Although the Japanese have gained considerable experience in the use of
smoke in China, they have used it very little to date against United Nations
forces in the Southwest Pacific.
The Japanese are known to possess several types of smoke-producing equipment and to have
personnel trained for smoke operations. Temporary smoke companies (infantry regimental
smoke units) are formed from infantry regimental personnel (3 to 10 men from each
company) who have been trained in chemical warfare duties. These men perform ordinary
company duties except when detached for chemical warfare services. The enemy also has
field gas companies (each about 220 strong), which are allotted to divisions for
specific operations. Each of these companies carries 3,240 smoke candles. (Whether
they are toxic, the ordinary type, or include both, has not been reported.) When the
use of smoke is planned on a large scale, these smoke companies may be formed into
temporary smoke battalions—probably three companies to the battalion.
Various types of Japanese smoke-producing equipment—including smoke candles, a rifle
smoke grenade, and grenade-discharger smoke grenades—have been reported by
the Intelligence Branch of the U. S. Chemical Warfare Service. Reports on these items of
equipment constitute the major part of this section.
2. TYPE 99 SELF-PROPELLED SMOKE CANDLE
This candle consists of three main parts: an outer cylinder 8 inches long and 2 inches
in diameter, an inner container (which is the candle proper), and a propelling charge.
One report states that the candle is painted light gray, with a white sighting line
along the side, whereas another report states that it is olive drab in color. Both
reports give the total weight as 2.8 pounds, including the smoke mixture, which
weighs 1.41 pounds. The mixture consists of hexachlorethane, 56.5 percent; zinc
dust, 30 percent; zinc chloride, 2.8 percent; and zinc oxide, 10.7 percent.
To operate the candle, the top and bottom slip-on covers (sealed with adhesive tape) are
removed, and the candle is placed in an inclined position by means of an attached
spike (see No. 4 of fig. 6), which is slid to the bottom of the cylinder and
then pushed into the ground. The fuze (10) is ignited from the match head (3), which, in
turn, ignites the propelling charge. The explosion shoots the inner container a distance
of 131 to 306 yards, according to the angle at which the spike is driven into the ground. The
smoke mixture is ignited by means of a fuze after a delay of 4 to 5 seconds.
|Figure 6.—Type 99 Self-propelled Smoke Candle.|
3. SMOKE GRENADE (for grenade discharger)
This smoke grenade, about 6 inches long and 2 inches in diameter, is fired from
the 50-mm Type 89 heavy grenade discharger.1 It can
be projected a distance of 45 to 206 yards, according to the adjustment of the
The propellant weighs 4.24 ounces and the detonator .25 ounce—no other weights
Before being used, the grenade is removed from its outer cover. The delayed-action
fuze (see No. 4 of fig. 7) becomes ignited from the explosion of the
propellant (7), and passes to the powder charge (2), which ignites the smoke mixture (1).
|Figure 7.—Smoke Grenade (for grenade discharger).|
4. TYPE 94 SMOKE CANDLE (Small)
The container of this candle is 7.25 inches long and 2.1 inches in diameter, and is
painted green. The markings (see No. 15 of fig. 8) show the usual details
of the date and place of manufacture. The total weight of the candle is 2.17 pounds, including
the smoke-producing (Berger-type) mixture. The mixture itself weighs 1.87 pounds, and
consists mainly of carbon tetrachloride, zinc dust, and zinc oxide.
In operation, the sheet-iron cup (6) burns off with the igniter, and consequently
starts the burning of the smoke-producing mixture.
|Figure 8.—Type 94 Smoke Candle (small).|
5. TYPE 94 SMOKE CANDLE (Large)
This candle is a larger model of the Type 94 described in paragraph 4. It differs
mainly in the method of ignition, which apparently is done by means of a cord
attached to the igniting apparatus. (See fig. 9.)
The length of this candle is 31.5 inches and the diameter is approximately 3 1/3 inches. The
total weight is given as 16.5 pounds, including the smoke-producing mixture (Berger-type)
which weighs 15 pounds.
|Figure 9.—Type 94 Smoke Candle (large).|
6. TYPE 94 FLOATING SMOKE CANDLE (Model B)
This type of smoke candle floats on water by means of an inflated rubber tube. The
candle has a supporting ring with two lugs, to which the tube is fastened. (See fig. 10.)
|Figure 10.—Type 94 Floating Smoke Candle (Model B).|
The candle, painted a dark gray, is 31.18 inches long (792 mm) and 3.11 inches in
diameter (79 mm). The total weight of the candle is approximately 12.47
pounds (5,660 grams), and the smoke-producing mixture weighs approximately 10.8
pounds (4,910 grams).
The fuze used is known as the "10th-year pattern hand-grenade time fuze," according to a
label on the box in which a fuze was packed. The fuze is removable. It is taken out
and carried separately when the candle is transported. The candle itself is sealed
by use of the "wing-nut" plug.
The candle may also be supplied with a delayed-action igniter. This igniter is constructed
in a manner similar to the "10th-year pattern hand-grenade time fuze," except that the
striker and detonator are replaced with a length of ordinary time fuze, one end of
which is sealed into the igniter itself. The igniter screws into the candle; it is
used when a delay greater than the 4 to 7 seconds delay of the hand-grenade type
is required. To ignite the fuze, the Japanese provide a match head in a thin metal
tube attached to the other end of the length of fuze.
The smoke-producing mixture is composed of hexachlorethane, 50 percent; metallic
zinc, 23.5 percent; and zinc oxide, 26.5 percent.
Details on how to operate the candle are given in a label on the outside of the
weapon. A translation of the instructions reads as follows:
a. Make sure the cover plate is satisfactorily fixed.
b. Examine the floating belt to see whether it is sufficiently inflated.
c. Do not remove the waterproof strip on the tube [candle].
d. When using the candle [equipped with the 10th-year pattern hand grenade time fuze], hold
the candle with the left hand, very carefully remove the safety pin from the
fuze, and hit the head of the fuze firmly with a wooden billet. Then it is
necessary to point the tube in a direction where the smoke emitted will not be dangerous.
e. When using the delayed-action igniter, cut the length of the fuze so it will burn the
required time. After attaching the special ignition point, strike the match
head of the ignition point with a scratch block.
f. When ignited, throw the candle into the water immediately by grasping the upper and lower
parts so that the candle will be at right angles to the surface of the water.
g. Because a faulty smoke action might cause an explosion, move at least 10 yards away at the
first sign of smoke, and do not approach until the smoking has finished.
7. 10-KG NAVAL SMOKE CANDLE
This candle, painted gray, is approximately 9.5 inches long and 6 inches in
diameter. The total weight is 20.5 pounds. A paper name card on top of a
captured candle bore the following: "10-kg smoke candle, made . . . 1941."
The candle container, made of iron, is cylindrical in shape and is closed at either end by
tin-plate disks. It is made airtight by the soldering of all seams. A single hinged carrying
handle (see fig. 11) is riveted and soldered to the container near the top. The igniter
apparatus fits into a hole in the center of the top. A wooden plug is provided to fill the hole
while the candle is being transported.
|Figure 11.—10-Kg Naval Smoke Candle.|
This smoke candle is believed to have been designed for use on the rear of a boat or
ship, as well as on land. An instruction label on a captured candle stated that it "may
be used aboard ship if placed on a sheet of iron."
According to the instruction label, the candle is filled with Berger-type smoke mixture,
which, when ignited, gives off an ash-colored smoke for 3 to 4 minutes.
The label also stated that "an ignition apparatus is supplied separately, and is kept
in the container. It consists of an ignition peg and a striking plate."
Other instructions given include the following:
a. Methods of Operation
(1) Remove the paper name card and plug from the top.
(2) Insert the ignition peg firmly into the ignition-peg chamber.
(3) Rub the match head of the ignition peg with the striking board.
b. Points on Using
(1) Sparks are given off during ignition, so wear working gloves and turn your face away when striking.
(2) Immediately before use, drill some small holes in the upper plate to relieve excess pressure
from expansion—which usually occurs during storage or when exposed on decks, and so
forth. If the candle is not used after the holes are drilled, the gas will escape unless you
fill the holes with solder.
(3) If the contents are severely shaken in transport and there is doubt whether pat of the
smoke-producing content has leaked out, do not use the candle.
(4) Burning particles are liable to fall within a radius of 3 yards when the candle is
burning, so the candle must not be used near inflammable materials.
c. Instructions for Storage
(1) Do not pile candles on top of each other.
(2) Avoid handling them roughly.
(3) Keep them in a cool place.
8. RIFLE SMOKE GRENADE
The rifle smoke grenade is used with a special adapter, which fits over the end of the standard
Japanese 6.5-mm rifle barrel. The force to propel the grenade and the primary
means of ignition are furnished by the .256-caliber Japanese cartridge (6.5 mm),
which is loaded with 1.927 grams of powder and fitted with a wooden pellet. This cartridge is
wrapped in paper and stored in the grenade tube.
The grenade, Weighing 1.29 pounds and having an over-all length of 8 1/2 inches, is
painted a silver color and thoroughly waterproofed with coats of heavy lacquer and
paraffin. The nose and body proper, 2 inches in diameter, are made of tin plate. The base,
stamped from sheet steel, is screwed onto the body by means of rolled threads. Four
smoke vents are placed at 90-degree intervals around the base, and are covered
with light sheet metal disks which are held in place by waterproof cement covered
with paraffin. The grenade has three flash ports, spaced at 120-degree intervals in the
bottom of the base. (See fig. 12.)
|Figure 12.—Rifle Smoke Grenade.|
Four fins, made of tin plate, are soldered to, and equally spaced around, the grenade
tube. The fins are 2 3/8 inches long and 11/16 of an inch wide; the tube
is 1 3/16 inches in diameter.
The smoke-producing mixture, which weighs .6 pound, is composed of the following:
|Hexachlorethane || _ _ _ _ _||56.2 |
|Zinc dust|| _ _ _ _ _||27.6 |
|Zinc Chloride|| _ _ _ _ _||2.9 |
|Zinc Oxide|| _ _ _ _ _||13.4 |
9. SMOKE-SCREEN OPERATIONS
Japanese plans for the use of smoke to screen the unloading of troops and supplies
at and near Lae, New Guinea, are revealed in an enemy document, which is
paraphrased below. Three han (at normal strength a han is roughly
equivalent to our squad) were selected for the operations, under direction of a
first lieutenant. Each han was given the responsibility for screening a
separate area (see fig. 13).
a. Personnel and Equipment
(1) No. 1 Han.—This unit was composed of a sergeant major as leader, another
noncommissioned officer, and 20 privates. If was allotted six collapsible boats. If
needed, an armored boat or high-speed boat also would be allotted. This han was
to use 200 smoke candles of the floating type, 10 of the Type 94 (large), and
160 of Type 94 (small).
(2) Nos. 2 and 3 Han.—Each of these units was allotted a
noncommissioned officer as leader, 15 privates, and the following equipment: 100
candles of the floating type, 7 of Type 94 (large), 120 of Type 94 (small),
and three collapsible boats.
In addition to the equipment allotted to the above han, the Japanese document
stated that 400 of the floating-type candles "are to be kept in readiness" [probably
as a reserve].
b. Laying the Screen
Regarding the actual operation, the document included the following:
Regulations for the formation of smoke screens are to be based upon orders from
Debarkation Unit Headquarters.
When operations begin, all smoke candles are to be lighted at the same time—when
the signal shots (red dragon parachute flares) are fired.
The main smoke operations are to be carried out by boats over the designated water area. Smoke
operations also will be conducted over land, according to circumstances.
[A study of the Japanese diagrams (figs. 13 and 14) indicates that, in this
operation, the enemy planned to lay a smoke screen over the designated area by
placing the floating-type candles at certain intervals in the water, and, if
necessary, to operate the Type 94 candles on adjoining land areas.]
|Figure 13.—Japanese Smoke-screen Plans.|
|Figure 14.—Japanese Smoke Laying|
c. Care of Candles
In connection with the candles, the following steps, will be taken:
(1) The candles must be exposed to the sun to keep them dry.
(2) Candles, torch lamps, and so forth are to be used for lighting purposes.
(3) Smoke candles are to be lighted from smoke candles which already have been lighted.
(4) In order to avoid the danger of explosion, all personnel will keep away from the
candles after they have been lighted.
1 A detailed report, based on U.S. Ordnance findings, was given on Japanese
grenade dischargers in the May, 1943, issue of the Intelligence Bulletin, page 15.