Some general smoke questions

[vobbnobb]

When using smoke by troops, tanks or squad mortar, does the side that fires the smoke get more benefit as far as cover or able to shoot more accurately through it opposed to the side that didn't fire it, or is it universal?

Is there a shortcut key to pop smoke via mortars on tanks?

Why does the tank loader on the m4a1 sherman reload a smoke shell in main cannon, every time I want to pop a smoke via tank smoke mortar close to the tank? Even though it can be done manually, is this something that should be left to be done by crew and not me?

Is the tank mortar more for retreating / covering under fire while falling back?

Troops smoke grenade for offense or defense more? The coverage area makes me think it's only useful for falling back and slipping away and the tank smoke shells and squad mortars are heavier for offensive advances?

[SteveMcClaire]

Hi Vobbnobb,

Smoke has the same effect on both sides. You can't trace line of sight through the smoke, but you can fire through the smoke (using area fire, or targeting an enemy that's spotted by another friendly team that can see around the smoke.) This is 'blind fire' and won't be aimed or very accurate. You can still hit a big target like a vehicle sometimes.

The smoke order short-cut key is "B". If you target within range of the smoke mortar (30m or so) the vehicle will use the smoke mortar if it has one. The smoke order does apply to the entire team, though. So when you order the team to use smoke, all the crew members will employ what smoke they can. The soldier manning the smoke mortar will fire that, while the gunner will load a smoke round. This is the same thing with infantry teams -- if multiple men have means of employing smoke, they all will when given the order.

Historically the smoke mortar was defensive, yes. If a tank found itself in a bad situation they could pop smoke and get out of there.

Infantry smoke grenades are usually used to mask your movement -- either a withdrawal or when dashing across a narrow, exposed area like a city street. You can use them to screen an infantry assault as well, but given their short range this is more of a city-fighting thing too.

Steve

[vobbnobb]

ok thanks

[CGGrognard]

And if you're lucky, a mortar smoke round can take out a soldier. Sometimes your own!