Smoke: Overuse/Misuse

[indigo|blade]

Smoking the enemy position is the best smoke tactic I've found so far.

Another effective tactic that has already been said is when you use it as a diversion. Seeing smoke is like turning on the mosquito lamp at night for some reason. Inexperienced folks run to it like it was a life raft or something!

[Long Bow]

Well considering this is still a game I sometimes rely on tactics that work in the BF2 world but not IRL. I will smoke the defensive site to allow me to cover the ground to get there. Then I can tuck tight up to the wall and wait for the smoke to clear. If I SL I always ask my guys to toss nades in as well before kicking in the door. Is this a realistic tactic? I don't know, nor do I care. It works and allows my squad to secure the objective, securing the objective regardless of reality or game is the point

Dropping smoke on your position while defending is counter productive unless you are trying to withdraw.

[geogob]

BF2/PR tactics like putting smoke on position right before entering it won't work in real life. Simply because in real life, casualties and friendly fire is just unacceptable. Your squad won't respawn on the SL after they suicide-cleared the flag so that you can capture it.

Yes, it may work. But at what cost? Like ghost mentioned in OP, this kind of tactic leads to a lot of confusion during the assault resulting in friendly fire or results in obscuring the assaulter view, making them vulnerable to enemy in defensive positions.

And how many time will some idiot throw a random fragmentation grenade in the middle of the smoke, killing half the squad?

[JohnnyPissoff]

Bottom line for me when some random player tosses smoke other than as a screen; It's just plain freakin annoying and causes me to lost my momentum when assaulting close-in (I guess it's a campers treat; Toss smoke go prone camp till smoke clears. Then fight off disorientation. Then let Allah sort out the mess after?).

Naw man this is reality based and that calls for fire control. In other words you need to be able to somewhat predict the outcome of any engagement. A professional commander will not take the chance with a 50/50 or unknown attrition rate. And for the life of me I can't understand why grenades or flash-bangs aren't the chosen surprise package.

[Mongolian_dude]

Yeah, i see a fair few people using smoke incorrectly or not enough.

-When defending an area, smoke isnt the wisest of choices. it just obscures incomming enemy and lets them, definitly, know you are there.
The combination means that they have the upper hand because they know exactly when the fight starts, as they now chose when they come through the smoke, so they will usualy be more ready than you are.
The most common place i have seen this used is the Gardens+Ruins CPs on EJOD desert.
Exceptions are obviosuly made, in cases such as an overwhelming enemy armour presence.

Even from the most vetern PR players, I see smoke under used. Smoke can be X-TREEMLY useful. Whenever you come across an Emplacement MG, throw smoke right on his position and he just becomes useless/a sitting duck.
My squad and I (lead by the legendary Bob.dob) managed to rush the Multiple MG positions on EJOD, just before the MEC controlled Desert CP.
Yes, before those MGs is just about 150meters of complete open ground.

Throw 1 smoke, wait for smoke to ploom > Rush into the smoke and stay put, throw next smoke > throw another smoke + arm at ammo bags > Repeat until reach destination, throw frags at target.

...mongol...

[Darkpowder]

The ammo bag smoke wave used to work all too well, thesedays you are better off using it when assaulting a target you have to hurriedly attack and haven't got time for scoping out where the enemy are.

Also best used when facing a long range ambush and it is used to obscure a frontal aspect. In that situation being in the smoke is the worse idea possible, and you are better off manuvering the assault squad or fireteam into the flanks.

[IronTaxi]

ive found smoke to be an invaluable survival mechanism for infantry on kashan desert...

especially if you are trying to hold one of the towns.. as long as you have a bunker you can keep the area smoked pretty good...

additionally smoking the front of a tank is always fun...they usually panic and race away...

[ReaperMAC]

additionally smoking the front of a tank is always fun...they usually panic and race away...

I might try that, I know Id run if I started to see smoke near my tank

[MajorPwnag3]

Smoke should only be used when your squad is moving through open terrain without vehicles and you definitely know where the enemy is, or when reviving, covering, or, in some other way, supporting your squad, but, still, only if you know the enemy is near and he sees you, otherwise you're only giving yourself away. Smoke should never be used in close proximity to your squad, it should be thrown as close to the enemy as possible. That way, he can't see you, but you know where he is (assuming you're using smoke in the fashion I already explained). The nearer it lands to your enemy, the more his vision is obscured and the less your own vision is obscured. Also, if it lands very near him, he may freak out and run away, giving up his cover and exposing himself. Smoke is not an offensive tool; it is only useful for defensive or squad support operations in open areas when masking movement is needed. When you're in a stationary or confined position, smoke will only make the job of spotting the enemy harder, so, as tempting as it is, don't try it when defending flags and such. I personally have used these criteria in order to use smoke grenades at proper moments to excellent effect and, from my experience, will work, assuming you don't get shot before the smokescreen fills the area.

Also, good idea about smoking a tank, although I seem to remember people doing that in vBf2.