Smoke grenades?

[Björn Eriksson]

I read this in a book today (I've translated it from swedish myself, and I'm not very good at english):

"Phosphorous grenades were commonly called smoke grenades, although they were terrible weapons against humans. Especially when used against troops with limited mobility"

I thought that Phosphorous grenades and smoke grenades were two completely different things. In every war movie I've seen, smoke grenades simply burn a little and start to emit smoke. I can't see how this can be dangerous to humans.

[Nidan1]

I believe you are probably right, from personal experience I know there is a big difference between a smoke grenade and a phosphorous or thermite grenade. Does the Swedish book specifically say smoke grenade?

[MikeyD]

'Smoke' (at least for the Americans) meant HC smoke- Hexaclorithane, if memory serves. No heat, no burning.

White Phosphorous produces heat and burns (pretty awful to inhale), Thermite burns VERY VERY hot and can destroy a tank's interior beyond recovery.

[Björn Eriksson]

Originally posted by Nidan1:

Does the Swedish book specifically say smoke grenade?

Yes, that's what it says. It is a english book but I've only got the swedish translation of it. It is one of those large green backed books (the one about the battle for Arnhem) that can be found at almost any library (at least in Sweden) and it's written by Eddy Bauer.

[Michael Emrys]

WP will produce smoke (especially if it sets something on fire ), but a WP grenade was intended primarily for the discomfiture of the enemy. One tossed into the firing embrasure of a pillbox would generally have that effect.

Michael