Smoke Screen Collection

British troops advancing through barbed wire during a training drill. September 1943

Mediterranean Sea battle units of the Italian Fleet engaged by a British Convoy escort en route from Alexandria, Egypt to Malta. Picture shows: A Royal Navy Cruiser smoke-screening the the convoy

Behind the biggest smoke screen in the history of war, British armour and infantry move into position for the offensive - the ?final heave?

On the FifthArmy Front in Italy during the Second World War. In their drive from the south towards Imola and Bologna, British troops of the 5th Army in Italy have captured Monte Penzola

Infantry of the Glasgow Highlanders and the Coldstream Guards double across the flat countryside towards the tanks and the covering smoke screen east of Nijmegen. 8th February 1945

HMS Fury (in the foreground) and HMS Ashanti laying a smoke screen after a dummy torpedo run, during fleet exercises off of Scapa Flow. Circa May 1942

HMS Kelvin of the 5th Destroyer Flotilla, Home Fleet, lays a smoke screen during destroyer exercises in the North Sea. Circa October 1940

With Britches tanks and infantry pushing on in the new offensive launched near Caumont. A smoke screen is put up at Ouistreham. Circa July 1944

A large-scale demonstration of fighter and bombers given by the Royal Air Force to Army and Home Guard officers and NCOs of the East Anglian area

Smoke screen hiding Anzio assault preparations. 8th August 1944

Red smoke billows out onto a humvee
June 16, 2008 - As red smoke explodes onto a vehicle during the Atlantic Strike VII training exercise, it symbolizes that the entire group of personnel in the vehicle are dead

Marines provide security while smoke marks a landing zone
September 24, 2010 - A Marine provides security as another Marine looks out for aircraft while smoke marks a landing zone during a Tactical Recovery of Aircraft and Personnel (TRAP)

Marines cross a danger area after using a smoke grenade to conceal their movement from role players acting as enemy combatants at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, 29 Palms, California

A CH-53D Sea Stallion helicopter landing to deliver supplies at Patrol Base Jaker
July 28, 2009 - A U.S. Marine Corps CH-53D Sea Stallion helicopter lands to deliver supplies at Patrol Base Jaker, Afghanistan

A CH-53 Super Stallion helicopter prepares to land in Afghanistan
April 17, 2011 - A U.S. Marine Corps air crew of a CH-53 Super Stallion helicopter prepares to pick up service members from Forward Operating Base Hyderabad in Gereshk district, Helmand province

Smoke Screen Around Manhattan
New York, New York: May 4, 1924 U.S. Army Air Service pilots lay down a smoke screen between the Battery on Manhattan and Governors Island

British torpedo boat destroyers at sea, WW1
British torpedo boat destroyers at sea during the First World War, making a smoke screen to protect a convoy. Date: 1914-1918

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"Smoke Screen: Concealing the Secrets of War at Sea and on Land" In the midst of the chaos and uncertainty that defined World War II, smoke screens emerged as a powerful tool in the arsenal of British forces. From the Mediterranean Sea battles to training drills on land, these ephemeral veils played a crucial role in shaping history. As British troops advanced through treacherous barbed wire during a September 1943 training drill, their movements were shrouded by billowing smoke. This ingenious tactic not only protected them from enemy fire but also disoriented their adversaries, giving them an upper hand in battle. On the vast expanse of the Mediterranean Sea, Italian Fleet units found themselves engaged by a formidable British convoy escort. Desperate to gain an advantage, they were met with an impenetrable wall of smoke emanating from HMS Fury and HMS Ashanti. The largest smoke screen ever deployed in warfare concealed their intentions and allowed for strategic maneuvers that ultimately led to victory. Meanwhile, on Italy's Fifth Army Front, infantry units like the Glasgow Highlanders and Coldstream Guards doubled across flat terrain under cover of dense smoke. Their stealthy advance caught enemies off guard as they pressed forward towards triumph. Not limited to just land operations, naval vessels such as HMS Kelvin demonstrated their prowess by laying intricate smokescreens while serving with Home Fleet's 5th Destroyer Flotilla. These ethereal curtains shielded ships from prying eyes and provided vital protection during critical moments at sea. The Royal Air Force collaborated closely with ground forces during this era, showcasing its might through large-scale demonstrations involving fighters and bombers. These aerial spectacles served two purposes - impressing army personnel with air superiority while simultaneously utilizing smoke screens to conceal military strategies from potential threats. One notable instance occurred near Caumont when British tanks rolled forward alongside infantry units amidst a new offensive launched behind an imposing cloud of thick white fog-like substance.