The U.S. Army is exploring the development of a new “fog of war” method to enhance battlefield obfuscation, reverting to smokescreens originally used during the Civil War. This initiative arises from the need to protect troops during vulnerable maneuvers, particularly at water crossings and during obstacle breaching operations, as discussed by Lt. Col. Michael Carvelli in the spring issue of *Military Review*.
Carvelli argues that the ongoing conflict in Ukraine has spotlighted the Army’s vulnerability and the critical need for investing in traditional tactics. He notes, “This obscuration gap resulted in debilitating casualties on both sides, delaying progress or causing mission failure,” urging the Army to learn from these tactics and apply them through doctrinal, organizational, and material investments.
In a shift to modernize its tactics, the Army is currently developing the M75 screening obscuration module (SOM), scheduled to be introduced in 2025. This advanced smokescreen system is designed to replace the legacy M56 Coyote, which had been in use for nearly seven years and provided longer visibility coverage than the new model. The SOM can obscure enemy visibility beyond 650 feet (200 meters) for over 12 minutes, functioning efficiently on stable surfaces, and is lightweight, comparable to the size of a carry-on suitcase.
Despite its advancements, Carvelli points out that the current obscuration capabilities are at a low point, especially at the platoon level, indicating that the SOM is not widely accessible to troops. The older M56 Coyote could maintain screening for up to 90 minutes and had a broader operational range.
Danielle Kuhn, head of the Smoke & Target Defeat Branch at the U.S. Army DEVCOM Chemical Biological Center, responded to Carvelli’s concerns by noting that significant milestones have been achieved in the SOM’s development. Unlike older systems, the SOM can deploy a tailored obscurant cloud designed to disrupt various types of enemy sensors across the electromagnetic spectrum. Recent tests have shown promising results in disseminating the enhanced material, moving closer to providing soldiers with a tactical advantage on the battlefield.
Advancements in analytical chemistry are expected to broaden the range of electromagnetic spectrum obscuration capabilities of the SOM, dramatically enhancing performance. Carvelli highlights the implications of the Ukraine-Russia conflict, emphasizing that effective obscuration is essential in diverse combat scenarios, whether in rapid engagements or prolonged attritional warfare. Currently, no specific timeline has been established for the fielding of the M75 SOM.
*Claire Barrett is the Strategic Operations Editor for Sightline Media and a researcher focused on World War II history, particularly interested in Sir Winston Churchill and Michigan football.*
