This typical smoke float features a 'button top' activation and the 3 piece design allows for an accurate reproduction.
Primarily used for:
Tactical Concealment - The generated thick smokescreens hid ships, convoys, or damaged vessels from enemy surface raiders, aircraft, and submarine observation.
Position Marking - To mark suspected submarine contacts or to flag specific sea coordinates.
Search & Rescue - To pinpoint the location of downed airmen or sailors in the water, or simply to signal to survivors that they had been spotted.
Decoy Operations - smoke floats are known to have been deployed alongside makeshift rafts or away from their actual vessel position to trick enemy bombers or gunners in low-visibility conditions.
Smoke floats were thrown overboard after ignition and the large holes in the base would immediately fill with water keeping the float upright while smoke was deployed. Small holes in the middle section allowed the float to gradually fill with water until, after around 30 minutes, they would sink below the surface out of harms way to friendly ships, search and rescue vessels etc.