Use of smoke screens at ports

Non-naval discussions about the Second World War. Military leaders, campaigns, weapons, etc.
URI
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Joined: Wed Dec 09, 2015 10:24 am

Use of smoke screens at ports

Post by URI »

Hi,

I'm looking for information regarding the use of smoke screens on land. we have 3 old smoke towers in the Haifa bay (Palestine/Israel) built by the British during WW2 to defend the port/air field/oil refinery against day time air raids. trying to learn more about the use of smoke towers and how they worked. Also, was this tactic used only here or in other places as well. Haifa was bombarded during the war but not sure if the smoke screens were ever used. we have 3 towers still standing (originally there were around 13 of them).
We know very little about them but hope to learn more and restore them.

thanks
Uri
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Steve Crandell
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Re: Use of smoke screens at ports

Post by Steve Crandell »

The Germans used smoke in the Norwegian fiords to protect their anchorages from British bombers.
URI
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Re: Use of smoke screens at ports

Post by URI »

thanks Steve, I will try looking it up.
are you familiar with smoke screens used by the British?
Steve Crandell
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Re: Use of smoke screens at ports

Post by Steve Crandell »

No, I'm sorry but I'm not.
lynn1212
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Re: Use of smoke screens at ports

Post by lynn1212 »

smoke was widely used by both sides. since most bomb aiming was visual the smoke would make aiming or even finding reference points harder or impossible. other passive defenses used included radar reflectors, nets, painting, coal dust to hide water, false roads & RR tracks , phony airports, changes to lighting and moved lighting, and of course blackouts
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aurora
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Re: Use of smoke screens at ports

Post by aurora »

Numerous reports indicate that the Germans have found the use of smoke screens at night to have considerable protective value against enemy bombing attack. This has been particularly true of the coastal areas, where unscreened coastlines offer a ready means of calculating distances accurately. In inland areas, where targets are not so easily located, smoke screens are generally limited to the protection of precision targets of prime importance. However, there are indications that several of the larger inland cities are protected in this way. In addition, decoy smoke screens have been effectively employed upon a number of occasions to protect nearby targets.

Relatively few instances of daylight screening have been reported to date, and on the whole the practice has not proved particularly effective. With the increasing frequency of daylight raids over the Continent, it is to be expected that the Germans will take steps to protect vital target areas with efficient smoke screens both day and night.

The Germans have used smoke extensively for screening:

(1) Battleships, docks, and naval installations;

(2) Oil refineries and storage;

(3) Important blast furnaces, factories, and buildings;

(4) Canals and harbours.

The most exact knowledge of large-scale smoke operations comes from Brest, where several large German battleships and cruisers were successfully protected from enemy bombing over a very considerable period of time. A screen was put up immediately upon the sounding of an air raid warning, and within 20 minutes the docks and town were completely enveloped in smoke. It is reported that the screen was so dense that visibility on the ground extended for only a few yards.

aurora
Quo Fata Vocant-Whither the Fates call

Jim
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