Editing Shell (projectile) (section)

====Smoke====
Smoke shells are used to create [[smoke screen]]s to mask movements of friendly forces or disorient enemies, or to mark specific areas. The main types are bursting (using a payload powdered chemicals) and base ejection (delivering three or four smoke canisters which are deployed from the rear of the shell prior to impact, or a single canister containing submunitions distributed via a bursting charge). Base ejection shells are a type of carrier shell or cargo munition.

Base ejection smoke is usually white, however, colored smoke has been used for marking purposes. The original canisters typically used [[hexachloroethane]]-[[zinc]] (HC), modern ones use [[Allotropes of phosphorus#Red phosphorus|red phosphorus]] because of its multi-spectral properties. However, other compounds have been used; in World War II, Germany used [[Oleum#Explosives manufacture|oleum]] (fuming [[sulfuric acid]]) and [[pumice]].

Due to the nature of their payload, powder smoke shells using [[white phosphorus]] in particular have a secondary effect as [[incendiary device|incendiary]] weapons, though they are not as effective in this role as dedicated weapons using [[thermite]].