Improvised Black Smoke

A black smoke munition can be made from sulfur, aluminum powder, iron oxide, moth crystals and carbon tetrachloride. It can be used either for signaling or screening.

MATERIAL REQUIRED:

• Sulfur
• Aluminum powder (bronzing)
• Improvised black iron oxide
• Moth crystals (paradichlorobenzene)
• Carbon tetrachloride
• Improvised white flare mix
• Table salt
• Teaspoon
• Tablespoon
• Quart jar or container
• Wooden rod or stick
• Wooden block
• Window screen
• Newspaper
• Fuse, 15 in. long
• Tin can, 2-1/2 in. diameter x 5 in. long
• Aluminum foil
• Flame source (matches, lighter, etc.)

SOURCES:

• Drug store
• Paint or hardware store Section V, No. 7
• Hardware store
• Paint or hardware store Section V, No. 6
• Food store

PROCEDURE:

1. Measure 3 level teaspoons of sulfur into a quart jar.

2. Add 1 heaping tablespoon of improvised iron oxide to the sulfur.

3. Add 2 level teaspoons of table salt.

4. Crush 5 heaping tablespoons of moth crystal into a fine powder using a wooden block.

5. Add 4 heaping tablespoons of powdered moth crystals to the other Ingredients in Jar.

6. Place all ingredients on the window screen.

7. Mix ingredients thoroughly by sieving them onto the newspaper. Repeat screening 3 times to insure thorough mixing.

8. Pour mixed ingredients back into the jar.

9. Add 12 heaping tablespoons of aluminum powder to the ingredients and mix by stirring with wooden rod or stick.

10. Just before use as a black smoke, wet mix the above ingredients to a paste consistency with carbon tetrachloride.

CAUTION: Fumes of Carbon Tetrachloride are hazardous. Perform Step 10 in a well ventilated area.

HOW TO USE:

1. Measure one heaping teaspoon of white flare mix onto a 4 inch square piece of aluminum foil.

2. Knot one end of the fuse and place the knot into the mix.

3. Fold the corners of the foil tightly around the fuse.

4. Now place the black smoke mix into the can.

5. Place the fused white flare mix in the foil below the surface of the black smoke mix in the can.

6. Light the fuse with the flame source when ready.