From Tactical and Technical Trends, No. 23, April 22, 1943, the following U.S. intelligence report describes German smoke floats captured in North Africa. [DISCLAIMER: The following text is taken from the U.S. War Department publication Tactical and Technical Trends. As with all wartime intelligence information, data may be incomplete or inaccurate. No attempt has been made to update or correct the text. Any views or opinions expressed do not necessarily represent those of the website.]

GERMAN ACID SMOKE FLOAT German smoke floats, captured at a North African port, are described below. Each float weighs 42 pounds empty, and 83 pounds charged, and is 32 inches high by 12 3/4 inches in diameter. The time of emission is 8 to 9 minutes. The float consists of the chemical container arranged inside a drum-shaped buoyancy chamber. A pipe, open at the bottom and closed by a valve at the top, admits water to the chemical container. The valve is operated by a spindle extending to the top of the float. When smoke is required, the valve spindle is withdrawn and the float is lowered into the water. Water entering through the inlet pipe reacts with the chemical filling, thought to be sulphur trioxide, and smoke is emitted through an outlet pipe at the top of the float. The floats were tried out and gave a good smoke cloud, but difficulties due to corrosion may be encountered.

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