Turret Tank

What are the small forward facing tubes mounted atop a tank's turret?

If you look at a tank's turret, near the main gun there are upward pointing tubes that are usually grouped together and are also usually pointed in a variety of directions.

I am wondering what these are and what purpose they serve? Thanks for any input.

There are smoke grenade launchers off center of the turret on some tanks while others have them in line along the side. Check out the links below.

http://www.inetres.com/gp/military/cv/tank/M1/M250_salvo.gif

http://www.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_approve/3865741/2/istockphoto_3865741-smoke-grenade-launchers.jpg

http://www.armyproperty.com/Equipment-Info/Pictures/Smoke-Grenade-Launcher-2.jpg

http://www.morozov.com.ua/images/f/32-grenadesl.jpg

There are other tubes that, depending on the vehicle, could be optics for targeting, a laser for range finding or a machine gun. See the links below.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/42/Front_view_of_Abrahm_Tank_turret.jpg Notice the capped smoke launchers.

http://bcoy1cpb.pacdat.net/Resize%20of%20CWM%20Panther%20front%20of%20turret%20left%20hull%20PB200369.JPG On the front of this German Panther tank the one hole is for the gunner's sight and the other is a coaxial machine gun.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f6/Stuart_tank_China.jpg Notice of this M3 Stuart the 37mm main gun, the 30 cal. coaxial machine gun and the gunners sight.

Hoped this helped.

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