The round socket whiich mounts just over the battery box is where the muzzle brake of the Boyes sits when the rifle is stowed. There is also a bracket next to the large toolbox, and one more on the back armour to support the rifle. The rifle fills the entire left side from back to front.
If you are talking about the little round socket shown in the picture above, that is where the head of the boys bipod sits.
The Bren tripod is stowed by the left front engine cover. The head of the tripod sits in a felt lined 6 sided box on the floor, while two clamps on the engine housing hold the tripod legs in place.
I will try and post a pic of the Boyes tripod later. You will be able to envision how it fits.
The brackets shown cannot be for a mortar; the British were very meticulous (to the point of anal) about having a bracket or a place for all the equipment. A mortar was not part of the equipment carried on a MK1 (standard) carrier.
There was only supposed to be 1 Boyes rifle per carrier platoon, so it is almost a surprise they installed the bracket on every carrier. There was only supposed to be one Bren per carrier as well, but the manual made allowance for a spare.
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28-01-06, 22:05
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