MKI rifle and MG stowage

[rob love]

Originally posted by Bruce Parker
I recall a sheet metal insert with 4" diameter holes cut in it, probably spot welded in. Was this box only big enough to take 2 dischargers side by side, or 4 by stacking them? Otters and Fox have exposed bins for these made out of sheet metal, however a lot of the inserts on Mk.1 carriers are wood (grenade boxes, Bren spare barrel box for example).

I partially answered my own question tonight regarding an insert in the smoke discharger box. I opened the lid on an old rusty box, to find remnants of the plywood insert and also a 3/8" thick piece of felt on the bottom of the box.
It would appear that there were two of the plywood inserts,and that the smoke cannisters were stacked in 2 piles of 2 each. There are the remnants of the plywood at a little above the felt level, and there is the remnants of screws which would have held another one just below the bottom of the lid's hinge.
If theres interest, I'll try and photograph the remains tommorrow.