diff lock or not

Trying to get my head around this: Have just purchased a pair of heavy duty Pewag 82s chains (for rear wheels as they are always the first to slip) to prevent slipping on very greasy grass (clay soil) when pulling a heavy roller. Assuming rear wheels are gripping...is it correct that if diff lock is applied then one of the front wheels could spin uselessly and the other does nothing?

yes thats right you would either need lockers on the diffs or traction control to stop a signle wheel spinning

if using chains on snow/ice with a 4x4 its usually advised to fit two sets or if one set to front so that grip at the steering end is maintained to the last . This also applies to where most braking is carried out , so caution is advised on slippery grass as well

The V8 man said:

yes thats right you would either need lockers on the diffs or traction control to stop a signle wheel spinning

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And if diff lock was not engaged then all the drive "could" migrate to the front wheel / wheels leaving rear wheels not moving?

yes. in your first example, you would still get drive from the rear wheels.

Always engage diff lock is you know there's a chance to lose traction.

I've just taken the transfer box out of a 110 that was used in slippery conditions with the diff unlocked. This welded the planetary gears in the centre diff together as one propshaft is going like the clappers and the other is doing nothing and now the Land Rover is proper permanent four wheel drive no good for the road though now.

Engaging 'diff-lock' on a permanent four wheel drive LR does no more than engaging the front axle on a part-time 4x4 model, due to the open diffs.
Interestingly, the hand-book for my RRC states that chains should only be fitted to the FRONT tyres.