We took them off if playing enemy orange forces and it does change the look of the old girl. Loads more dust without bazooka plates too.
At the halt we would unbolt one and lay it flat whilst still hooked into the mounting brackets to make a nice dining table. Cavalry you see .... proper posh! The lifting loops on the side skirts made brilliant beer bottle openers as well as being good to tie cammo onto.
It wasn’t unusual to lose one plate on one side ... looks proper war like then.