Difference between pages "USS Portland" and "M3 Stuart (Family)"

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{{Specs-Card|code=us_cruiser_portland_class}}
+
== Description ==
 +
The '''Light Tank, M3''' was an American light tank which was nicknamed in British service under '''Stuart''', after American Civil War Confederate general ''J. E. B. Stuart''.
 +
 
 +
== Vehicles ==
 +
 
 +
=== Rank I ===
 +
 
 +
* [[M3 Stuart]]
 +
* [[Stuart I]]
 +
* [[M3A1 Stuart]]
 +
* [[M3A1 (USMC)]]
 +
* [[Stuart III]]
 +
* [[M3A3 Stuart (China)]]
 +
 
 +
=== Rank II ===
 +
 
 +
* [[M3A3 Stuart (France)]]
 +
* [[M3A3 (Italy)]]
 +
 
 +
<!-- == History ==
 +
''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle family in more detail than in the introduction. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the family's dev blog entries (if applicable).'' -->
 +
 
 +
== Development and Design ==
 +
 
 +
=== Development ===
 +
 
 +
=== Design ===
 +
The M3 Stuart was a comprehensive upgrade of the earlier M2 light tank. It featured a new Continental petrol engine - more powerful than on the preceding M2, a new vertical volute suspension system (VVSS), an M5 37 mm main gun (later replaced by the M6 37 mm gun) with a new recoil system. The secondary armament consisted of up to 5 .30 cal (7.62 mm) M1919 machine guns. One was coaxial to the main gun, one was ball-mounted in the hull front, two were mounted in sponsons in the hull, and one was located on an anti-aircraft mounting on the turret. Often, the two sponson-mounted machine guns would be removed by the crew to save space and reduce weight. The M3 was manned by a crew of four: driver, co-driver, commander, and gunner.
  
−
== Description ==
+
The main armor composition was of face-hardened rolled homogeneous armor. The sides and rear of the hull and turret were 1 inch (25.4 mm) thick. The turret front was 38.1 mm thick, and so was the gun mantlet. The hull lower glacis was 44.4 mm thick, and the angled upper glacis was 15.8 mm thick and angled at 70 degrees. The upper front plate was 38.1 mm thick and angled at 18 degrees. The turret and hull roofs were 12.7 mm thick.
−
<!-- ''In the first part of the description, cover the history of the ship's creation and military application. In the second part, tell the reader about using this ship in the game. Add a screenshot; if a beginner player has a hard time remembering vehicles by name, a picture will help them identify the ship in question.'' -->
+
 
−
[[File:GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|420px|thumb|left]]
+
==== M3 Stuart (Stuart Mk I/II) ====
−
{{Break}}
+
The M3 was the first production model of the series, and it was introduced in March of 1941. 5811 M3 Stuarts were built and they were called the Stuart Mk I in British service. 1285 of those were built with Guiberson diesel engines and were designated as Stuart Mk II by the British. The diesel engine Stuarts were built to British specification, not for American service. The British often referred to the Stuarts as the Honey tank, because of how smooth the ride was. A turret basket was added for the commander and gunner to sit in. Many of the original M3 Stuarts were sent to Britain under the Lend-Lease Act.
−
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} American heavy cruiser {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.97 "Viking Fury"]].
+
 
 +
==== M3A1 Stuart (Stuart Mk III/IV) ====
 +
Introduced in 1942, the M3A1 featured an improved turret. The new turret featured a turret basket and a different AA machine gun mount. Additionally, all of the sponson-mounted machine guns were removed on the M3A1 version. This left only three .30 cal (7.62 mm) machine guns; one hull-mounted, one AA mounted, and one coaxial. Additionally, the vertical stabilizer for the gun was improved. 4621 M3A1 Stuarts were produced, and production ended in February 1943. The M3A1 was exported to the British as the Stuart Mk III, and the diesel version was called the Stuart Mk IV in British service.
 +
 
 +
==== M3A3 Stuart (Stuart Mk V) ====
 +
The M3A3 variant featured sloped frontal armor very similar to that of the M5 Stuart. The new armor arrangement was easier to produce and it also offered better protection. As a side effect, the M3A3 hull was heavier than the earlier version; the hull also had increased volume, which allowed for more fuel and ammunition storage. The M3A3 also introduced an improved turret with a larger bustle on the rear for the storage of a SCR 508 radio. Because of the increased space inside the hull, the ammunition storage was increased to 174 37 mm rounds and 7500 7.62 mm rounds. 3427 M3A3s were produced, with production ending in October 1943. In British service they were called Stuart Mk V.
 +
 
 +
== Service ==
 +
 
 +
13,800 M3 Stuarts were used in all the theaters of World War 2 with a number of different nations.
 +
 
 +
=== Variants ===
 +
The M3 Stuart, the first production series, was not intended for fighting other tanks but instead was meant to fight infantry units. With an armament of five .30 cal machine guns and one 37 mm gun the M3 was quite capable of its job. The standard livery was khaki-olive paint with US identification markings. The turret was often painted with a white or yellow horizontal band, and some units also added unit markings. Extra tracks and fuel were often stored on the exterior of the tank, and the sponson machine guns were often removed to save space and weight.
 +
 
 +
The M3A1 was an improved version which was produced until 1942, when the M3A3 and M5 Stuart were introduced. During Operation Torch in 1942 the M3A1 was often painted olive drab with the standard US identification markings. The M3A1s were painted very similarly to the M3s, and American identification markings were made very large, as the French (who held West North Africa during Operation Torch) held no anti-American sentiment. Additionally, the M20 anti-aircraft mounting for a .30 cal machine gun became common during this campaign. Extra tracks and fuel were mounted just the same as on the M3. The M3 was heavily used by the British, and British Stuarts were often covered in extra supplies and equipment. British Stuarts were painted in straight line blue-sand livery, with pale green upper surfaces.
 +
 
 +
The M3A2 was an experimental design that was not produced.
 +
 
 +
The M3A3 was the final design of the series, as the M3 series was replaced by the M5 series. The M3A3 was built with the intention to simplify production without reducing the performance. The M3A3 featured a single sloped upper glacis and new turret. The M3 series was mostly replaced by the M24 Chaffee in the European Theater after the North African campaign, but they were used heavily in the Pacific theater as the Japanese tanks were easier to deal with.
 +
 
 +
=== Britain and the Commonwealth ===
 +
The British found the Stuart to be much more reliable than the Crusader tanks they were also operating at the time. The Stuarts were put to good use in the North African campaign, but the protection was found to be lacking against contemporary German tanks and anti-tank guns. As such, the Stuart was not heavily used by the British in the European theater, but was instead shifted to the India-Burma theater in British and Australian units. The Japanese tanks they faced their were much easier targets for the Stuarts as they were much less armored and had less firepower. The British and Australians often converted their Stuarts to non-combat roles.
 +
 
 +
=== United States ===
 +
In North Africa, the M3 Stuart was proven to be vulnerable to enemy anti-tank weapons whilst having an Armament that was seen as insufficient. As such, the Stuart was relegated to non-combat roles such as rearguard and reconnaissance. The M3 Stuart was mostly replaced by the M24 Chaffee in the European theater, but they saw significant service in the Pacific. In the European theater they were only used to support the more capable M4 Shermans and the crews of M3 Stuarts made sure to avoid frontal engagement of enemy armour.
 +
 
 +
The M3s in the Pacific did not see much armoured opposition and there was only one anti-tank gun that posed a major threat, the 45 mm gun of the Chi-Ha and its variants. The Japanese tanks they did face were mostly less capable than the M3, with less armor and firepower. The first tank on tank combat the M3 saw in the Pacific was in the Philippines in December of 1941. There, the 192nd and 194th Light Tank Battalions saw combat mostly against Japanese Ha-Go tanks.
 +
 
 +
=== Soviet Union ===
 +
The Soviet Union received 1000 M3 Stuarts along with M3 Lees and M3 Half-tracks through the Lend-Lease Act. The M3 Stuarts delivered to the USSR were of differing variants. The USSR did not like the M3 Stuart. They believed the armor and firepower was inadequate, the tracks were not suited to Russian winters, and the fuel was too flammable. As such, the USSR turned down American proposals for the delivery of M5 Stuarts, and sent their M3s to the Manchurian front where they would face less armored opposition.
 +
 
 +
== Variants ==
 +
 
 +
=== American ===
 +
 
 +
==== '''Direct M3 Variants''' ====
 +
'''M3 Stuart (Stuart Mk I/II)'''
 +
 
 +
'''Stuart Hybrid'''
 +
 
 +
'''M3A1 Stuart (Stuart Mk III/IV)'''
 +
 
 +
'''M3A2'''
 +
 
 +
'''M3A3 Stuart (Stuart Mk V)'''
 +
 
 +
'''75mm T18 HMC'''
 +
 
 +
'''T82 HMC'''
 +
 
 +
'''T56 3in GMC'''
 +
 
 +
'''T57 3in GMC'''
 +
 
 +
'''M3 COM'''
 +
 
 +
'''M3 (T2 Light Mine Exploder)'''
 +
 
 +
'''M3 (Satan Flame-Gun)'''
 +
 
 +
'''M3A1 (Satan Flame-Gun)'''
 +
 
 +
'''M3A1 (E5R2-M3)'''
 +
 
 +
==== M5 and Variants ====
 +
'''M5 Stuart'''
 +
 
 +
'''M5A1 Stuart'''
 +
 
 +
'''HMC M8 Scott'''
 +
 
 +
'''GMC M8A1'''
 +
 
 +
'''81mm MMC T27'''
 +
 
 +
'''81mm MMC T27E1'''
 +
 
 +
'''T29 4.2in MMC'''
 +
 
 +
'''CMC T81'''
 +
 
 +
'''40mm GMC T65'''
 +
 
 +
'''20mm MGMC T85'''
 +
 
 +
'''M5 COM'''
 +
 
 +
'''Reconnaissance Vehicle T8'''
 +
 
 +
'''Reconnaissance Vehicle T8E1'''
  
−
== General info ==
+
'''M5A1 (E5R1-M3) "Zippo"'''
−
=== Survivability and armour ===
 
−
''Talk about the vehicle's armour. Note the most well-defended and most vulnerable zones, e.g. the ammo magazine. Evaluate the composition of components and assemblies responsible for movement and manoeuvrability. Evaluate the survivability of the primary and secondary armaments separately. Don't forget to mention the size of the crew, which plays an important role in fleet mechanics. Save tips on preserving survivability for the "Usage in battles" section. If necessary, use a graphical template to show the most well-protected or most vulnerable points in the armour.''
 
  
−
=== Mobility ===
+
'''M5A1 (E7-7) "Zippo"'''
−
''Write about the ship's mobility. Evaluate its power and manoeuvrability, rudder rerouting speed, stopping speed at full tilt, with its maximum forward and reverse speed.''
 
  
−
== Armament ==
+
'''M5A1 (E9-9) "Zippo"'''
−
=== Primary armament ===
 
−
''Provide information about the characteristics of the primary armament. Evaluate their efficacy in battle based on their reload speed, ballistics and the capacity of their shells. Add a link to the main article about the weapon: <code><nowiki>{main|Weapon name (calibre)}</nowiki></code>. Broadly describe the ammunition available for the primary armament, and provide recommendations on how to use it and which ammunition to choose.''
 
  
−
=== Secondary armament ===
+
'''M5 (T39)'''
−
''Some ships are fitted with weapons of various calibres. Secondary armaments are defined as weapons chosen with the control <code>Select secondary weapon</code>. Evaluate the secondary armaments and give advice on how to use them. Describe the ammunition available for the secondary armament. Provide recommendations on how to use them and which ammunition to choose. Remember that any anti-air armament, even heavy calibre weapons, belong in the next section. If there is no secondary armament, remove this section.''
 
  
−
=== Anti-aircraft armament ===
+
'''M5 Dozer'''
−
''An important part of the ship's armament responsible for air defence. Anti-aircraft armament is defined by the weapon chosen with the control <code>Select anti-aircraft weapons</code>. Talk about the ship's anti-air cannons and machine guns, the number of guns and their positions, their effective range, and about their overall effectiveness – including against surface targets. If there are no anti-aircraft armaments, remove this section.''
 
  
−
=== Torpedo armament ===
+
=== British and Commonwealth ===
−
''Torpedoes launchers are standard equipment on many ships and boats. Torpedoes are a significant means of defeating an opponent. Evaluate the position of the torpedo launchers, discuss the ammunition available, firing specifics such as dead zones, features of the torpedoes themselves, etc. If there is no torpedo armament, remove this section.''
+
'''Stuart Command'''
  
−
=== Special armament ===
+
'''Stuart Kangaroo'''
−
''Depth charges, mines, rocket launchers and missiles are also effective in skilled hands and can take an off-guard opponent by surprise. Evaluate the ammunition of this type of armament and rate its performance in combat. If there are no special armaments, remove this section.''
 
  
−
== Usage in battles ==
+
'''Stuart Recce'''
−
''Describe the technique of using this ship, the characteristics of her use in a team and tips on strategy. Abstain from writing an entire guide – don't try to provide a single point of view, but give the reader food for thought. Talk about the most dangerous opponents for this vehicle and provide recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of playing with this vehicle in various modes (AB, RB, SB).''
 
  
−
=== Modules ===
+
'''Stuart Artillery Tractor'''
−
{| class="wikitable"
 
−
! Tier
 
−
! Seakeeping
 
−
! colspan="2" | Unsinkability
 
−
! colspan="3" | Firepower
 
−
|-
 
−
| I
 
−
| Dry-Docking
 
−
| Tool Set
 
−
|
 
−
| 8 inch Mk.19 APCBC
 
−
| Anti-Air Armament Targeting
 
−
|
 
−
|-
 
−
| II
 
−
| Rudder Replacement
 
−
| Fire Protection System
 
−
| Smokescreen
 
−
| 8 inch Mk.25 HC
 
−
| Auxiliary Armament Targeting
 
−
|
 
−
|-
 
−
| III
 
−
| Propeller Replacement
 
−
| Shrapnel Protection
 
−
| Ventilation
 
−
| 5 inch Mk.28 AAC-VT
 
−
| Primary Armament Targeting
 
−
| Improved Rangefinder
 
−
|-
 
−
| IV
 
−
| Engine Maintenance
 
−
| New Pumps
 
−
| Ammo Wetting
 
−
| 8 inch Mk.17 SP Common
 
−
|
 
−
|
 
−
|-
 
−
|}
 
  
−
=== Pros and cons ===
+
=== Brazilian ===
−
''Summarize and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in the bulleted list. Try not to use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".''
+
'''X1A'''
  
−
'''Pros:'''
+
'''X1A1'''
  
−
* Improved armor protection from HE shrapnel compared to the Brooklyn.
+
'''X1A2'''
−
* Reasonably modern AA defenses.
 
−
* Thicker armor over main magazines than the Brooklyn.
 
−
* Crew of 848 is above average
 
  
−
*
+
=== Yugoslav Partisans ===
 +
'''M3A1 (81 mm Mortar)'''
  
−
'''Cons:'''
+
'''M3A1 (7.5 cm Pak 40)'''
  
−
* Long reload compared to most of its competition with minimum reload at 17.1s.
+
'''M3A3 (7.5 cm Pak 40)'''
−
* Poor shell selection with primarily inter-war shells.
 
  
−
*
+
'''M3A3 (2 cm Flak 38)'''
  
−
== History ==
+
'''M3A3 (7.5 cm Pak 50)'''
−
<!--''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the ship in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the ship and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Ship-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the ship's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).''-->
 
  
−
The Portland Class cruisers were the third heavy cruiser design that the Americans produced in the interwar years, following the Northampton class. There were only two ships in this class, the USS Portland CA-33 and the USS Indianapolis CA-35. Interestingly the Portland Class was originally planned to be a light cruiser design, being re-designated as heavy cruisers only after the hulls had been laid down in 1931.
+
'''M3A3 (15 cm SiG 33)'''
  
−
Ships of the class were propelled by 4 screws, powered at 107,000 horsepower. This gave the ship a fairly standard top speed of 32 knots and a cruising range of 10,000 nautical miles.
+
== Operators ==
  
−
Firepower was provided from 3 triple 8" guns in Mk. 14 turrets. This design was carried over from the previous Northampton Class. These 280 ton turrets allowed a maximum of 41 degrees of elevation and 5 degrees of depression. The turrets were used in conjunction with the Mk.34 fire director system by, at the latest, 1945.
+
=== Current ===
  
−
== Media ==
+
* '''Paraguay -''' 10 total (5 M3, 5 M3A1), 4 in storage as of 2014
−
''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.''
 
  
−
== See also ==
+
=== Former ===
−
''Links to articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''
 
  
−
* ''reference to the series of the ship;''
+
* Australia
−
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''
+
* Belgium
 +
* Bolivia
 +
* Brazil
 +
* Canada
 +
* Chile
 +
* People's Republic of China
 +
* Republic of China (Taiwan)
 +
* Columbia
 +
* Cuba
 +
* Czechoslovakia
 +
* Dominican Republic
 +
* Ecuador
 +
* El Salvador
 +
* France
 +
* Haiti
 +
* Hungary
 +
* India
 +
* Indonesia
 +
* Italy
 +
* Korea
 +
* Japan
 +
* Mexico
 +
* Netherlands
 +
* New Zealand
 +
* Nicaragua
 +
* Philippines
 +
* Poland Portugal
 +
* Romania
 +
* South Africa
 +
* Southern Rhodesia
 +
* Turkey
 +
* United Kingdom
 +
* Uruguay
 +
* United States
 +
* Soviet Union
 +
* Venezuela
 +
* Yugoslavia
  
−
== External links ==
+
==== Note: ====
−
''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
 
  
−
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
+
* The Indonesian Army operates one M3A1 Stuart for historical theater shows.
−
* ''encyclopedia page on the ship;''
 
−
* ''other literature.''
 
  
−
{{USA heavy cruisers}}
+
[[Category:Family pages]]

Revision as of 07:50, 11 August 2020

VTOL | Rank 5 USA
AV-8A Harrier Pack

Description

The Light Tank, M3 was an American light tank which was nicknamed in British service under Stuart, after American Civil War Confederate general J. E. B. Stuart.

Vehicles

Rank I

Rank II


Development and Design

Development

Design

The M3 Stuart was a comprehensive upgrade of the earlier M2 light tank. It featured a new Continental petrol engine - more powerful than on the preceding M2, a new vertical volute suspension system (VVSS), an M5 37 mm main gun (later replaced by the M6 37 mm gun) with a new recoil system. The secondary armament consisted of up to 5 .30 cal (7.62 mm) M1919 machine guns. One was coaxial to the main gun, one was ball-mounted in the hull front, two were mounted in sponsons in the hull, and one was located on an anti-aircraft mounting on the turret. Often, the two sponson-mounted machine guns would be removed by the crew to save space and reduce weight. The M3 was manned by a crew of four: driver, co-driver, commander, and gunner.

The main armor composition was of face-hardened rolled homogeneous armor. The sides and rear of the hull and turret were 1 inch (25.4 mm) thick. The turret front was 38.1 mm thick, and so was the gun mantlet. The hull lower glacis was 44.4 mm thick, and the angled upper glacis was 15.8 mm thick and angled at 70 degrees. The upper front plate was 38.1 mm thick and angled at 18 degrees. The turret and hull roofs were 12.7 mm thick.

M3 Stuart (Stuart Mk I/II)

The M3 was the first production model of the series, and it was introduced in March of 1941. 5811 M3 Stuarts were built and they were called the Stuart Mk I in British service. 1285 of those were built with Guiberson diesel engines and were designated as Stuart Mk II by the British. The diesel engine Stuarts were built to British specification, not for American service. The British often referred to the Stuarts as the Honey tank, because of how smooth the ride was. A turret basket was added for the commander and gunner to sit in. Many of the original M3 Stuarts were sent to Britain under the Lend-Lease Act.

M3A1 Stuart (Stuart Mk III/IV)

Introduced in 1942, the M3A1 featured an improved turret. The new turret featured a turret basket and a different AA machine gun mount. Additionally, all of the sponson-mounted machine guns were removed on the M3A1 version. This left only three .30 cal (7.62 mm) machine guns; one hull-mounted, one AA mounted, and one coaxial. Additionally, the vertical stabilizer for the gun was improved. 4621 M3A1 Stuarts were produced, and production ended in February 1943. The M3A1 was exported to the British as the Stuart Mk III, and the diesel version was called the Stuart Mk IV in British service.

M3A3 Stuart (Stuart Mk V)

The M3A3 variant featured sloped frontal armor very similar to that of the M5 Stuart. The new armor arrangement was easier to produce and it also offered better protection. As a side effect, the M3A3 hull was heavier than the earlier version; the hull also had increased volume, which allowed for more fuel and ammunition storage. The M3A3 also introduced an improved turret with a larger bustle on the rear for the storage of a SCR 508 radio. Because of the increased space inside the hull, the ammunition storage was increased to 174 37 mm rounds and 7500 7.62 mm rounds. 3427 M3A3s were produced, with production ending in October 1943. In British service they were called Stuart Mk V.

Service

13,800 M3 Stuarts were used in all the theaters of World War 2 with a number of different nations.

Variants

The M3 Stuart, the first production series, was not intended for fighting other tanks but instead was meant to fight infantry units. With an armament of five .30 cal machine guns and one 37 mm gun the M3 was quite capable of its job. The standard livery was khaki-olive paint with US identification markings. The turret was often painted with a white or yellow horizontal band, and some units also added unit markings. Extra tracks and fuel were often stored on the exterior of the tank, and the sponson machine guns were often removed to save space and weight.

The M3A1 was an improved version which was produced until 1942, when the M3A3 and M5 Stuart were introduced. During Operation Torch in 1942 the M3A1 was often painted olive drab with the standard US identification markings. The M3A1s were painted very similarly to the M3s, and American identification markings were made very large, as the French (who held West North Africa during Operation Torch) held no anti-American sentiment. Additionally, the M20 anti-aircraft mounting for a .30 cal machine gun became common during this campaign. Extra tracks and fuel were mounted just the same as on the M3. The M3 was heavily used by the British, and British Stuarts were often covered in extra supplies and equipment. British Stuarts were painted in straight line blue-sand livery, with pale green upper surfaces.

The M3A2 was an experimental design that was not produced.

The M3A3 was the final design of the series, as the M3 series was replaced by the M5 series. The M3A3 was built with the intention to simplify production without reducing the performance. The M3A3 featured a single sloped upper glacis and new turret. The M3 series was mostly replaced by the M24 Chaffee in the European Theater after the North African campaign, but they were used heavily in the Pacific theater as the Japanese tanks were easier to deal with.

Britain and the Commonwealth

The British found the Stuart to be much more reliable than the Crusader tanks they were also operating at the time. The Stuarts were put to good use in the North African campaign, but the protection was found to be lacking against contemporary German tanks and anti-tank guns. As such, the Stuart was not heavily used by the British in the European theater, but was instead shifted to the India-Burma theater in British and Australian units. The Japanese tanks they faced their were much easier targets for the Stuarts as they were much less armored and had less firepower. The British and Australians often converted their Stuarts to non-combat roles.

United States

In North Africa, the M3 Stuart was proven to be vulnerable to enemy anti-tank weapons whilst having an Armament that was seen as insufficient. As such, the Stuart was relegated to non-combat roles such as rearguard and reconnaissance. The M3 Stuart was mostly replaced by the M24 Chaffee in the European theater, but they saw significant service in the Pacific. In the European theater they were only used to support the more capable M4 Shermans and the crews of M3 Stuarts made sure to avoid frontal engagement of enemy armour.

The M3s in the Pacific did not see much armoured opposition and there was only one anti-tank gun that posed a major threat, the 45 mm gun of the Chi-Ha and its variants. The Japanese tanks they did face were mostly less capable than the M3, with less armor and firepower. The first tank on tank combat the M3 saw in the Pacific was in the Philippines in December of 1941. There, the 192nd and 194th Light Tank Battalions saw combat mostly against Japanese Ha-Go tanks.

Soviet Union

The Soviet Union received 1000 M3 Stuarts along with M3 Lees and M3 Half-tracks through the Lend-Lease Act. The M3 Stuarts delivered to the USSR were of differing variants. The USSR did not like the M3 Stuart. They believed the armor and firepower was inadequate, the tracks were not suited to Russian winters, and the fuel was too flammable. As such, the USSR turned down American proposals for the delivery of M5 Stuarts, and sent their M3s to the Manchurian front where they would face less armored opposition.

Variants

American

Direct M3 Variants

M3 Stuart (Stuart Mk I/II)

Stuart Hybrid

M3A1 Stuart (Stuart Mk III/IV)

M3A2

M3A3 Stuart (Stuart Mk V)

75mm T18 HMC

T82 HMC

T56 3in GMC

T57 3in GMC

M3 COM

M3 (T2 Light Mine Exploder)

M3 (Satan Flame-Gun)

M3A1 (Satan Flame-Gun)

M3A1 (E5R2-M3)

M5 and Variants

M5 Stuart

M5A1 Stuart

HMC M8 Scott

GMC M8A1

81mm MMC T27

81mm MMC T27E1

T29 4.2in MMC

CMC T81

40mm GMC T65

20mm MGMC T85

M5 COM

Reconnaissance Vehicle T8

Reconnaissance Vehicle T8E1

M5A1 (E5R1-M3) "Zippo"

M5A1 (E7-7) "Zippo"

M5A1 (E9-9) "Zippo"

M5 (T39)

M5 Dozer

British and Commonwealth

Stuart Command

Stuart Kangaroo

Stuart Recce

Stuart Artillery Tractor

Brazilian

X1A

X1A1

X1A2

Yugoslav Partisans

M3A1 (81 mm Mortar)

M3A1 (7.5 cm Pak 40)

M3A3 (7.5 cm Pak 40)

M3A3 (2 cm Flak 38)

M3A3 (7.5 cm Pak 50)

M3A3 (15 cm SiG 33)

Operators

Current

  • Paraguay - 10 total (5 M3, 5 M3A1), 4 in storage as of 2014

Former

  • Australia
  • Belgium
  • Bolivia
  • Brazil
  • Canada
  • Chile
  • People's Republic of China
  • Republic of China (Taiwan)
  • Columbia
  • Cuba
  • Czechoslovakia
  • Dominican Republic
  • Ecuador
  • El Salvador
  • France
  • Haiti
  • Hungary
  • India
  • Indonesia
  • Italy
  • Korea
  • Japan
  • Mexico
  • Netherlands
  • New Zealand
  • Nicaragua
  • Philippines
  • Poland Portugal
  • Romania
  • South Africa
  • Southern Rhodesia
  • Turkey
  • United Kingdom
  • Uruguay
  • United States
  • Soviet Union
  • Venezuela
  • Yugoslavia

Note:

  • The Indonesian Army operates one M3A1 Stuart for historical theater shows.
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