VX275,
I have come to this thread rather late so apologies to all for a backtrack.
I am confused by the statement that the C130K tanker did not have clearance for the carriage of smoke floats and marine markers. Or have I misunderstood ?
We certainly carried them 'down south'. Given that these items were only prepped once the para doors were open the hazard was minimised.
Besides a caring 'system' had thoughtfully provided us with an extra (SMALL) BCF fire extinguisher on the aft face of each internal tank.
As for the ASRA and the wooden crates, we had more than one disintegrate in situ and the bits follow the linked containers out of the port para door !