BU passengers firing starshells
Hello:
Two rules taken together show that the answer is no for E1.922 cases 1, 2 & 3 though yes if D6.61 applies. First D5.33 last sentence [second edition ASLRB]:
"An AFV's crew and Passengers always become CE or BU
together ..."
Which is nothing in itself, but it implies that in order for a BU MMC to fire a starshell the AFV must also be BU. Now, if one looks at D6.61 last sentence:
" .... Otherwise, BU Passengers may not *fire* ..."
In conjunction with 1.921 third sentence:
"Before a CE AFV with no Armor Leader, or a MMC, can *fire*
a starshell ..."
I think the keyword here is *fire* (I see no difference in the use of 'fire' between these two sentences other than starshell firers are generally not penalized {marked with fire markers for example, or prevented from moving...}). However I would argue that a BU MMC (or SMC) can fire a starshell if the specific conditions in the first half of D6.61 apply (if the BU passengers are being fired upon by unit(s) having an elevation advantage > range for example). Personally my opinion is: I don't think BU MMC passengers have much of a LOS [thus the restriction of elevation > range in D6.61, which would also apply to BU MMC passengers returning fire (ie; recipricocity) but I didn't see any specific wording in the ASLRB as to a BU MMC passenger's LOS], though the qualification of *fire* connecting these two rules is enough for the 'no' answer with the exception for D6.61 (ie target is at a location in which elevation is > than range).
Also note that the D6.6 rules apply specifically to armored halftracks, so starshells being fired by BU passengers in other types of vehicles (Landing craft for example, as per a previous poster) might be governed by different rules with respect to this specific case of starshell firing. Take it easy,
rk