Signal flare
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There is more information available on this subject at Signal flare on the English Wikipedia. |
Signal flares, also known as smokers, are a type of pyrotechnic that produce a brilliant light or intense heat without an explosion.[1] Flares are used for signaling, illumination, or defensive countermeasures in civilian and military applications. Flares may be ground pyrotechnics, projectile pyrotechnics, or parachute-suspended to provide maximum illumination time over a large area. Projectile pyrotechnics may be dropped from aircraft, fired from rocket or artillery, or deployed by flare guns or handheld percussive tubes.
Function
Flares produce their light through the combustion of a pyrotechnic composition. The ingredients are varied, but often based on strontium nitrate, potassium nitrate, or potassium perchlorate and mixed with a fuel such as charcoal, sulfur, sawdust, aluminium, magnesium, or a suitable polymeric resin. Flares may be colored by the inclusion of pyrotechnic colorants.
Usage
Signal flares appear to be standard equipment for UNSC servicemen. They are typically used to alert allies of a friendly position. They utilize thick, green or white smoke.[2][3] During the Battle of Trove, John Forge and his men from the UNSC Spirit of Fire used Recon Team Echo's signal flare to find the missing reconnaissance team's M312 HRV.[4] During the Battle of Sigma Octanus IV, Corporal Harland used green signal flares to mark his squad's location to a Pelican carrying Spartan-II Blue Team.[1] During the Fall of Reach, Noble Team used blue and red signal flares to attract the attention of incoming dropships.[5][6] The Liang-Dortmund Corporation manufactures their own emergency flare.[7][8] During the Battle for Zeta Halo, some UNSC servicemen carried flare guns in chest holsters.[9]
Gallery
A signal flare left by UNSC personnel in the Kenyan jungle.
Jorge-052 throws a red flare.
SPARTAN-B312 with a red signal flare.
A green flare in the caves near the Military Wilderness Training Preserve.
Private James MacCraw holding a signal flare aboard the Mona Lisa.
An emergency flare manufactured by Liang-Dortmund.
A red flare in the hand of a dead Marine on Installation 07.
Spartan Hieu Dinh holding a flare.
List of appearances
- Halo: The Fall of Reach (First appearance)
- Halo: First Strike (Mentioned only)
- Halo 3
- Halo Wars
- Halo 3: ODST
- Halo Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe
- Halo: Reach
- Halo 5: Guardians
- Halo Infinite
Sources
- ^ a b Halo: The Fall of Reach, chapter 19: "He pulled the pin and tossed the smoker onto the ground. A moment later, thick clouds of green smoke roiled into the sky."
- ^ Halo 3, campaign level Sierra 117
- ^ Halo 3: ODST, campaign level Mombasa Streets
- ^ Halo Wars, campaign level Anders' Signal
- ^ Halo: Reach, campaign level Exodus
- ^ Halo: Reach, campaign level New Alexandria
- ^ Halo 5: Guardians, multiplayer map March on Stormbreak
- ^ Halo 5: Guardians, multiplayer map Escape from ARC
- ^ Halo Infinite, In-game model
