Stuart tank
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The Stuart was an American light tank of World War II in use with British and Commonwealth forces prior to the entry of the USA into the European theatre. The name given by the British comes from the Civil War general Jeb Stuart and was used for both the M3 and M5 Light Tank. To the United States Army the tanks were officially known only as Light Tank M3 and Light Tank M5.
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History
Observing events in Europe, American tank designers realized that the M2 Light Tank was becoming obsolete and set about improving it. The upgraded design, with thicker armor, modified suspension and new gun recoil system was called "Light Tank M3". Production of the vehicle started in March 1941 and continued until October 1943. Like its direct predecessor M2A4, the M3 was armed with a 37 mm gun and 5 machine guns: coaxial with the gun, on top of the turret, in front of the hull, in the right and left hull sponsons.
To relieve the demand for the radial aero-engines used in the M3, a new version was developed using twin Cadillac automobile engines. The new model (initially called M4 but redesignated M5 to avoid confusion with the M4 Sherman) also featured a redesigned hull with sloped glacis plate and driver's hatches moved to the top. Although the main criticism from the using units was that the Stuarts lacked firepower, the improved M5 series kept the same 37mm gun. The M5 gradually replaced the M3 in production from 1942 and was in turn succeeded by the M24 Chaffee in 1944.
Combat history
Image:Coutances.jpg Image:M3-Stuart-Buna-1.jpg The British Army was the first to use the M3 as "Stuart" in combat. In November 1941, some 170 Stuarts took part in Operation Crusader. The results were mostly disappointing. Although the high losses suffered by Stuart-equipped units during the operation had more to do with better tactics and training of the Afrika Korps than with any superiority of German vehicles, the operation revealed that the M3 lagged behind enemy tanks. Mentioned in the British complaints were the 37 mm gun - too weak by the standards of 1941 - and poor internal layout. The two-man turret crew was a significant weakness, and some British units tried to fight with three-man turret crews. On the positive side, crews liked its quickness and mechanical reliability, hence its other nickname, "Honey". The high speed and high reliability distinguished the Stuart from British cruiser tanks of the period. From the summer of 1942, when enough US medium tanks had been received, the British usually kept Stuarts out of the main battlefront, using them primarily in reconnaissance. The turret was removed from some tanks to save weight and hence improve speed and range. These vehicles became known as "Stuart Recce". Some others were converted to armored personnel carriers and command vehicles. M3s, M3A3s, and M5s continued in British service until the end of the war, but British armor units had a smaller proportion of these light tanks than US units.
The other major lend-lease recipient of the M3, the Soviet Union, was even less happy with the tank, considering it undergunned, underarmored, likely to catch fire and too sensitive to fuel quality. The radial aircraft engine used in the M3 required high-octane fuel. However, the M3 was superior to early-war Soviet light tanks such as the T-60. In 1943, the Red Army tried out the M5 and decided that the upgraded design wasn't much better than the M3. Being less desperate than in 1941, the Soviets turned down an American offer to supply the M5. M3s continued in Red Army service at least until 1944.
In US Army service, the M3 first saw combat in the Philippines. A small number fought in the Bataan peninsula campaign. When the U.S. Army joined the North African Campaign in late 1942, Stuart units still formed a large part of its armor strength. After the disastrous Battle of the Kasserine Pass, where M3s and M5s faced German Panzer IVs and heavy Tigers, the US quickly followed the "British route", disbanding most of their light tank battalions and attaching companies of Stuarts to medium tank battalions, to act as scouting and screening units. For the rest of the war, most US tank battalions had three companies of medium tanks (normally the M4 Sherman and one company of M3s or M5/M5A1s.
In the European theatre, the light tanks had to be given secondary roles since they could not survive against most enemy AFVs. The only place where the Stuart was still adequate was the Pacific Theater, as Japanese tanks were both relatively rare and, when met, were weakly armored and armed. Japanese infantry were poorly equipped with anti-tank weapons, and tended to attack tanks using close-assault tactics. In this environment the Stuart was only moderately more vulnerable than medium tanks.
However, the number of M3s/M5s produced was so great (over 25,000 including the M8 HMC), that the tank remained in service until the end of the war. In addition to USA, Britain and USSR, it was also used by France, China and Tito's partisans in Yugoslavia (M3A3s and few M3A1).
After the war, some countries chose to equip their armies with cheap and reliable Stuarts. The M5 played a significant role in the First Kashmir War (1947) between India and Pakistan. The vehicle remained in service in several South American countries at least until 1996.
Variants
Image:M3-Stuart-Fort-Knox-1.jpg Image:M3A1-Stuart-latrun-1.jpg Image:M3A1-Stuart-latrun-2.jpg Image:Stuart m5a1 cfb borden 1.JPG
- M3 (British designation "Stuart I"). 5811 vehicles were produced.
- Some M3s had Guiberson diesel installed and were called "Stuart II" by British.
- Late production M3s were fitted with turret developed for M3A1, though without turret basket. These tanks were dubbed "Stuart Hybrid".
- M3A1 (Stuart III). 4621 produced.
- New turret with turret basket and no cupola. Gun vertical stabilizer installed. Sponson machine guns were removed.
- M3A1s with Guiberson diesel were called "Stuart IV" by British.
- M3A3 (Stuart V). 3427 produced.
- Put into production to integrate hull improvements brought by the M5 into the M3 series. Turret with rear overhang to house radio. Welded hull with sloped armor on front and sides.
- M5 (Stuart VI). 2075 produced.
- Twin Cadillac engines. Redesigned hull similar to M3A3, but with vertical sides and raised engine deck. Turret as for M3A1.
- M5A1 (Stuart VI). 6810 produced.
- M5 with the turret of the M3A3; this was the major variant in US units by 1943.
- M8 Howitzer Motor Carriage. 1,778 units produced.
- Based on M5 chassis. The gun was replaced with the 75 mm M2/M3 howitzer in open turret and a trailer hook was fitted so an ammunition trailer could be towed. Provided fire support to cavalry reconnaissance squadrons.
- M8A1 Howitzer Motor Carriage.
- M8 HMC variant based on M5A1 chassis.
- T18 Howitzer Motor Carriage.
- Self-propelled gun based on M3 chassis. 75 mm howitzer was mounted in a boxy superestructure. The project started in September 1941 and was abandoned in April 1942.
- T82 Howitzer Motor Carriage.
- Self-propelled 105 mm howitzer based on M5A1. Canceled in 1945.
- T56 Gun Motor Carriage.
- Self-propelled gun based on M3A3 chassis. The engine was moved to the middle of the hull and a 76 mm gun was mounted in a superstructure in the rear. The project started in September 1942 and was abandoned in February 1943.
- T57 Gun Motor Carriage.
- Variant of T56 with Continental engine of the M3 Lee tank. Also dropped in February 1943.
- T27 / T27E1 Mortar Motor Carriage.
- M5A1 with turret replaced by superstructure in which an 81 mm mortar was installed. Also carried .50 cal. machine gun. The project was abandoned in April 1944 because of inadequate crew and storage space.
- T29 Mortar Motor Carriage.
- Design similar to T27, with 4.2 inch (107 mm) mortar. Was abandoned for the same reason.
- T81 Chemical Mortar Motor Carriage
- M5A1-based 4.2 inch (107 mm) chemical mortar carrier.
- M3 with Maxson Turret.
- Anti-aircraft variant developed in 1942. Was armed with four .50 cal. machine guns in a turret developed by Maxson Corp.. The project was rejected because of the availability of the M16 MGMC.
- T65.
- Anti-aircraft vehicle based on M3. Was armed with Bofors 40 mm gun.
- T85.
- Anti-aircraft vehicle based on M3. Was armed with two Oerlikon 20 mm cannons.
- M3 / M5 Command Tank.
- M3 / M5 with turret replaced by small superstructure with a .50 cal. machine gun.
- T8 Reconnaissance Vehicle.
- M5 with turret removed and mounting for .50 cal machine gun.
- M3 with T2 Light Mine Exploder.
- Developed in 1942, was rejected.
- M3/M3A1 with Satan Flame-gun.
- Flame thrower was installed instead of the main gun. 20 tanks were converted for US Marine Corps in 1943.
- M3A1 with E5R2-M3 Flame-gun.
- Flame thrower was installed in place of hull machine gun.
- M5 Dozer.
- M5 with dozer blade. Turret was usually removed.
- M5 with T39 Rocket Launcher.
- T39 launcher with 20 7.2" rockets mounted on the top of the turret. Never reached production.
- M5A1 with E7-7 Flame Gun.
- Flame thrower was installed instead of the main gun.
- M5A1 with E9-9 Flame-throwing equipment.
- Prototype only.
- M5A1 with E8 Flame-gun.
- Turret replaced by boxy superstructure with flame thrower in a smaller turret. Prototype only.
- M5A1 with Psy-war equipment.
UK variants
- Stuart Kangaroo.
- Armored personnel carrier used by the British Army. Based on turretless Stuart. Additional seats were installed.
- Stuart Recce.
- Reconnaissance vehicle based on turretless Stuart.
- Stuart Command.
- Kangaroo with extra radios.
Brazilian variants
In 1970s Brazilian company Bernardini developed a series of radical Stuart upgrades for the Brazilian Army.
- X1A.
- Based on M3A1, this design had new engine (280 hp Saab-Scania diesel), improved suspension, new upper hull armor, fire controls and DEFA 90 mm gun in a new turret. 80 vehicles were produced.
- X1A1.
- An X1A with improved suspension with three bogies (instead of two) each side and raised idler. Didn't reach production.
- X1A2.
- Based on the X1A1, this version retained almost nothing of the original Stuart as even its hull was redesigned. The vehicle weighed 19 tons, had crew of 3, was armed with 90 mm gun and powered by Saab-Scania 300 hp diesel. 30 vehicles were produced in 1979-1983.
Operators
Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Chile, Republic of China, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, France, Greece, Italy, Mexico, Netherlands, Paraguay, Portugal, Turkey, UK, Uruguay, USA, USSR, Yugoslavia.
Movie Appearance
Image:TankGirlsTank.jpg A heavily modified M5A1 Stuart was featured in the movie Tank Girl as the eponymous heroine's tank.
See also
References
- Steven Zaloga, "M3 & M5 Stuart Light Tank 1940-45" (Osprey New Vanguard 33).
External links
- AFV Database (Pictures)
- OnWar: M3 Stuart M3A1 Stuart M3A3 Stuart M5A1 Stuart
- WWII Vehicles
- Nase noviny - The M3/M5 (Honey/Stuart) Light Tank
- Brazilian X1A series tanks
- M3 & M5 variants photo galleries at ww2photo.mimerswell.com
- Armor penetration table of US 37 mm guns
| American armored fighting vehicles of World War II |
|---|
| Light tanks |
| M2 Light Tank | M3/M5 Stuart | M22 Locust | M24 Chaffee | Marmon-Herrington CTLS |
| Medium and heavy tanks |
| M2 Medium Tank | M3 Lee | M4 Sherman | M26 Pershing |
| Self-propelled artillery |
| M7 Priest | M8 Scott | M12 Gun Motor Carriage | M40 GMC M3 Gun Motor Carriage | M16 Multiple Gun Motor Carriage |
| Tank destroyers |
| M10 Wolverine | M18 Hellcat | M36 Jackson |
| Armored half-tracks |
| M2 Half Track Car | M3 Half Track Personnel Carrier M4 Mortar Carrier | M5 Half Track Personnel Carrier |
| Amphibious vehicles |
| Landing Vehicle Tracked | DUKW |
| Armored cars |
| M8 Greyhound | M3 Scout Car | M20 Armored Utility Car T17 Deerhound / Staghound | T18 Boarhound |
| Experimental vehicles |
| M38 Wolfhound | M6 Heavy Tank | T-28 Tank/T-95 GMC | T14 Heavy Tank |
| American armored fighting vehicle production during World War II |