text: ________________________________________________________________________________Chapter 11
  11-76. All armored fighting vehicles can generate smoke through their ex-
  haust systems. With these VEESS-equipped vehicles, a platoon can produce a
  screen that covers a battalion frontage for 4 to 6 minutes.
  11-77. Smoke-filled artillery projectiles, smoke bombs, spray tanks, and gen-
  erator systems are also common. Artillery can fire WP rounds (which have a
  moderate degrading effect on thermal imagers and a major one on lasers).
  The OPFOR makes considerable use of smoke pots emplaced by chemical
  troops, infantrymen, or other troops. The OPFOR still uses smoke bombs or
  pots dropped by fixed- or rotary-wing aircraft.
  TYPES OF SMOKESCREENS
  11-78. The OPFOR recognizes three types of smokescreens: blinding, cam-
  ouflage, and decoy. Classification of each type as frontal, oblique, or flank
  depends on the screen’s placement. Smokescreens are either stationary or mo-
  bile depending on prevailing winds and the dispensing means used. Each basic
  type can serve a different purpose. However, simultaneous use of all types is
  possible.
  Blinding
  11-79. Blinding smokescreens can mask friendly forces from enemy gunners,
  observation posts, and target-acquisition systems. They can restrict the en-
  emy’s ability to engage the OPFOR effectively. Delivery of WP and plasti-
  cized white phosphorus (PWP) is possible using MRLs, artillery, mortars,
  fixed-wing aircraft, or helicopters. The OPFOR lays blinding smoke directly
  in front of enemy positions, particularly those of antitank weapons and ob-
  servation posts. Blinding smoke can reduce a soldier’s ability to acquire tar-
  gets by a factor of 10, and its use can reduce casualties significantly.
  11-80. Likely targets for blinding smokescreens are enemy defensive positions,
  rear assembly areas, counterattacking forces, and fire support positions. The
  screening properties of a blinding smokescreen can couple with dust, HE
  combustion effects, and the incendiary effects of phosphorus. This can create
  an environment in which fear and confusion add to the measured effective-
  ness of the smoke.
  Camouflage
  11-81. The OPFOR uses camouflage smokescreens to support all kinds of
  C3D measures. Such screens can cover maneuver, conceal the location of
  units, hide the nature and direction of attacks, or mislead the enemy regard-
  ing any of these. The camouflage smokescreen is useful on or ahead of
  friendly troops.
  11-82. These screens are normally effective up to the point where forces de-
  ploy for combat. The number, size, and location of camouflage smokescreens
  vary depending on terrain, weather, and type of combat action. Camouflage
  also forces enemy attack helicopters to fly above or around a screen, thus
  exposing themselves to attack. Camouflage smoke can also cover assembly
  areas, approaches of exploitation forces, or withdrawals. Smokescreens can
  also cover a wide surface area around fixed installations or mobile units that
  do not move for extended periods.