Does anyone know what these brackets on the Mk VIII were for? They are triangular with a small stop at the bottom and give the impression of being sockets for something to fit into. There are on each side towards the front just behind the ID stripes, towards the rear behind the side door, on the rear top corner of the sponson and front and rear each side of the upper superstructure. So 5 each side and not all at the same level. Not seen them on any other design. Even the factory model at Bovington has them so they are not a later addition. They are riveted into construction seams, not riveted or bolted separately. They were on the prototype and on US-built tanks. So clearly have a purpose.
The most obvious thought was for some sort of camouflage poles, but why triangular section? A round pole might slip through and not be retained as the retaining strip is narrow and most of the bottom is open. Seemingly intended for something triangular. Fleetingly, brackets for railway-type oil lamps crossed my mind - but too many and in odd places.
Thank you. As for numbers, I missed the 2 brackets at the hull rear beneath the rear sloping ends of the unditching beam rails. That makes the 6 on the hull.
The sponson brackets are on the top rear corner of each sponson. And I had no idea that 1 of the 2 preserved vehicles in the US was the air-cooled engine conversion.
