WWII Smoke Grenade / Flare Code

[FinalVestige79]

Ok,

I know someone in here collects flare guns. I would like to know the color codes for these munitions, as I have an opportunity to use them at reenactments, I want to use them authentically.

I know that Red, Violet, Orange, Black, Yellow, Green, blue, and no white actually were available. As well as clusters and such. Any help?

Thanks,
Dylan

 

[Story]

German, UK, US, or Soviet?

 

[FinalVestige79]

US please. I have FM 23-30 which covers grenades and thats where I got the colors. For uses all it says is signal.

 

[MPicciotto]

I believe in the AAF flares were used for "Color of the Day" for identification of friendly units. The color was changed each day and told to the air crew's in briefing before take-off.

Matt

 

[FinalVestige79]

Well I work with a lot of infantry and tank movements. 9 /10 in im the tank on the Co-Drivers position on the radio. No planes....yet we got an L4 Pipercub in the mix.


I know white was used to screen movements and to cause a diversion.

I would guess red was for marking some type of targets for mortars and arty.

I guess it was whatever colors they had on hand? I know they used combos f colors to ID specific groups of GIs on the front.

I'll be getting a Flare Gun, these were common issue for tank crews...I just want to use it correctly.

Thanks!

 

[barra063]

Do you mean a Very pistol?

 

[Story]

OK, I get it now.

The use of flares for signaling in armored units dates from the days before radios were reliable (or even installed in anything but command tanks). Signal flags were the primary method (and still in use, only on firing ranges, when I was an M48A5/M60A3 tank crewman a few years back)*.

The use of certain colors to convey specific messages was laid out in S.O.P.s (which can probably be found in one of the Annexs of the period Tank Platoon Field Manuals - possibly in either of these
# FM 17-5 Armored Force Drill (18 January 1943)(+Changes 2-3); 85 pages, 51 illus. Price 9.00 {Item No.2416}
# FM 17-10 Armored Force Field Manual Tactics and Technique (7 March 1942); 471 pages, 58 illus. Price 50.00 {Item No.1097}
http://www.military-info.com/mphoto/P007.htm )

Specific meanings for flare colors could be covered in unit SOPs or even the Operations Order. IIRC, a white smoke 1" or 1 1/2" Very pistol round doesn't generate enough to really screen any movement - it's used to mark a target for one of those Observation planes.

As a co-driver, you take your commands from the Tank Commander. That includes firing off anything, particularly if it's a signal to someone else.

As with all reenacting units, it's recommended that you consult senior members of the group before making any purchases. With flammable ordnance, there's also a safety consideration - some sites have concerns about brushfires and particularly if you're working around gasoline engines.

* Bill (sadly, now passed on) has a good page on Soviet tank radios that gives the general background www.wlhoward.com/museum/id613.htm

 

[FinalVestige79]

Thanks Everyone for the Suggestions!
Something like a Very Pistol, the American version has a 38MM Bore. But its based off the same firing mechanism and body.

Story, I have the 2nd Manual I'll look through it today. I have conflicting sources saying that the colors didn't mean squat and were used to identify friendlies, mark targets etc. no matter what color you had you used it.

Well A Co-Driver in a Stuart is also the bow gunner, in theory its good because I tell the driver wear to go but authentically its entirely wrong, the radio is in the turret so I would most likely me in the loader and gunner position with the Commander.

I have consulted my unit leader about this hes all for it, other units (particularly German) use flares as well at events with no problem. I have a source for entirely flame-less smoke munitions, they are a cold burn formula that you can actually hold while they burn. Illuminating parachute flares are also great fun!

 

[DutchIndo]

Ok,

I know someone in here collects flare guns. I would like to know the color codes for these munitions, as I have an opportunity to use them at reenactments, I want to use them authentically.

I know that Red, Violet, Orange, Black, Yellow, Green, blue, and no white actually were available. As well as clusters and such. Any help?

Thanks,
Dylan

I think Orange is universal for help or "Good Guys". The rest were used Tactically. I read a story about Viet-Nam were a wise old Sgt had a captured flare gun. That night their perimeter was hit by VC. To signal another part of the assault the VC would fire flares. This was either to bring up B-40s (RPGs) fall back or whatever. At one point of the attack where the Sgt was going to be over run he fired the Flare Gun. The assault stalled and the VC were thrown in confusion. The attack was broken up and the perimeter was saved.

 

[Story]

I have conflicting sources saying that the colors didn't mean squat and were used to identify friendlies, mark targets etc. no matter what color you had you used it.

I'd be really interested in seeing that source.

Generally, SOPs at Division level and such would be on the order of "Two Green Star clusters - on objective", "Two White star clusters - fire barrage on objective", "Two Red Star clusters - falling back", ad nauseum.

It's probably spelled out in some Signal Corps manual (see http://www.military-info.com/mphoto/New1j00.htm and page 316 of this manual
http://books.google.com/books?id=GT...X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2#PPA316,M1
)

 

[cco23i]

The only thing I know is green was for launch the aircraft, red is stop the take offs and when an airplane was returning from a bombing mission a red cluster was fired while coming into the field to warn they had wounded on board. Of course this is all AAF stuff.

Scott

 

[Story]

The only thing I know is green was for launch the aircraft, red is stop the take offs and when an airplane was returning from a bombing mission a red cluster was fired while coming into the field to warn they had wounded on board.

Scott,
Your comment reminded me of this painting -

http://www.303rdbg.com/art.html
Come Straight In
by Roger Brighton (1979)
Unknown 303rd BG(H) B-17G making an emergency landing at Molesworth with wounded aboard. A red wounded aboard flare can be seen in the sky with the "J" Hangar, Control Tower and runway shown below. Unknown mission date and crew.

 

[FinalVestige79]

Sorry...

I got side tracked...

I got some of my information there :

http://books.google.com/books?id=vF_BXyjdWJIC&pg=PA113&lpg=PA113&dq=WWII+smoke+flare+colors&source=bl&ots=mHI0bY5i5c&sig=LvQ19--hBk2SRmI5s932kBQt-YE&hl=en&ei=TmsxStyvBKKatAOyvpXWAw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1

And here:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/2235503/FM-2160-Visual-Signals

"4-4. Ground Smoke
a. Smoke may be used for both ground and ground-to-air signaling.
Both white and colored smoke may be used for this purpose.
Smoke signals are visible over greater distances when employed
against a terrain background of contrasting color. Smoke is valuable
for marking unit flanks, positions of lead elements, locations
of targets, drop zones, tactical landing areas, and medical evacuation
landing sites. Smoke signals are not suitable for messages,
but are applicable when communicating by prearranged signals
between small units and with aircraft. Smoke signals may be observed
by the enemy; therefore, due regard for secrecy must be considered to try and
avoid disclosing position locations and/or
a unit’s intentions.
Smoke grenades are available in white, green, yellow, red, and
violet smoke. This color range is provided by two types of
grenades.

The white smoke hand grenade is a burning-type grenade
used for signaling and for laying smoke screens. When ignited,
it produces dense white smoke for 105 to 150 seconds.
It will not normally injure exposed troops. In heavy concentrations,
troops should wear the field protective mask.
However, the mask will not protect against heavy concentrations
of this smoke in enclosed spaces due to oxygen depletion
and carbon monoxide buildup.
The M18 colored smoke grenade is similar in appearance to
the white smoke grenade, but its top is painted the color of
the smoke it produces. Its filler is a burning-type mixture
containing a dye; only four are standard: red, green, violet,
and yellow. As a burning-type grenade, it has an ignitingtype
fuse, and burns 50 to 90 seconds."