Description
You are bidding on an EXCELLENT example of a 100% ORIGINAL WW2 US Army/Navy Model 18 Red-Colored Smoke Grenade! Designed in the 1940s, these were used up until the 1990s.
The M18 Colored Smoke Grenade 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.
The M18 was developed in 1942 during World War II and was completed in November of that year. It was designed to replace the M16 smoke grenade, which did not burn as long or as vividly. It was designated standard issue in the fall of 1943. Both were produced at the same time as the M16 production lines were already setup when the M18 was adopted. The M16 was available in red, orange, yellow, green, blue, violet, and black. The M18 initially were going to be produced in the same colors, including white, but it was decided to limit it to four colors (red, yellow, green and violet) for simplicity. The M16 was declared limited standard in 1944 but was still available when it was declared obsolete in the early 1990s.
The violet-colored smoke grenade was used in-theater because of its vivid color; previously it was only used in the United States for training. Its smoke was more toxic than the other color mixtures and was removed from the inventory after the end of the Cold War in the 1990s.
When a ground element popped smoke to identify its location to aircraft, the aircraft was not told the color, but told to identify the color they saw. This prevented the VC/NVA if monitoring the frequency from popping smoke of the same color to confuse the aircraft. For additional security the colors were sometimes identified as cherry (red), lime (green), lemon or banana (yellow), or grape (violet).
Made of steel, this item is in AMAZING used condition! No date, but as this came with some other WW2 Smoke Canisters, I am assuming it is from that era. Complete in the original cardboard storage tube, it features 98% original paint and finish, with NO damage! All stencils and marking are also still intact. The M201A1 Fuze is also intact. Would make a PERFECT item for any collection or display!
