[redcoat2]

Thanks for your replies.

I asked about the HIPs because I was wondering whether (a) many are even equipped to lay smoke and (b) whether they actually lay smoke in practice. When I’ve read Russian articles about the use of heliborne infantry they haven’t mentioned the use of smoke pots for the protection of LZs.

The VSM-1 was originally designed for another ‘wartime’ use - as a mine dispenser. The KDSh-2 is usually deployed with the mine dispensers (PKM and UWZ) used by ground troops (usually engineers). It is a nifty device that creates a screen - visual and infrared – 50 to 80 metres long.

Thanks for the link about the Huey in Vietnam. I haven’t seen a photo of a ‘Smokey’ in action before.