Tank Box Theory: Smoke Grenades X-Originating-IP: [199.178.179.180] From: "Andy Prendergast" <andyroo010@hotmail.com> To: halo@bungie.org Subject: Theory on box device on tanks & marines Date: Tue, 11 Apr 2000 18:42:59 CDT Mime-Version: 1.0 Ok not 100% sure on the marine box (with holes) but i DO know that the box on the tank is almost assuredly a smoke grenade launcher. (last theory called it a flare launcher) Many modern combat tanks carry smoke grenades on a launcher mounted near or on the main gun barrel. An example can be found at http://www.cpmurray.army.mil/fo-abram.html where it states and i quote: "The turret is fitted with two six-barreled M250 smoke grenade launchers, one on each side of the main gun. The standard smoke grenade contains a phosphors compound that masks thermal signature of the vehicle to the enemy. A smoke screen can also be laid by an engine operated system." The pictures make this very easy to see, you can see the small canisters on the barrel. I believe the heavy tank in Halo will use these smoke grenades. As to the marine, the flare theory seems to work out well, although it faces the same problems as the rocket launcher-firing a flare that close to the head would cause temporary blindness-the magnesium or phosphorus used in them is EXTREMELY bright when ignited. In addition to this, the bright heat signature would scramble any infra-red detection systems on the suit, assuming it has any. So what is the box doing there? I doubt it will have any function in the game. Its probably just there to make the suit look good. -andyroo010 Back to the Theories page

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