| Light tank, M3 and M5 | |
|---|---|
 M3A1 Stuart (T37765) at Tankfest 2023 | |
| Type | Light tank |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1941–present |
| Wars |
|
| Production history | |
| Designer | U.S. Army Ordnance Department |
| Manufacturer |
|
| Unit cost | $32,915 (M3A1), $27,057 (M5)[1] |
| Produced | 1941–1944 |
| No. built | 22,744 M3 and M5 |
| Variants | See Variants |
| Specifications (M5A1, late production [3]) | |
| Mass | 33,500 lb (15.20 metric tons) |
| Length | 15 ft 10.5 in (4.84 m) with sand shields and rear stowage box |
| Width | 7 ft 6 in (2.29 m) with sand shields |
| Height | 8 ft 5 in (2.57 m) over anti-aircraft machine gun |
| Crew | 4 (commander, gunner, driver, assistant driver[2]) |
| Armor | 0.375 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 |
| Engine | Twin Cadillac Series 42 220 hp (160 kW) at 3,400 rpm |
| Power/weight | 13.14 horsepower per short ton (14.48 hp/t) |
| Transmission | Hydramatic 4 speeds forward, 1 reverse |
| Suspension | Vertical volute spring suspension (VVSS) |
| Fuel capacity | 89 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.
- ^ Zaloga, Steve (15 May 2015). Armored Champion. Stackpole Books. p. 39. ISBN 9780811761338.
- ^ TM-9-732-M5-Manual, p. § 6.
- ^ "Light Tank M5 Stuart". afvdb.50megs.com.
- ^ "Light Tank M3 Stuart". 28 November 2014. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
- ^ Hunnicutt (Stuart) p. 395
- ^ Zaloga (Armored Thunderbolt) p. 301