Top Ten Tanks

[Imp]

The point remains, why? A metal grate would do the same thing with far fewer side effects.

Either they are into recycling & had a lot of spare cans or they feel it does indeed act as a form of ERA armour & hence is more effective.

The sticking point with this is the speed & enormous heat of the jet might vaporise the diesel straight off but I suppose if normal ERA can go bang before vaporising the diesel may be able to also.
We are assuming they are either empty or filled with diesel could well be something else or have an additive to aid the process. The chances of diesel & the width of the can being just right seem a bit remote.
Filling with something like Acetylene or Propylene could well produce a bigger bang & Acetylene is unstable once vaporises, depends on several factors but normally produce a bigger shock wave than diesel much higher adiabatic flame values.