ðə fˈɜːst smˈoʊkləs pɹəpˈɛlənt, ðə ɡˈʌŋkəʔˌn̩bˈeɪst pˈaʊdɚ bˈiː wʌz ˌɪntɹədˈuːst baɪ ðə fɹˈɛntʃ nˈeɪvi ɪn wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd ˈeɪɾi sˈɪks, tɹˈɪɡɚɹɪŋ ɹˈæpɪd dɪvˈɛləpmənt ʌv smˈoʊkləs kˈɑːmpaʊndz wˌɪtʃ ɹᵻplˈeɪst bɹˈaʊn pˈaʊdɚ.
The first smokeless propellant, the guncotton-based Poudre B was introduced by the French Navy in 1886, triggering rapid development of  smokeless compounds which replaced brown powder.