in the canister as the contents burn. However, the smoke grenade class is restricted to signaling and concealment under the law of war, and thus they are not considered weapons; since the vast majority are non-explosive, they remain legal for civilian use and ownership in most countries.

Since the basic design of a smoke grenade (a metal canister containing a substance that burns and expels smoke when ignited) is simple, improvised smoke grenade-like devices are ubiquitous across the world. Protestors, football spectators, and airsoft enthusiasts often create their own smoke grenades using common materials.

Smoke grenades by country

• Template:Flag:
  • M34 White Phosphorus Smoke Grenade<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • Fabricaciones Militares HC smoke hand grenade<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
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  • No. 80 Mk 1 White Phosphorus Smoke Hand Grenade<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • Smarex coloured smoke hand grenade series<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • M18 Colored Smoke Hand Grenade series<ref name=aussienamgrenades>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
  • M34 White Phosphorus Smoke Grenade<ref name=aussienamgrenades/>
  • A101 Coloured Smoke Grenade series<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • A200 Compact Coloured Smoke Grenade series<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
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  • Nebelgranate 75<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
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  • N150 Low Toxicity Smoke Screening Hand Grenade<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
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  • No. 83 Smoke Hand Grenade series<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • M3BG white phosphorus smoke grenade<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • M48BG-M52BG white phosphorus smoke grenade series<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • M68 signal smoke hand grenade series<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • Nr 11 red smoke hand grenade<ref name=nr11gren>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • NR 405A1 white phosphorus smoke hand grenade<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
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  • Condor SS-601<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
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  • Arsenal GH-SMK-2-W red phosphorus smoke hand grenade<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • Arsenal GH-SMK coloured smoke hand grenade series (Grey or metallic body with coloured stripe)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • Bulcomers Ks GH-SMK coloured smoke hand grenade series (Brown body with coloured label)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
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  • No. 77 Mk 1/Mk 2 White Phosphorus Smoke Hand Grenade<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • No. 80 Mk 1 White Phosphorus Smoke Hand Grenade<ref name=canuckgrenades>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • No. 83 Coloured/Signal Smoke Hand Grenade series<ref name=canuckgrenades /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • C3 Coloured Smoke Hand Grenade series<ref name=canuckgrenades />
  • C1 HC Smoke Hand Grenade series<ref name=canuckgrenades /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • Pains Wessex Coloured Smoke Mini Grenade series<ref name=canuckgrenades /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • C8 Coloured Smoke Hand Grenade series<ref name=gd-otscanada>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • L83A1 Smoke Hand Grenade<ref name=gd-otscanada />
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  • P-700 coloured smoke hand grenade series<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
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  • FSL-01<ref name=chicomnades>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • FSL-02<ref name=chicomnades />
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  • Røghåndbombe Nr.77<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • Røghåndbombe Nr.80<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • Røghåndbombe M/53<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • Røghåndgranat M/57<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • Røghåndbombe M/77<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • Røghåndbombe M/93<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
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  • L84A3 Red Phosphorus Smoke Hand Grenade (SPIRCO)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
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  • Nebelhandgranate 39<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
  • Nebelkerze 39 series<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • Nebelhandgranate 41<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
  • Nebeleihandgranate 42<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
  • Blendkörper 14<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
  • Blendkörper 24<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
  • Handrauchzeichen coloured hand smoke signal series<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
  • Rauchsichtzeichen Orange<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • DM25 KM smoke hand grenade<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
  • SPIRCO Red Phosphorus Smoke Hand Grenade<ref name=spirco1>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=spirco2>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=rheingren1>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
    • L84A3 Red Phosphorus Smoke Hand Grenade<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • Rheinmetall KM smoke hand grenade<ref name=rheingren1 /><ref name="rheingren2">Template:Cite web</ref>
  • Rheinmetall NT smoke hand grenade<ref name=rheingren1 /><ref name="rheingren2" />
  • RASMO Rapid Smoke Hand Grenade<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
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  • EM-04<ref name=lexpevgreek>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • EM-12<ref name=lexpevgreek />
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  • M18 Colored Smoke Hand Grenade series<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>Template:Better source needed
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  • Ordnance Factory Board Smoke Hand Grenade series<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • Anti-thermal Anti-laser Smoke Grenade<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • Incapacitating Smoke Grenade<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
  • CR Grenade<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
  • Chili grenade<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
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  • N150 Low Toxicity Smoke Screening Hand Grenade<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>Template:Better source needed
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  • No. 77 Rookhandgranaat<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
  • Nr 7 HC smoke hand grenade series<ref name=gewondendoorgebruikrookgasgranaatwp>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • Nr 9 yellow smoke hand grenade<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • Nr 10 green smoke hand grenade<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • Nr 11 red smoke hand grenade<ref name=nr11gren />
  • Nr 22 coloured smoke hand grenade series<ref name=vs9850>Template:Cite book</ref><ref name=gewondendoorgebruikrookgasgranaatwp />
  • L68-L71 and L100-L101 Signal Smoke Hand Grenade series (No 83 Mk 4 type)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • N150 Low Toxicity Smoke Screening Hand Grenade (No 83 Mk 4 type)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • Nr 23 white phosphorus smoke hand grenade<ref name=vs9850 /><ref name=gewondendoorgebruikrookgasgranaatwp />
  • Nr 700 coloured smoke hand grenade series (Rheinmetall NT type)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
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  • M18 Colored Smoke Hand Grenade series<ref>Template:Cite tweet</ref>
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  • No. 80 Mk 1 White Phosphorus Smoke Hand Grenade<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
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  • AN-M8 HC Smoke Grenade<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • M8 HC Røyk Hånd Granat<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=ulykkemedroykhandgranat>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="ud21">Template:Cite web</ref>
  • M88 HC Røyk Hånd Granat<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="ud21" />
  • No. 83 Mk 1-Mk 4 Coloured/Signal Smoke Hand Grenade series<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • NM239 Røyk Hånd Granat<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • NM248 TTC Røyk Hånd Granat<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=ulykkemedroykhandgranat /><ref name="ud21" />
  • TTC Smoke Hand Grenade (Commercial version of NM248)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • DM 45 HC smoke hand grenade<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="ud21" />
  • Defense Technology Military-Style Smoke Grenade series<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
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  • P3 MK1 WP Smoke Grenade<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • MK1 Target Indication Smoke Grenade series<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • MK2 Target Indication Smoke Grenade series<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
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  • RGD-2<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
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  • No. 80 Mk 1 White Phosphorus Smoke Hand Grenade<ref name="WAR 177">Template:Cite book</ref>
  • M970 White Phosphorus Smoke Hand Grenade<ref name="WAR 177" />
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  • RGD-2<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Template:Flag:
  • M970 White Phosphorus Smoke Hand Grenade<ref name="WAR 177" />
  • No. 83 Smoke Hand Grenade series<ref name=A3O8PLGREN>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • R1M1 White Phosphorus Smoke Hand Grenade<ref name=A3O8PLGREN />
  • M854A1 Coloured Smoke Hand Grenade series<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • Red Phosphorus Hand Grenade<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • M0234 Coloured Smoke Hand Grenade series<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • M0251 Screening Smoke Hand Grenade<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
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  • KM8 HC Smoke Hand Grenade<ref name="rokgrenade1">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="rokgrenade2">Template:Cite web</ref>
  • KM18 Colored Smoke Hand Grenade series<ref name="rokgrenade1" /><ref name="rokgrenade2" />
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  • A.T.F.-1 <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
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  • Rökhandgranat m/1937<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • Rökhandgranat m/49<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
  • Rökhandgranat m/51<ref name=swemanual>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • Rökhandgranat m/56<ref name=swemanual /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • Rökhandgranat 05 (SPIRCO type)<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
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  • MKE Renkli Sis Kutusu/Colored Smoke Can series<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • MKE Sis El Bombası/Smoke Hand-Grenade<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Template:Flag
  • L84A3 Red Phosphorus Smoke Hand Grenade (SPIRCO)<ref>Template:Cite tweet</ref>Template:Better source needed
• Template:Flag (To include British Overseas Territories):
  • No. 77 Mk 1/Mk 2 White Phosphorus Smoke Hand Grenade<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
  • No. 79 Mk 1/Mk 2 Smoke Hand Grenade<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
  • No. 80 Mk 1 White Phosphorus Smoke Hand Grenade<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=1975gren>Template:Cite book</ref>
  • No. 81 Mk 1 White Phosphorus Smoke Hand Grenade<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
  • No. 83 Mk 1-Mk 4 Coloured/Signal Smoke Hand Grenade series<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref name=1975gren /><ref name=94mmlawandl2gren>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • L35-L38 Signal Smoke Hand Grenade series<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=94mmlawandl2gren />
  • L52-L55 Signal Smoke Hand Grenade series<ref name=94mmlawandl2gren />
  • L64-L67 Signal Smoke Hand Grenade series<ref name=94mmlawandl2gren />
  • L68-L71 and L100-L101 Signal Smoke Hand Grenade series (No 83 Mk 4 type)<ref name=cadetforcemanual>Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="canuckenvass">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=hansardiraqammo>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=ospreygranaten>Template:Cite book</ref>
  • L83A1/A2 Training Smoke Screening Hand Grenade (No 83 Mk 4 type)<ref name=cadetforcemanual /><ref name="canuckenvass" />
  • N150 Low Toxicity Smoke Screening Hand Grenade (Commercial version of L83)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • L84A1-A3 Red Phosphorus Smoke Screening Hand Grenade (SPIRCO)<ref name=spirco1 /><ref name=spirco2 /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • N321 Screening Bursting Hand Grenade (Commercial)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • N322 Red Phosphorus Screening Bursting Hand Grenade (Commercial)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • L132A1/A2 Smoke Screening Hand Grenade<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • N451/A Compact Screening Smoke Hand Grenade (Commercial version of L132)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • L152-L158 Signal Smoke Hand Grenade series
  • N431-N437 Compact Signal Smoke Hand Grenade series (Commercial version of L152-L158)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • N441/A-N448/A Compact Signal Smoke Hand Grenade series (Commercial)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • N461-N468 Compact Signal Smoke Hand Grenade series (Commercial)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • Primetake Military Smoke Grenade series (Commercial)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • Primetake PT4541 38mm Screening Smoke Grenade series (Commercial)<ref name="primetake">Template:Cite web</ref>
  • Primetake PT4540 63mm Screening Smoke Grenade series (Commercial)<ref name="primetake" />
  • CTX Screening Smoke Hand Grenade (Commercial)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
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  • M1 Frangible Grenade (When used with FS filler)<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
  • M3 Red Smoke Grenade<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
  • AN-M8 HC Smoke Grenade<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • M15 White Phosphorus grenade<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • M16 Colored Smoke Hand Grenade series<ref name="fm2330signalsmoke">Template:Cite book</ref>
  • M18 Colored Smoke Hand Grenade series<ref name="fm2330signalsmoke" /><ref name=picam18 /><ref name=fortjacksontrng>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • M34 White Phosphorus Smoke Grenade<ref name=sog>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • M83 TA White Smoke Hand Grenade<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=fortjacksontrng />
  • Smith & Wesson No .3 Military Type Continuous Discharge White Smoke HC Grenade (Commercial)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • Federal Laboratories M-8 White Smoke Grenade (Commercial)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • M106 Screening Obscuration Device<ref name=fortjacksontrng />
  • ALSG972 Continuous Discharge Smoke Grenade series (Commercial)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • ALSG978 Pocket Smoke Grenade series (Commercial)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • ALSG2978W White Smoke Baffled Triple Chamber Grenade (Commercial)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • ALSG275 Handball Smoke Grenade series (Commercial)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • ALSG973 Triple Action Smoke Grenade series (Commercial)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • Combined Systems 5210 White Smoke Canister Grenade (Commercial)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • Combined Systems 5210JL Smoke Jet-Lite Canister Grenade (Commercial)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • Combined Systems 5211 White Smoke Triple Phaser Canister Grenade (Commercial)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • Combined Systems 6210 White Smoke Canister Grenade (Commercial)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • Combined Systems 8210 White Smoke Tactical Canister Grenade (Commercial)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • Defense Technology Military-Style Smoke Grenade series (Commercial)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • Defense Technology Pocket Tactical Smoke Grenade series (Commercial)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • Defense Technology Saf-Smoke Triple-Chaser Separating Canister (Commercial)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • Defense Technology Maximum HC Smoke Canister series (Commercial)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • Defense Technology Saf-Smoke Han-Ball Grenade (Commercial)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • Defense Technology Flameless Tri-Chamber Saf-Smoke Grenade (Commercial)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • MP-1-xx Color Smoke Grenade series (Commercial)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • MP-2-xx Color Smoke Grenade series (Commercial)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • MP-2B-xx Color Smoke Grenade series (Commercial)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • MP-15-xx Color Smoke Grenade series (Commercial)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • MP-2S-xx Color Smoke Grenade series (Commercial)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • MP-2S-HC Screening Smoke Grenade (Commercial)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

See also

• Smoke bomb
• Smoke shell