M929 White Phosphorous Smoke Cartridge

The M929 White Phosphorous Smoke Cartridge is a U.S. 120 mm mortar round used for smoke obscuration, screening, and spotting. Army ammunition materials list it as M929 WP SMK for the 120 mm smoke family, and Marine Corps doctrine authorizes it for the M120 and M121 battalion mortar systems.

M929 White Phosphorous Smoke Cartridge, 120 mm white-phosphorous smoke mortar cartridge, Munitions

Image source: White Phosphorous mortar round.jpg

Profile

Origin: United States
Built by: Pine Bluff Arsenal
Type: 120 mm white-phosphorous smoke mortar cartridge
Service note: Introduced in 1999
Variants: M929, XM929

mortar smoke white phosphorus obscurant 120 mm

Specifications

Caliber: 120 mm
Role: White phosphorus smoke and obscuration
Use: Screening and spotting
Compatible systems: M120 and M121 battalion mortar systems
Range: 200 to 7,200 meters
Payload: 5 pounds of white phosphorus
Fuzes: M734A1 multi-option or M745 point-detonating
Weight: 30 pounds
Length: 27.9 inches
Burn time: Approximately 6.5 minutes

Service And Conflict Use

Service History

In service: Fielded with U.S. 120 mm M120 and M121 battalion mortar systems as white phosphorus smoke ammunition.
Used by: United States Army, United States Marine Corps

Firing Weapons

Army and Marine Corps sources tie the M929 cartridge to the M120 and M121 120 mm mortar systems.

Firing weapon

Weapon type

Firing evidence

120 mm mortar family

The Army mortar ammunition page lists M929 under 120 mm smoke mortar ammunition, and Marine Corps doctrine says the M929 smoke cartridge is authorized for the M120 and M121 mortar systems.

Sources: Mortar Ammunition, FM 23-90 W CH 1 MORTARS

M929 White Phosphorous Smoke Cartridge Images

M929 White Phosphorous Smoke Cartridge, 120 mm white-phosphorous smoke mortar cartridge, Munitions - view 1 — Source: White Phosphorous mortar round.jpg

M929 White Phosphorous Smoke Cartridge, 120 mm white-phosphorous smoke mortar cartridge, Munitions - view 2 — Source: U.S. Marines fire 120mm mortar on Wikimedia Commons

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Sources

Mortar AmmunitionPublisher: U.S. Army Capability Program Executive Ammunition & Energetics | Note: Supports the Army's mortar ammunition page listing M929 under 120 mm smoke mortar ammunition and identifying 120 mm smoke rounds as white phosphorus rounds. | Accessed: 2026-06-23 PEO Ammunition 2017 Portfolio BookPublisher: U.S. Army Capability Program Executive Ammunition & Energetics | Note: Supports the M929 system description, M120/M121 use, range, payload, dimensions, fuze configurations, and Pine Bluff Arsenal load, assemble, and pack context. | Accessed: 2026-06-23 FM 23-90 W CH 1 MORTARSPublisher: U.S. Marine Corps | Note: Supports the M929 smoke cartridge's screening and spotting use, identification, fuze, and range for the M120 and M121 battalion mortar systems. | Accessed: 2026-06-23 White Phosphorous mortar round.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Open-license file page for the primary cartridge image. | Accessed: 2026-06-23 U.S. Marines fire 120mm mortar on Wikimedia CommonsPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Open-license file page for a 120 mm mortar firing image used in the gallery. | Accessed: 2026-06-23