M3 Stuart

Light tank, M3 and M5
M3A1 Stuart (T37765) at Tankfest 2023
TypeLight tank
Place of originUnited States
Service history
In service1941 (1941)–present
Wars
Production history
DesignerU.S. Army Ordnance Department
Manufacturer
Unit cost$32,915 (M3A1), $27,057 (M5)[1]
Produced1941 (1941)–1944 (1944)
No. built22,744 M3 and M5
VariantsSee Variants
Specifications (M5A1, late production [3])
Mass33,500 lb (15.20 metric tons)
Length15 ft 10.5 in (4.84 m) with sand shields and rear stowage box
Width7 ft 6 in (2.29 m) with sand shields
Height8 ft 5 in (2.57 m) over anti-aircraft machine gun
Crew4 (commander, gunner, driver, assistant driver[2])

Armor0.375 to 2.0 in (9.5 to 50.8 mm)
Main
armament
37 mm Gun M6 in Mount M44
147 rounds
Secondary
armament
3 × .30 caliber (7.62 mm) Browning M1919A4 machine guns
6,750 rounds
EngineTwin Cadillac Series 42
220 hp (160 kW) at 3,400 rpm
Power/weight13.14 horsepower per short ton (14.48 hp/t)
TransmissionHydramatic
4 speeds forward, 1 reverse
SuspensionVertical volute spring suspension (VVSS)
Fuel capacity89 U.S. gallons (340 liters; 74 imperial gallons)
Operational
range
100 mi (160 km)
Maximum speed 36 mph (58 km/h) on road

The M3 Stuart/light tank M3, was an American light tank of World War II. An improved version of the tank entered service as the M5 in 1942 to be supplied to British and other Commonwealth forces under lend-lease prior to the entry of the U.S. into the war. Afterwards, it was used by U.S. and Allied forces until the end of the war.

The British service name "Stuart" came from the American Civil War Confederate general J. E. B. Stuart and was used for both the M3 and the derivative M5 light tank. Unofficially, they were also often called "Honeys" by the British, because of their smooth ride.[4] In U.S. use, the tanks were officially known as "light tank M3" and "light tank M5".

Stuarts were first used in combat in the North African campaign; about 170 were used by the British forces in Operation Crusader (18 November – 30 December 1941). Stuarts were the first American-crewed tanks in World War II to engage the enemy in tank versus tank combat when used in the Philippines in December 1941 against the Japanese.[5][6] Outside of the Pacific War, in later years of WWII the M3 was used for reconnaissance and screening.

  1. ^ Zaloga, Steve (15 May 2015). Armored Champion. Stackpole Books. p. 39. ISBN 9780811761338.
  2. ^ TM-9-732-M5-Manual, p. § 6.
  3. ^ "Light Tank M5 Stuart". afvdb.50megs.com.
  4. ^ "Light Tank M3 Stuart". 28 November 2014. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
  5. ^ Hunnicutt (Stuart) p. 395
  6. ^ Zaloga (Armored Thunderbolt) p. 301