"What if...?" Defensive smoke trail - Printable Version

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"What if...?" Defensive smoke trail - Serpiko - 30.12.2011

I'd like to discuss with you an idea that's been running throug my mind for a while, probably due to too many IL-2 sessions. :roll:

You know that, nowadays, all kinds of warplanes carry plenty of flares, chaffs, ECM stuff, and any sort of things that can in any way make it harder for enemies to aim and hit the plane.
During WWII instead, AFAIK, planes had nothing that could be properly called "counter-measures": survivability relied on armoured plates, rear gunners, performances, and pilot skill. The concept of "active defence" was yet to be refined.

Now, I wonder: why, at those times, did nobody think about using smoke as an "active defense" tool?

Let me explain the concept:

Imagine a fighter incorporating a small canister which, at pilot's command, can dispense a trail of smoke just like in aerobatics. But, in this case, the smoke would be dark and the dispenser would be set near engine exhausts. The canister wouldn't need to be large and heavy, since the smoke should last only for a brief moment.

Now imagine a hypothetical WWII air combat scenario, considering real life circumstances: no "IL-2 style" dogfight, but an engagement between two fighter formations, whose pilots are NOT natural born aces, just "average" pilots with limited combat experience, subject to adrenaline, stress, fatigue and fear.
At one moment in the battle, the fighter with the smoke device is attacked by a bandit coming from 6 o'clock, and can't shake it. The bandit closes in and starts firing, but the first burst either misses or causes little damage (remember, no aces here). Even so, the next one could be fatal.
So, at this point, the pilot plays his "last resort" trick: he hits the smoke, and the dispenser starts releasing a thick, dark trail that appears to come from the engine area. At the same time, the pilots heads the plane towards the ground, simulating a loss of control, and possibly diving into a cloud.
Now, imagine you are the pursuing bandit: you're chasing an enemy plane, overstressed for the ongoing battle and excited by the chance to score a kill, you fire, and see your target trailing smoke and heading downwards. Admit it: there's a chance for you to get fooled and think your opponent is already KO. This chance gets higher if the battle is not over and there are more enemies around to care about. If so, while you disengage the "smoking" plane, it can either run for safety or re-enter combat.

A thick smoke trail could disturb a pursuer's aim as well, but this is achieved only if the attacker straight into the defender's trail. This is unlikely for fighters, and bombers are better protected by tail gunners in that case.

That's it! So, what's your opinion? Could a defensive smoke dispenser have been effective in real life? Did anyone ever tried something similar? Should I spend less time after such things and more with my wife? :mrgreen: The discussion is open!

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Re: "What if...?" Defensive smoke trail - Deutschmark - 30.12.2011

I think your wife misses you... :lol: :mrgreen:

All joking aside, am not that well knowing of WW2, but in WW1 it was common to put your plane into a uncontrolled spin dive to fool the other guy that you where done and to only come back behind him later.

Deutschmark

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