German 155mm DM 105 Smoke Projectile
Overview
The 155mm DM 105 is a base-ejection smoke projectile developed by Germany for NATO-standard 155mm howitzer systems. Designated under the German “DM” (Deutsches Modell) nomenclature system, the DM 105 provides tactical smoke screening capability for maneuver forces, artillery units, and defensive operations. Unlike bursting smoke projectiles that detonate to release smoke agent, the DM 105 uses a time fuze to eject smoke-producing canisters from the base of the projectile over the target area, allowing the canisters to fall and generate sustained smoke screens on the ground. The DM 105 represents modern Western smoke ammunition design optimized for compatibility across NATO artillery systems.
Country/Bloc of Origin
- Primary Origin: Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany/unified Germany)
- Development Period: 1970s-1980s
- Manufacturer: German defense industry, likely including Rheinmetall and Diehl Defence
- Military Context: Developed for Bundeswehr (German Armed Forces) requirements and NATO interoperability
- NATO Standardization: Compatible with NATO 155mm artillery systems
- Export Status: Available to NATO allies and approved export customers
- International Use: Employed by Bundeswehr and various NATO member armed forces operating German-origin or NATO-standard 155mm systems
Ordnance Class
- Type: Artillery projectile, smoke
- Primary Role: Tactical smoke screening (visual obscuration)
- Delivery Method: Gun-launched from 155mm howitzers
- Category: Conventional ammunition, smoke/obscurant
- Smoke Generation Method: Base-ejection canister system
- Fire Support Role: Screening friendly movement, masking defensive positions, obscuring enemy observation, marking targets
Ordnance Family/Nomenclature
Primary Designation:
- German Designation: DM 105
- Full Nomenclature: 155mm Nebelgeschoss DM 105 (Smoke Projectile DM 105)
- NATO Nomenclature: May carry NATO stock number (NSN)
“DM” Designation Explained:
- “DM” = Deutsches Modell (German Model)
- Sequential numbering within German ammunition classification system
Related Smoke Ammunition:
- DM 105A1/A2: Potential improved variants
- M105 (U.S.): American bursting smoke projectile (different design philosophy, see separate lesson)
- M116 (U.S.): U.S. base-ejection smoke projectile (similar concept)
- L118 (UK): British smoke projectile
Compatible Weapon Systems:
- PzH 2000 self-propelled howitzer (German)
- FH70 towed howitzer (NATO tri-national)
- M109 family self-propelled howitzer
- M777 towed howitzer
- G5/G6 (South African origin, NATO-compatible)
- All NATO-standard 155mm/39 and 155mm/52 systems
Smoke Family Context: Base-ejection smoke projectiles like the DM 105 differ from bursting smoke projectiles in that they dispense intact smoke canisters rather than fragmenting the projectile body. This provides sustained smoke generation but requires different tactical employment considerations.
Hazards
Primary Hazards:
- Minimal Blast: Ejection charge is small; no high-explosive detonation
- Canister Impact: Ejected smoke canisters can cause injury if personnel are struck
- Smoke Inhalation: Hexachloroethane (HC) or red phosphorus smoke agents can cause respiratory irritation and chemical injury
- Thermal Hazards: Red phosphorus canisters generate significant heat; fire ignition risk
Smoke Agent Hazards:
Hexachloroethane (HC) Mixture:
- Produces dense white smoke when ignited
- Smoke contains zinc chloride fumes
- Respiratory irritant; can cause chemical pneumonitis with heavy exposure
- Eye and skin irritation possible
Red Phosphorus (RP):
- Alternative smoke agent in some variants
- Self-igniting (pyrophoric) when exposed to air
- Burns at high temperature; severe burn hazard
- Can reignite after apparent extinguishment
- Fire hazard to vegetation and structures
Ejection System Hazards:
- Propelling Charge: Small pyrotechnic charge ejects canisters
- Base Plate Ejection: Metal base plate ejected with canisters
- Canister Trajectory: Canisters follow unpredictable paths after ejection
UXO Considerations:
- Unexpended Canisters: May fail to ignite or function properly
- Fuze Malfunction: Time fuze failure results in intact projectile impact
- Phosphorus Hazards: Unburned phosphorus remains extremely dangerous
- Buried Canisters: May retain active smoke agent for extended periods
Safety Distances:
- Smoke deployment altitude determines canister dispersal pattern
- Ground-level hazard from falling canisters and base components
- Downwind smoke drift affects personnel and operations
Key Identification Features
Dimensions:
- Length: Approximately 650-700mm (25.6-27.6 inches)
- Diameter: 155mm (6.1 inches)
- Weight: Approximately 43-46 kg (95-101 lbs)
Physical Characteristics:
- Nose: Ogival profile with fuze well
- Body: Cylindrical steel carrier shell
- Base: Removable/ejectable base section
- Rotating Band: Copper alloy band for barrel engagement
- Internal Configuration: Contains multiple smoke canisters arranged longitudinally
Color Schemes (NATO Standard):
- Body Color: Light green or olive drab
- Smoke Identification: Yellow band or markings indicating smoke fill
- Fuze Marking: Appropriate markings for mechanical time fuze
Marking System:
- Designation: “DM 105” or full nomenclature
- Caliber: 155mm
- Smoke Type: Indication of fill (HC or RP)
- Lot Number: Manufacturing batch identification
- Factory Code: Production facility
- Year: Manufacturing date
- NATO Stock Number: Where applicable
Distinctive Features:
- Base-ejection design (removable/shearable base)
- Time fuze rather than impact fuze
- Yellow markings indicating smoke ammunition
- Canister outline may be visible through body design
- Absence of explosive fragmentation markings
Distinguishing from HE Projectiles:
- Smoke marking (yellow band/text)
- Lighter construction than HE
- Different fuze type (time vs. point-detonating)
- Base designed for ejection rather than detonation containment
Fuzing Mechanisms
Primary Fuze Type: The DM 105 employs a mechanical time (MT) fuze that initiates the base-ejection charge at a predetermined point in the projectile’s trajectory.
Common Compatible Fuzes:
- DM 74 Series: German mechanical time fuze
- M565 Series: U.S. mechanical time fuze (NATO interoperable)
- M577 Series: U.S. mechanical time/superquick fuze
Fuze Functioning:
- Fuze Setting: Time set prior to loading based on desired burst point
- Firing: Propellant ignition initiates setback arming
- Spin Arming: Barrel rifling imparts rotation for centrifugal arming
- Time Running: Clockwork or pyrotechnic delay counts down
- Function Point: At set time, fuze initiates ejection charge
- Base Ejection: Small propellant charge shears base, expels canisters
Ejection Sequence:
- Fuze output ignites delay/transfer charge
- Transfer charge ignites ejection propellant
- Ejection charge generates gas pressure
- Base plate shears or separates
- Smoke canisters expelled rearward from carrier body
- Canisters deploy small drogue or stabilize aerodynamically
- Canisters land and smoke agent ignites
Canister Ignition:
- First-fire composition ignites upon ejection
- Smoke agent (HC or RP) begins producing smoke
- Sustained smoke generation for several minutes per canister
Arming Safety:
- Bore-safe design prevents in-bore functioning
- Setback and spin requirements must be met
- Time mechanism does not start until after muzzle exit
History of Development and Use
Development Context: The DM 105 was developed as part of West Germany’s comprehensive modernization of artillery ammunition during the Cold War period. NATO standardization requirements drove development of interoperable ammunition that could be fired from multiple nations’ artillery systems while meeting German technical and performance specifications.
Historical Background:
- 1970s: Development initiated to replace older smoke ammunition
- 1980s: Production and fielding with Bundeswehr
- NATO Integration: Adopted for interoperability across alliance
- Post-Cold War: Continued service with reduced stockpiles
- Modern Era: Remains in German and allied inventories
Tactical Employment Doctrine: Base-ejection smoke projectiles like the DM 105 are employed for:
- Screening Smoke: Obscuring friendly movement from enemy observation
- Blinding Smoke: Placed directly on enemy positions to obscure their vision
- Marking: Target indication for aviation or other fires
- Deception: Creating false indicators of activity
Operational Use:
- Cold War Exercises: Extensive NATO training use
- Balkans Operations: Potential employment in SFOR/KFOR missions
- Afghanistan (ISAF): German artillery deployed with full ammunition suite
- Training: Regular use in live-fire exercises
Smoke Ammunition Evolution: The base-ejection design represents an evolution from bursting smoke projectiles. By ejecting intact canisters rather than fragmenting the shell, base-ejection rounds provide:
- Longer smoke duration (sustained canister burning)
- Reduced fragmentation hazard
- More predictable smoke placement
- Multiple smoke points from single projectile
Current Status:
- Active in Bundeswehr inventory
- Stocked by multiple NATO members
- Continued production/procurement as needed
- Complemented by other smoke systems including mortar and vehicle-mounted
Technical Specifications
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Caliber | 155mm |
| Projectile Weight | ~43-46 kg |
| Length | ~650-700mm |
| Smoke Agent Options | HC (Hexachloroethane) mixture, Red Phosphorus |
| Number of Canisters | Typically 3-5 canisters |
| Canister Smoke Duration | 1-3 minutes per canister |
| Total Smoke Duration | 3-10+ minutes (cumulative) |
| Fuze Type | Mechanical Time (MT) |
| Burst Altitude | Set by fuze timing; typically 150-400m above target |
| Canister Dispersion | Dependent on burst altitude and wind |
| Muzzle Velocity | Comparable to standard 155mm (~800 m/s) |
| Maximum Range | ~18,000-24,000m (system dependent) |
| Operating Temperature | -40°C to +50°C |
Smoke Performance (Approximate):
| Condition | Smoke Screen Characteristics |
|---|---|
| Calm Wind | Dense localized screen, ~50-100m coverage per canister |
| Light Wind | Screen drifts, extended linear coverage |
| Moderate Wind | Rapid drift, wider but thinner coverage |
| Multiple Rounds | Overlapping screens create sustained obscuration |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the difference between base-ejection and bursting smoke projectiles? A: Base-ejection projectiles like the DM 105 use a time fuze to expel intact smoke canisters from the projectile’s base while in flight. The canisters fall to the ground and burn to produce smoke. Bursting smoke projectiles (like the M105) use point-detonating fuzes to fragment the projectile body and disperse smoke agent on impact. Base-ejection provides longer smoke duration from sustained canister burning, while bursting types provide immediate but shorter-duration smoke.
Q: Why does Germany use the “DM” designation system? A: “DM” stands for “Deutsches Modell” (German Model). This is the standard Bundeswehr nomenclature system for domestically developed or specified military equipment and ammunition. The numbering is sequential within categories. This system parallels other national designation systems (U.S. “M” series, UK “L” series, etc.) while indicating German origin or specification.
Q: What are the health hazards of HC smoke? A: Hexachloroethane (HC) smoke mixture produces zinc chloride fumes that are respiratory irritants. Symptoms of overexposure include coughing, chest tightness, and difficulty breathing. Heavy or prolonged exposure can cause chemical pneumonitis (lung inflammation). Personnel should avoid breathing smoke and move upwind or to clear air. Individuals with respiratory conditions are at higher risk. The smoke also causes eye and skin irritation.
Q: How does the time fuze determine where canisters land? A: The mechanical time fuze is set before firing based on range to target, desired burst altitude, and meteorological conditions. The fuze runs during flight and initiates the ejection charge at the set time, ejecting canisters at a calculated point in the trajectory. Canisters then fall to the ground, dispersing based on ejection altitude, trajectory angle, and wind conditions. Fire direction centers compute fuze settings using ballistic data and weather information.
Q: Can the DM 105 be fired from any 155mm howitzer? A: The DM 105 is designed for NATO-standard 155mm systems and should be compatible with most modern 155mm howitzers meeting NATO specifications, including the PzH 2000, M109 series, FH70, M777, and others. However, specific national variants may have compatibility considerations. Proper fuze compatibility must also be verified, as mechanical time fuzes require matching thread patterns and functioning specifications.
Q: What is the purpose of the yellow color coding? A: NATO standard color coding uses yellow to identify smoke ammunition. This ensures rapid visual identification during ammunition handling, storage, and combat loading. The system prevents dangerous confusion between smoke rounds (minimal blast) and HE rounds (lethal detonation). Yellow bands, markings, or text clearly distinguish smoke projectiles in all lighting conditions.
Q: How do red phosphorus smoke canisters differ from HC canisters? A: Red phosphorus (RP) burns at significantly higher temperatures than HC mixture and produces smoke through chemical reaction with atmospheric oxygen and moisture. RP provides denser smoke but presents greater fire hazard and causes more severe burns. RP canisters can ignite vegetation and structures, and unburned phosphorus particles can reignite after apparent extinguishment. RP is often preferred for screening armored formations where fire hazard is less concern.
Q: What UXO hazards are associated with smoke projectiles? A: Smoke projectile UXO hazards include: (1) intact projectiles from fuze malfunction (containing all canisters and ejection charge), (2) unexpelled canisters that failed to ignite, (3) unburned phosphorus from RP canisters that can spontaneously ignite when disturbed, and (4) partially burned canisters with remaining active agent. All suspected smoke ammunition UXO should be reported to EOD authorities. Phosphorus UXO is particularly dangerous due to re-ignition potential.
SAFETY NOTICE: This lesson is intended for educational and training purposes. All ordnance should be considered dangerous until proven safe by qualified personnel. Unexploded ordnance should never be handled by untrained individuals—report findings to military or law enforcement authorities.