No. 81 Smoke Candle

[specopsaust]

Hi everyone,

According to Spotter's list in the sticky, the No. 81 is a ""Gren Smoke Screening (WP/HCE) Bursting and Emission AFV Dischgr"

Not knowing much about British smoke grenades of the WWII period, I'm assuming a smoke candle is a smoke grenade?

Does anyone have a diagram, data or reference photo for the abovenamed?

Cheers

 

[roller63]

Try this : http://www.lexpev.nl/grenades/europe/unitedkingdom/no81.html

 

[specopsaust]

Thanks for the link roller :top: Now I'll be stuck on lexpev's site for hours

So these were designed for tanks and other armoured vehicles to "pop smoke" using the tube thingies on the side of the vehicle?

Reason I asked the original question is that Aussie SF ground reception parties were using these grenades on ops in WWII for marking stores DZs and para wing used them during training as a ground wind indicator for jumps.

If the grenade has a bursting WP component, then why use them and not something like this: http://www.lexpev.nl/grenades/europe/unitedkingdom/generatorsmokeno5.html?

I know they used the No. 77 WP grenade, but it was used as an offensive weapon on ops.

Cheers

 

[AMMOTECHXT]

Skennerton's Introduction to British Grenades ISBN 0 949 749 10 9 has no diagram but states that the 81 looked similar to the No 80 but had a flat base and the lower part of the body was screwed on. One section was a bursting Phosphorous grenade, the other emitted smoke. This gave an instant screen that was then maintained by the emitted smoke. He states it was mainly for AFV use. My understanding of the definition of a smoke candle is that it is a short duration smoke generator. Similarly an illuminating candle would be a parachute illumination flare.

 

[peteblight]

Here's a diagram of the No 81 Grenade. (In German)



Pete

 

[Madbomber31]

here a photo of one found