How did smokeless powder help artillery crews conceal their positions?

Smokeless powder helped artillery crews conceal their positions by significantly reducing the visual signature produced during firing.

Unlike black powder, which consists of ingredients that produce approximately 60 percent solid products upon combustion—appearing as thick, whitish smoke—smokeless powder is composed primarily of nitrocellulose. Because nitrocellulose burns by decomposing into hot gases rather than through the chemical reaction of solid constituent ingredients, it produces almost entirely gas upon combustion.12

By eliminating the massive clouds of smoke that previously obscured the battlefield and revealed the location of artillery batteries to the enemy, smokeless powder allowed crews to maintain their concealment more effectively. Additionally, these propellants produce less flash than black powder, further aiding in the suppression of the crew's position during combat operations.12