Original Item. Only One Available. This is a very nice grouping of 11 original Vietnam War-era U.S. Navy Mk 13 Mod 0 Marine Smoke and Illumination Signals, complete with their original gray-painted metal storage case and fitted cardboard dividers. The signals are dated 1972 and represent a type of dual-purpose distress signaling equipment carried by American naval aviators, divers, and Navy SEAL personnel during the Vietnam War.

Each signal has a cylindrical metal body with a printed paper label and protective plastic caps at both ends. The orange-capped end is intended for daytime smoke signaling, while the red-capped end contains the nighttime illumination signal. Three raised beads on the red cap permit identification by touch in darkness. The signals measure approximately 5 1/8 inches [13 cm] in length and 1 5/8 inches [4.1 cm] in diameter.

The labels identify the manufacturer as PROPELLEX of Edwardsville, Illinois, and carry U.S. Patent No. 2,455,242, along with the contract number N00104-68-C-5330 and the 1972 lot designation.

The accompanying military storage case retains its hinged lid, securing hardware, and prominent black identification stencil, which reads:

1370-309-5028-L275
SIGNAL, SMOKE AND
ILLUMINATION, MARINE
MK 13 MOD 0
12 EACH
N00104-68-C-5330
A 3/72
LOT NO 10-P-02/72

The markings identify the contents as Mk 13 Mod 0 signals, with L275 corresponding to the military ammunition identification code for this type. The case was originally packed with twelve signals, of which eleven remain. Its interior retains the original brown corrugated cardboard packaging, with individual compartments for separating and protecting the cylinders during storage.

Condition is very good overall, with expected age and storage wear. The metal case retains much of its original gray finish, showing scattered scratches, minor paint loss, and localized surface oxidation, particularly around the edges and fastening hardware. The interior cardboard packaging remains substantially intact, although the upper flaps show noticeable creasing, edge wear, and some deterioration. The eleven signals retain their protective end caps and printed labels, with light discoloration, minor scuffing, and occasional wear to the paper surfaces. The original identification markings remain particularly well preserved.

SAFETY NOTICE: These original military pyrotechnic signals are intended strictly for historical collection and display. Not Available for Export.

Historical Context

The Mk 13 Mod 0 was developed during the Second World War as a compact distress signal intended primarily for personnel operating at sea. By August 1945, the U.S. Navy had incorporated it into its technical instructions for surface pyrotechnics. The design was particularly suited to downed aviators, who could carry the small cylinder in a life vest, flight suit, or emergency life raft.

Its principal advantage was the ability to provide two different visual signals within a single waterproofed container. The daytime component produced a dense cloud of orange smoke, while the nighttime component emitted a brilliant red flame. Both were designed to operate independently, allowing one end to be used while retaining the other for a later emergency.

According to the original military specifications, the smoke signal burned for approximately 18 seconds, while the red flare burned for approximately 18 to 20 seconds, producing an average intensity of 3,000 candlepower. The signal was intended to attract the attention of approaching rescue aircraft or vessels and assist them in locating personnel awaiting recovery.

The Mk 13 remained in American military service during the Vietnam War, particularly among naval aviation and diving personnel. For aviators conducting missions over the South China Sea, the Gulf of Tonkin, and other coastal waters, emergency signaling equipment was an important component of their survival gear. Aircraft damaged by enemy action, mechanical failures, or accidents could leave their crews stranded at sea, where visual signals helped search-and-rescue forces locate survivors.

The signal also had an established place in U.S. Navy diving equipment. Personnel operating underwater or away from their support vessels faced the possibility of surfacing at an unexpected location, particularly when currents or poor visibility interfered with navigation. A handheld distress signal offered a means of attracting attention from nearby boats or recovery aircraft once the diver reached the surface.

Of particular interest is the Mk 13 Mod 0's association with U.S. Navy SEALs and Underwater Demolition Teams (UDTs). During the Vietnam War, SEAL teams operated extensively throughout South Vietnam's rivers, canals, and coastal regions, carrying out reconnaissance, ambushes, and other special operations. Their missions frequently involved insertion and extraction by small boats, making compact emergency signaling equipment especially useful.

The 1974 U.S. Navy SEAL Combat Manual specifically identifies the Mk 13 Mod 0 as part of a combat diver's equipment. The manual describes the signal as being carried secured to the pistol belt or knife scabbard, keeping it readily accessible. It also identifies the Mk 13 flare as one of the standard emergency distress signals used by UDT personnel. The signal could therefore provide a means of attracting the attention of supporting craft when a diver became separated from his team or required assistance.

Although the Mk 13 was closely associated with naval special operations, it was a general military survival and distress signal rather than equipment exclusive to SEAL units. Its use extended across several branches of the armed forces, particularly among personnel whose duties involved aircraft, maritime operations, or waterborne recovery.

The present grouping dates to 1972, during the final years of major American combat involvement in Vietnam. Its surviving military packaging, original lot identification, and eleven individual signals preserve the equipment in its original twelve-compartment storage arrangement, with the markings linking the case and contents to the same 1972 production lot.

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