Should infantry guns fire smoke?

[treadasaurusrex]

An astute observation, Peter. Here's my take on this question . . .

I agree that these types of (Direct Fire)infantry guns had smoke rounds in WW2, but I think that it would be stretching things too far to imagine that these rounds would be able to create as big a smoke effect as an American M-3 105mm howitzer firing sufficient firing smoke rounds to screen a 200 meter hex for 15 minutes.

Appropriate at this scale? Probably not, as in the example provided by the smoke grenade dischargers of German and British tanks that cannot create their own smoke screens at this scale. I suggest that this is also beneath this level of abstraction

However, if you think this factor is appropriate at this scale, then maybe we should consider using the same procedure that applies to 60mm-size, or smaller, mortars firing smoke in the 4th Edition Optional Rules (page 40 - the Procedure paragraph) and perhaps use the IG's direct fire range?

Currently, per the rules for artillery and mortars which can place smoke 83% of the time (5 or more on 2 dice). A 60mm or smaller gun can do it 72% of the time (6 or more). So I don't see how the caliber is an issue.

You're right caliber is not the issue. Just a suggestion using an existing optional rule procedure.

I do think that the issue is that adding infantry guns to the units already able to create smoke screens is unnecessary give the scale of the game. It seems beneath the "level of abstraction" at this scale in PG.