-good suggestion, but--- I would counter and say, these ships are banned from using smoke.  DD/CL/CA/FF

NF isn't really moving toward realistic anymore anyway. 

not to mention

We all hate holding off a shot on a bb4/5/6 to dodge these guys (aa is the only acceptable excuse, but still should help to stay clear).

If not AA'ing, and even if they're poorly doing so, these ships on a bb line have no clue what's going on.  really they should be in the middle or shooting the lil' ships that cross over. (but rarely do.) 

In my opinion, to expect them to cooperate and perform a function to perpetuate a win is something like expecting bb's to populate the south when we start a battle.  it won't happen.  Smoke from bb's is easy to deal with in my opinion.  not a big deal.  ban it from the small ships and they can only use it so often.