Probably stupid questions, but here I go anyway! I'm building a bunch of modern MBT's and many of them have capped smoke dischargers with chains. My stupid question #1 is this, in a combat situation are the caps removed or do they stay on until used. #2 is are they all fired at once (say Type 90 or Leopard) or is it possible to have some tubes empty and some still loaded?

Thanks,
Matt

Good questions and a detail that I think has been missed on pretty much every Canadian Afghanistan Leopard model I have seen.

On the 76 mm Wegmann grenade launchers the regular rubber caps with chains are popped off during combat operations and stowed on a small metal nib on the back of the grenade launcher. A small plastic temporary cover is then placed over the mouth of the grenade discharger to eliminate dust and debris from getting inside.

If the grenade is fired then the plastic covers simply gets blown off.

Here's a photo of a Canadian Leopard C2 MEXAS in Afghanistan with a good view of the stowed rubber covers and the temporary plastic covers in place. Click on the image for a high res version...

http://www.combatcamera.forces.gc.ca/netpub/server.np?find&catalog=photos&template=detail_eng.np&field=itemid&op=matches&value=18864&site=combatcamera

To answer your second question the Leopard has the ability to fire individual grenades or all grenades at once with a selector box the Commander operates....so technically you could have some tubes empty and others still loaded with grenades.

Just in case one wonders about the M250 Smoke Grenade Launcher fitted to the Abrams, "Pressing one of two push switches in the turret sends an electrical charge to the dischargers. Dischargers are wired to fire grenades from alternate barrels. Pressing one push switch launches a salvo of six grenades (three from each discharger). Pressing both switches launches a salvo of twelve grenades."
(from http://www.inetres.com/gp/military/cv/weapon/launchers.html )

HTH

Frenchy

Thank you both, that was very helpful!

Matt