Difference between revisions of "M3A3 (Italy)"

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{{Specs-Card|code=it_m3a3_stuart}}
 
 
{{About
 
{{About
 
| about = light tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
 
| about = light tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
−
| usage = other variants
+
| usage = other versions
 
| link = M3 Stuart (Family)
 
| link = M3 Stuart (Family)
 +
}}
 +
{{Specs-Card
 +
|code=it_m3a3_stuart
 +
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|ArtImage_{{PAGENAME}}.png}}
 
}}
 
}}
  
 
== Description ==
 
== Description ==
 
<!-- ''In the description, the first part should be about the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the ground vehicle in the game. Insert a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' -->
 
<!-- ''In the description, the first part should be about the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the ground vehicle in the game. Insert a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' -->
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[[File:GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|420px|thumb|left]]
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The history of the American M3A3 Stuart in Italian service starts in the immediate aftermath of post-war Italy. Several re-armament programs, partially supported by America and the United Kingdom, allowed them to give away surplus military equipment away to nations who needed to bolster their forces. Italy received the vehicles in the form of the Military Assistance Program, and they would be in service in several armoured regiments for many decades. They were well-liked as the doctrine of the Italian army allowed for the Stuart to fit in nicely without too many issues, mainly thanks to its compact design which made it ideal for use in Italy. It was light but armoured enough to withstand hits from lower calibre rounds.
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{{Break}}
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The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} Italian light tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update "Starfighters"]].
+
Introduced in [[Update "Starfighters"]], the M3A3 has great mobility which can be taken advantage of at the start of matches, either to get into a favourable position or to capture a point before anyone else. It is very small, so you can hide the vehicle to set up ambushes with allies. Its crew arrangement however isn't good as one good hit means that you will likely not be able to keep fighting. Armament is good enough to fight other light tanks in your class, for more armoured targets the munitions provided can penetrate enemies from the sides which is easy to do because your mobility allows you to flank enemy teams with ease. Overall, it's a recommended addition to anyone's lineup when researching the Italian tech tree.
  
 
== General info ==
 
== General info ==
 
=== Survivability and armour ===
 
=== Survivability and armour ===
 +
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}
 
<!-- ''Describe armour protection. Note the most well protected and key weak areas. Appreciate the layout of modules as well as the number and location of crew members. Is the level of armour protection sufficient, is the placement of modules helpful for survival in combat? If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.'' -->
 
<!-- ''Describe armour protection. Note the most well protected and key weak areas. Appreciate the layout of modules as well as the number and location of crew members. Is the level of armour protection sufficient, is the placement of modules helpful for survival in combat? If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.'' -->
  
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* Mudguards and rear storage box are 4 mm thick
 
* Mudguards and rear storage box are 4 mm thick
  
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The frontal armour on the {{Specs|pseudonym}} is pretty tough for a light tank with 25 mm on the front & sides of the hull, and a large, 50 mm thick gun mantlet covering up most of its frontal turret. When angled correctly it can bounce off quite a few shots. However it can still be easily penetrated by average guns on its BR. From the front the 4 crews are sitting pretty close together, thus making it highly possible to get one-shot by shells with explosives like the Soviet 45 mm AP or the German short 75 mm APHE. The transmission and the engine are all quite small and low, and the ammoracks are also small, reducing the chance of being immobile or ammoracked. There is also an empty area under the turret crews and in front of the driving compartment, which will absorb those shells with weak damage.
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The frontal armour on the {{Specs|pseudonym}} is pretty tough for a light tank with 25 mm on the front & sides of the hull, and a large, 50 mm thick gun mantlet covering up most of its frontal turret. When angled correctly it can bounce off quite a few shots. However it can still be easily penetrated by average guns on its BR. From the front the 4 crews are sitting pretty close together, thus making it highly possible to get knocked out by shells with explosive fillers like the Soviet 45 mm AP or the German short 75 mm APHE. The transmission and the engine are all quite small and low, and the ammo racks are also small, reducing the chance of being immobile or ammoracked. There is also an empty area under the turret crews and in front of the driving compartment, which will absorb those shells with weak damage.
  
 
=== Mobility ===
 
=== Mobility ===
 +
{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}
 
<!-- ''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.'' -->
 
<!-- ''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.'' -->
  
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One of the best aspects of the {{PAGENAME}} is its superior mobility. It has a top speed of 58 km/h and doesn't lose too much speed on soft terrains as it's tracked, making it one of the fastest tanks at the BR alongside with the famous BT series tanks. The turning ability is also amazing, since the hull is short and wide enough, allowing it to turn agilely. However, when trying to stop the tank while it is travelling at full speed, the brakes tend to be inefficient, giving it a long braking distance and making it very sluggish when stopping.
 
One of the best aspects of the {{PAGENAME}} is its superior mobility. It has a top speed of 58 km/h and doesn't lose too much speed on soft terrains as it's tracked, making it one of the fastest tanks at the BR alongside with the famous BT series tanks. The turning ability is also amazing, since the hull is short and wide enough, allowing it to turn agilely. However, when trying to stop the tank while it is travelling at full speed, the brakes tend to be inefficient, giving it a long braking distance and making it very sluggish when stopping.
 +
 +
=== Modifications and economy ===
 +
{{Specs-Economy}}
  
 
== Armaments ==
 
== Armaments ==
 +
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}
 
=== Main armament ===
 
=== Main armament ===
 +
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}
 
<!-- ''Give the reader information about the characteristics of the main gun. Assess its effectiveness in a battle based on the reloading speed, ballistics and the power of shells. Do not forget about the flexibility of the fire, that is how quickly the cannon can be aimed at the target, open fire on it and aim at another enemy. Add a link to the main article on the gun: <code><nowiki>{{main|Name of the weapon}}</nowiki></code>. Describe in general terms the ammunition available for the main gun. Give advice on how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage.'' -->
 
<!-- ''Give the reader information about the characteristics of the main gun. Assess its effectiveness in a battle based on the reloading speed, ballistics and the power of shells. Do not forget about the flexibility of the fire, that is how quickly the cannon can be aimed at the target, open fire on it and aim at another enemy. Add a link to the main article on the gun: <code><nowiki>{{main|Name of the weapon}}</nowiki></code>. Describe in general terms the ammunition available for the main gun. Give advice on how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage.'' -->
 
{{main|M6 (37 mm)}}
 
{{main|M6 (37 mm)}}
  
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The {{Specs|pseudonym}} is armed with a 37 mm cannon as its main armament. While its high BR makes it face tougher opponents, the gun still packs a fierce punch if aiming at the correct area and firing at the correct distance. It is a small calibre fast-firing gun with a maximum penetration of 84 mm at 100 m (M51B1/B2 shell), being able to penetrate most of the opponents it will face. The penetration power and gun accuracy drop a lot beyond 500 m and become unreliable past 700 m. The gun is equipped with a vertical stabiliser, giving the {{Specs|pseudonym}} a huge advantage in some cases as you can fire precisely while moving, but keep in mind that it activates only when the tank is driving under 10 km/h.
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The {{Specs|pseudonym}} is armed with a 37 mm cannon as its main armament. While its high BR makes it face tougher opponents, the gun still packs a fierce punch if aimed well and fired at the correct distance. The 37 mm provides a fast-firing gun with a maximum penetration of 84 mm at 100 m (M51B1 shell), being able to penetrate most of the opponents it will face. The penetration power and gun accuracy drop considerably beyond 500 m and become unreliable past 700 m. The gun is equipped with a vertical stabiliser, giving the {{Specs|pseudonym}} a huge advantage in some cases as you can fire precisely while moving, but keep in mind that it activates only when the tank is driving under 10 km/h.
  
 
While it lacks the post-penetration damage to disable most enemies in one shot, it can quickly finish them off with its fast reload. However, the gun can overheat from shooting several shots without interruption and cause a loss of accuracy noticeable even at 200 m distance. A short pause between shots will prevent this from happening.
 
While it lacks the post-penetration damage to disable most enemies in one shot, it can quickly finish them off with its fast reload. However, the gun can overheat from shooting several shots without interruption and cause a loss of accuracy noticeable even at 200 m distance. A short pause between shots will prevent this from happening.
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|-
 
|-
 
! ''Arcade''
 
! ''Arcade''
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| rowspan="2" | 174 || rowspan="2" | -10°/+20° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | Vertical || 19.0 || 26.4 || 32.0 || 35.4 || 37.7 || rowspan="2" | 3.77 || rowspan="2" | 3.34 || rowspan="2" | 3.07 || rowspan="2" | 2.90
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| rowspan="2" | 174 || rowspan="2" | -10°/+20° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | {{Annotation|Vertical|up to 16 km/h}} || 19.0 || 26.4 || 32.0 || 35.4 || 37.7 || rowspan="2" | 3.77 || rowspan="2" | 3.34 || rowspan="2" | 3.07 || rowspan="2" | 2.90
 
|-
 
|-
 
! ''Realistic''
 
! ''Realistic''
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==== Ammunition ====
 
==== Ammunition ====
−
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
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{{:M6 (37 mm)/Ammunition|M74B1, M51B1}}
−
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics
 
−
|-
 
−
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
 
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! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead
 
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! colspan="6" | '''Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)'''
 
−
|-
 
−
! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m
 
−
|-
 
−
| M74B1 || AP || 79 || 76 || 65 || 54 || 45 || 37
 
−
|-
 
−
| M51B1/B2 || APCBC || 87 || 84 || 73 || 60 || 50 || 41
 
−
|-
 
−
|}
 
−
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
 
−
! colspan="10" | Shell details
 
−
|-
 
−
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
 
−
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead
 
−
! rowspan="2" | Velocity<br>(m/s)
 
−
! rowspan="2" | Projectile<br>Mass (kg)
 
−
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay<br>(m)
 
−
! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity<br>(mm)
 
−
! rowspan="2" | Explosive Mass<br>(TNT equivalent) (g)
 
−
! colspan="3" | Ricochet
 
−
|-
 
−
! 0% !! 50% !! 100%
 
−
|-
 
−
| M74B1 || AP || 883 || 0.87 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 47° || 60° || 65°
 
−
|-
 
−
| M51B1/B2 || APCBC || 883 || 0.87 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 48° || 63° || 71°
 
−
|-
 
−
|}
 
  
 
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
 
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
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=== Machine guns ===
 
=== Machine guns ===
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{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}}
 +
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|3}}
 
<!-- ''Offensive and anti-aircraft machine guns not only allow you to fight some aircraft but also are effective against lightly armoured vehicles. Evaluate machine guns and give recommendations on its use.'' -->
 
<!-- ''Offensive and anti-aircraft machine guns not only allow you to fight some aircraft but also are effective against lightly armoured vehicles. Evaluate machine guns and give recommendations on its use.'' -->
 
{{main|M1919A4 (7.62 mm)}}
 
{{main|M1919A4 (7.62 mm)}}
  
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The M3A3 has two [[M1919A4 (7.62 mm)|7.62 mm M1919A4]] machine guns, one being coaxial to the main gun and the other roof-mounted. The two machine guns can quickly incapacitate the exposed crews on some vehicles or do some serious damage to those low-passing planes. The machine gun is only enough to destroy poorly protected vehicles such as AS 42, FlakPz I and GAZ-AAA. The penetration of around 10 mm is not enough to go through the frontal armour of those not-so-weakly-armoured tanks like SU-5-1, Panzerjager 1 or 15cm sIG 33 B Sfl. If you are skilled the two machine gun can effectively damage low-flying biplanes.
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The M3A3 has two [[M1919A4 (7.62 mm)|7.62 mm M1919A4]] machine guns, one being coaxial to the main gun and the other roof-mounted. The two machine guns can quickly incapacitate the exposed crews on some vehicles or do some serious damage to low-passing planes. The machine gun is only enough to destroy poorly protected vehicles such as the AS 42, the FlakPz I and GAZ-AAAs. The penetration of around 10 mm is not enough to go through the frontal armour of lightly-armoured vehicles like SU-5-1, Panzerjäger 1 or 15cm sIG 33 B Sfl. They are still a vast improvement over the previous Breda machine guns.
  
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
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! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
 
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
 
|-
 
|-
−
| Pintle || 3,000 (250) || 500 || -10°/+70° || -60°/+15°
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| Pintle || 4,500 (250) || 500 || -10°/+70° || -60°/+15°
 
|-
 
|-
−
| Coaxial || 3,200 (250) || 500 || N/A || N/A
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| Coaxial || 3,250 (250) || 500 || N/A || N/A
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
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<!-- ''Describe the tactics of playing in the vehicle, the features of using vehicles in the team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view but instead give the reader food for thought. Describe the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).'' -->
 
<!-- ''Describe the tactics of playing in the vehicle, the features of using vehicles in the team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view but instead give the reader food for thought. Describe the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).'' -->
  
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The M3A3 Stuart is best used as a point-capper and a hit-n-run tank. Its extreme mobility gives the player uncountable ways to play with the enemy. At the start of a battle, it can quickly cap a nearby point first, but note that some wheeled vehicles, like the [[Sd.Kfz.234/2|Sd.Kfz.234]] series in a mixed battle can still outrun the M3A3 on-road, therefore posing a great threat. Or it can get to an ambush position near the point and wait until the prey comes. With its reliable gun, the M3A3 should be able to destroy the first wave of enemies easily and quickly.
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The M3A3 Stuart is best used as a point-capturer and a hit-n-run tank. Its extreme mobility gives the player uncountable ways to play with the enemy. At the start of a battle, it can quickly cap a nearby point first, but note that some wheeled vehicles, like the [[Sd.Kfz.234/2|Sd.Kfz.234]] series in a mixed battle can still outrun the M3A3 on-road, therefore posing a great threat. Or it can get to an ambush position near the point and wait until the prey comes. With its reliable gun, the M3A3 should be able to destroy the first wave of enemies easily and quickly.
  
 
In the middle stages of a battle, the M3A3 can utilise its excellent mobility and get to wherever needs help while carefully looking around. If the M3A3 unexpectedly encounter an enemy in its path, don't panic! Circle around the enemy and try to force it to turn, this way it usually cannot aim at the M3A3 accurately, then reduce the M3A3's speed down under 10 km/h and keep moving. Now the M3A3's stabiliser will give the tank a great chance to hit while on the move as it stabilises the gun when the tank is under 10 km/h, making it easier time to put the gun on target while moving compared to the enemy.
 
In the middle stages of a battle, the M3A3 can utilise its excellent mobility and get to wherever needs help while carefully looking around. If the M3A3 unexpectedly encounter an enemy in its path, don't panic! Circle around the enemy and try to force it to turn, this way it usually cannot aim at the M3A3 accurately, then reduce the M3A3's speed down under 10 km/h and keep moving. Now the M3A3's stabiliser will give the tank a great chance to hit while on the move as it stabilises the gun when the tank is under 10 km/h, making it easier time to put the gun on target while moving compared to the enemy.
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'''Enemies worth noting:'''
 
'''Enemies worth noting:'''
  
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Specific enemy vehicles that bear mentioning are firstly any Germans with the [[KwK38 (20 mm)|20 mm KwK/FlaK38]] cannon, this gun might be small but can have up to 64 mm of penetration, which is enough to go through the M3A3 almost anywhere. These guns can also fire 10 rounds at 280 rounds/min before having to reload the clip, meaning that they will very easily take out your crew before you have a chance to respond. To counter, the best chance you have is to angle your frontal armour which can make it difficult for the PzGr 40 rounds to penetrate. The Russian [[T-50]] and [[T-126]] are vehicles you will also see commonly, these have fairly thick and angled frontal armour that will prevent you from easily getting through. These tanks can also carry an APHEBC round that will destroy you in one shot with little difficulty, to counter you should use your speed to attempt to get a side shot into either the turret or engine. If the T-50 cannot move you can outrun its turret and finish it without much difficulty.
+
Specific enemy vehicles that bear mentioning are firstly any Germans with the 20 mm [[KwK38 (20 mm)|KwK38]] or [[FlaK38 (20 mm)|FlaK38]] cannons, these guns might be small in calibre but can have up to 48 mm of penetration, which is enough to go through the M3A3. Combined with a rate of fire of 280 rounds per minute, and a very short reload time, these guns will very easily take out your crew before you have a chance to respond. To counter these opponents, the best chance you have is to angle your frontal armour which can make it difficult for their PzGr 40 HVAP-T rounds to penetrate. The Russian [[T-50]] and [[T-126]] are vehicles you will also see commonly, these have fairly thick and angled frontal armour that will prevent you from easily getting through. These tanks can also carry an APHEBC round that will destroy you in one shot with little difficulty, to counter you should use your speed to attempt to get a side shot into either the turret or engine. If the T-50 cannot move you can outrun its turret and finish it without much difficulty.
  
 
It is likely that the M3A3 will encounter some rough heavies, like the [[Matilda III]] and the [[B1 bis]]. The best tactic against these types of targets is to use the M3A3's fast speed, get within 200 m from them and attack, with shooting at point-blank range being the most effective way. Before conducting an attack, check the M3A3's and the enemy's surroundings to make sure no one will ambush the M3A3. While charging, use the M3A3's quick turns to suddenly change direction to avoid being shot if they are aiming and firing at the M3A3. Once the tank is at the ideal distance, manoeuvre so that the gun is perpendicular to their armour. Do not shoot if the enemy is angling! The small calibre 37 mm gun is very likely to bounce off or not penetrate against sloped armour.
 
It is likely that the M3A3 will encounter some rough heavies, like the [[Matilda III]] and the [[B1 bis]]. The best tactic against these types of targets is to use the M3A3's fast speed, get within 200 m from them and attack, with shooting at point-blank range being the most effective way. Before conducting an attack, check the M3A3's and the enemy's surroundings to make sure no one will ambush the M3A3. While charging, use the M3A3's quick turns to suddenly change direction to avoid being shot if they are aiming and firing at the M3A3. Once the tank is at the ideal distance, manoeuvre so that the gun is perpendicular to their armour. Do not shoot if the enemy is angling! The small calibre 37 mm gun is very likely to bounce off or not penetrate against sloped armour.
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For the B1, either aim for the near-vertical frontal armour plate at the right side of the hull, or the turret ring to incapacitate the commander/gunner, or simply move to its side and knock out the crews one by one by hitting its flat side armour.
 
For the B1, either aim for the near-vertical frontal armour plate at the right side of the hull, or the turret ring to incapacitate the commander/gunner, or simply move to its side and knock out the crews one by one by hitting its flat side armour.
−
 
−
=== Modules ===
 
−
{| class="wikitable"
 
−
! Tier
 
−
! colspan="2" | Mobility
 
−
! Protection
 
−
! colspan="2" | Firepower
 
−
|-
 
−
| I
 
−
| Tracks
 
−
|
 
−
| Parts
 
−
| Horizontal Drive
 
−
| M51B1/B2
 
−
|-
 
−
| II
 
−
| Suspension
 
−
| Brake System
 
−
| FPE
 
−
| Adjustment of Fire
 
−
| Airstrike
 
−
|-
 
−
| III
 
−
| Filters
 
−
|
 
−
| Crew Replenishment
 
−
| Elevation Mechanism
 
−
|
 
−
|-
 
−
| IV
 
−
| Transmission
 
−
| Engine
 
−
|
 
−
| Artillery Support
 
−
| Improved optics
 
−
|-
 
−
|}
 
  
 
=== Pros and cons ===
 
=== Pros and cons ===
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'''Pros:'''
 
'''Pros:'''
  
−
* Great firepower: cannon has good penetration, excellent rate of fire and gun depression of -10 degrees, allowing the M3 to manoeuvre to any terrain and adapt to it well
+
* Great firepower: the 37 cannon mm has good penetration, excellent rate of fire and a gun depression of -10°, allowing the M3 to adapt to most kinds of rough terrain.
−
* Excellent acceleration, top speed and turning ability on all terrains; easily outruns common opponents like the [[Pz.III (Disambiguation)|Pz.III]] and Crusader
+
* Excellent acceleration, top speed and turning ability on all terrains; easily outruns common opponents like the [[Panzer III (Family)|Pz.III]] and Crusader
 
* Access to a vertical stabiliser which most tanks don't have, giving it an advantage in a sudden encounter
 
* Access to a vertical stabiliser which most tanks don't have, giving it an advantage in a sudden encounter
 
* Respectable sloped armour that, if angled, might bounce some shells from a distance, such as the 37 mm M6 on other M3 Stuarts
 
* Respectable sloped armour that, if angled, might bounce some shells from a distance, such as the 37 mm M6 on other M3 Stuarts
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* Hull is fairly tall for a light tank and the crews are closely packed, reducing its survivability
 
* Hull is fairly tall for a light tank and the crews are closely packed, reducing its survivability
 
* While fast, it is still slower than the Sd.Kfz.234 series on the road
 
* While fast, it is still slower than the Sd.Kfz.234 series on the road
 +
* Angling brings no additional protection as there are angled plates of armour on both sides.
  
 
== History ==
 
== History ==
 
<!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle 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 vehicle and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-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 vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' -->
 
<!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle 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 vehicle and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-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 vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' -->
−
''Refer to [[M3 Stuart (Family)|M3 Stuart]]''
 
−
 
−
'''In Italian Service:'''
 
  
−
Past WW2 when Italy joined NATO, the US supplied Italy with diverse vehicles in a lend-lease program including the M3A3 designated Carro Leggero M3
+
After World War II, Italy joined NATO. As part of the military aid program, the United States supplied Italy with a diverse set of vehicles, including the M3A3 Stuart, which was designated Carro Leggero M3A3 in Italian service. The Military Aid program which the Stuart would first appear in would be in the year of 1948, allied countries such as America proceeded to distribute several different types of surplus armoured fighting vehicles for Italy. Delivery of the inital batch of vehicles would continue up until February of 1949, the contents of this package also included various types of Sherman tanks, artillery pieces, trucks and munitions. The first units would enter service in Italy with the Armoured Calvary Squadron, and 2 other armoured battalions made from previous brigades which broke up during the last stages of the second world war. In Italy it was actually very good piece of kit to have access to, it was light, easily transportable and gave infantry and other security roles a vehicle with decent armour protection, at least when compared to what previously was being fielded. Some in Italy would be modified to fit the reconnaissance role, which would remove the inital turret and replace it with a mount for a 50 caliber machine gun. The standard variant would have a crew of 4, whilst the reconnaissance variant only needed a crew of 2. During its service, it didn't face any combat, but would recieve a potential upgrade program which replaced the american cannon with an Italian made one. This was likely to see if there was room for conversion to allow the tank to remain in service longer. Overall the M3A3's in Italian service would be operational up until the year of 1957, where the last units would officially be replaced by more modern vehicles better adapted for Italian needs.
  
 
== Media ==
 
== Media ==
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;Skins
 
;Skins
  
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* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicleCountry=italy&vehicleType=tank&vehicleClass=light_tank&vehicle=it_m3a3_stuart Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]
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* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=it_m3a3_stuart Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]
  
 
== See also ==
 
== See also ==
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;Vehicles equipped with the same chassis
 
;Vehicles equipped with the same chassis
  
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* [[M3 Stuart (Family)]]
 
 
* [[M5 Stuart (Family)]]
 
* [[M5 Stuart (Family)]]
 
* [[M8 General Scott (Family)]]
 
* [[M8 General Scott (Family)]]
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* [https://tanks-encyclopedia.com/ww2/US/M3_stuart.php <nowiki>[Tanks Encyclopedia]</nowiki> Light Tank M3 Stuart]
 
* [https://tanks-encyclopedia.com/ww2/US/M3_stuart.php <nowiki>[Tanks Encyclopedia]</nowiki> Light Tank M3 Stuart]
  
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{{TankManufacturer Ordnance Department}}
 
{{Italy light tanks}}
 
{{Italy light tanks}}

Latest revision as of 23:32, 27 August 2023

Rank 7 USA
F-5C Pack
This page is about the light tank M3A3 (Italy). For other versions, see M3 Stuart (Family).
▄M3A3
it_m3a3_stuart.png
GarageImage M3A3 (Italy).jpg
ArtImage M3A3 (Italy).png
▄M3A3
Italy flag.png Italy
II Rank
Battle rating:
AB RB SB
2.3 2.7 2.7
Class:
Research:9 200 Specs-Card-Exp.png
Purchase:16 000 Specs-Card-Lion.png
Show in game

Description

The history of the American M3A3 Stuart in Italian service starts in the immediate aftermath of post-war Italy. Several re-armament programs, partially supported by America and the United Kingdom, allowed them to give away surplus military equipment away to nations who needed to bolster their forces. Italy received the vehicles in the form of the Military Assistance Program, and they would be in service in several armoured regiments for many decades. They were well-liked as the doctrine of the Italian army allowed for the Stuart to fit in nicely without too many issues, mainly thanks to its compact design which made it ideal for use in Italy. It was light but armoured enough to withstand hits from lower calibre rounds.

Introduced in Update "Starfighters", the M3A3 has great mobility which can be taken advantage of at the start of matches, either to get into a favourable position or to capture a point before anyone else. It is very small, so you can hide the vehicle to set up ambushes with allies. Its crew arrangement however isn't good as one good hit means that you will likely not be able to keep fighting. Armament is good enough to fight other light tanks in your class, for more armoured targets the munitions provided can penetrate enemies from the sides which is easy to do because your mobility allows you to flank enemy teams with ease. Overall, it's a recommended addition to anyone's lineup when researching the Italian tech tree.

General info

Survivability and armour

Smoke grenades
Creation of a smoke screen in front of the vehicle
Armourfront / side / back
Hull25 / 25 / 25
Turret38 / 31 / 31
Crew4 people
Visibility89 %
Armour Front (Slope angle) Sides Rear Roof
Hull 25 mm (46-49°) Front Glacis - upper plate
20 mm (spherical) MG port
50 mm (24-27°) Front Glacis - joint plate
50 mm (44-46°) Front Glacis - lower plate
44.4 mm (25-43°) Lower Glacis 		25.4 mm 25.4 mm (1-26°) Upper part
25.4 mm (21°) Lower part 		12.7 mm
Turret 38.1 mm (12-14°) Turret front
50.8 mm Gun mantlet 		31.75 mm
15 mm Add-on tracks 		31.75 mm 12.7 mm

Notes:

  • Suspension wheels, tracks and bogies are 15 mm thick.
  • Mudguards and rear storage box are 4 mm thick

The frontal armour on the ▄M3A3 is pretty tough for a light tank with 25 mm on the front & sides of the hull, and a large, 50 mm thick gun mantlet covering up most of its frontal turret. When angled correctly it can bounce off quite a few shots. However it can still be easily penetrated by average guns on its BR. From the front the 4 crews are sitting pretty close together, thus making it highly possible to get knocked out by shells with explosive fillers like the Soviet 45 mm AP or the German short 75 mm APHE. The transmission and the engine are all quite small and low, and the ammo racks are also small, reducing the chance of being immobile or ammoracked. There is also an empty area under the turret crews and in front of the driving compartment, which will absorb those shells with weak damage.

Mobility

Speedforward / back
AB65 / 8 km/h
RB and SB59 / 7 km/h
Number of gears5 forward
1 back
Weight14.4 t
Engine power
AB500 hp
RB and SB262 hp
Power-to-weight ratio
AB34.7 hp/t
RB and SB18.2 hp/t
Game Mode Max Speed (km/h) Weight (tons) Engine power (horsepower) Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
Forward Reverse Stock Upgraded Stock Upgraded
Arcade 65 8 14.4 406 500 28.19 34.72
Realistic 59 7 232 262 16.11 18.19

One of the best aspects of the M3A3 (Italy) is its superior mobility. It has a top speed of 58 km/h and doesn't lose too much speed on soft terrains as it's tracked, making it one of the fastest tanks at the BR alongside with the famous BT series tanks. The turning ability is also amazing, since the hull is short and wide enough, allowing it to turn agilely. However, when trying to stop the tank while it is travelling at full speed, the brakes tend to be inefficient, giving it a long braking distance and making it very sluggish when stopping.

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference
AB436 → 626 Sl icon.png
RB499 → 717 Sl icon.png
SB618 → 888 Sl icon.png
Total cost of modifications8 430 Rp icon.png
9 500 Sl icon.png
Talisman cost640 Ge icon.png
Crew training4 500 Sl icon.png
Experts16 000 Sl icon.png
Aces160 Ge icon.png
Research Aces190 000 Rp icon.png
Reward for battleAB / RB / SB
30 / 40 / 40 % Sl icon.png
118 / 118 / 118 % Rp icon.png
Modifications
Mobility Protection Firepower
Mods new tank traks.png
Tracks
Research:
420 Rp icon.png
Cost:
470 Sl icon.png
80 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank suspension.png
Suspension
Research:
380 Rp icon.png
Cost:
430 Sl icon.png
70 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank break.png
Brake System
Research:
380 Rp icon.png
Cost:
430 Sl icon.png
70 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank filter.png
Filters
Research:
700 Rp icon.png
Cost:
790 Sl icon.png
135 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank transmission.png
Transmission
Research:
550 Rp icon.png
Cost:
620 Sl icon.png
105 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank engine.png
Engine
Research:
550 Rp icon.png
Cost:
620 Sl icon.png
105 Ge icon.png
Mods tank tool kit.png
Improved Parts
Research:
420 Rp icon.png
Cost:
470 Sl icon.png
80 Ge icon.png
Mods extinguisher.png
Improved FPE
Research:
380 Rp icon.png
Cost:
430 Sl icon.png
70 Ge icon.png
Mods tank reinforcement it.png
Crew Replenishment
Research:
700 Rp icon.png
Cost:
790 Sl icon.png
135 Ge icon.png
Mods smoke screen.png
Smoke grenade
Research:
550 Rp icon.png
Cost:
620 Sl icon.png
105 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank horizontal aiming.png
Horizontal Drive
Research:
420 Rp icon.png
Cost:
470 Sl icon.png
80 Ge icon.png
Mods tank ammo.png
37mm_usa_m3_APC_ammo_pack
Research:
420 Rp icon.png
Cost:
470 Sl icon.png
80 Ge icon.png
Mods tank cannon.png
Adjustment of Fire
Research:
380 Rp icon.png
Cost:
430 Sl icon.png
70 Ge icon.png
Mods airstrike.png
Airstrike
Research:
380 Rp icon.png
Cost:
430 Sl icon.png
70 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank vertical aiming.png
Elevation Mechanism
Research:
700 Rp icon.png
Cost:
790 Sl icon.png
135 Ge icon.png
Mods art support.png
Artillery Support
Research:
550 Rp icon.png
Cost:
620 Sl icon.png
105 Ge icon.png
Mods scouting.png
Improved optics
Research:
550 Rp icon.png
Cost:
620 Sl icon.png
105 Ge icon.png

Armaments

Main armament

37 mm M6 cannon
Vertical stabilizer
Reduces the swing of the gun in one plane while moving
Ammunition174 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
3.7 → 2.9 s
Vertical guidance-10° / 20°
Main article: M6 (37 mm)

The ▄M3A3 is armed with a 37 mm cannon as its main armament. While its high BR makes it face tougher opponents, the gun still packs a fierce punch if aimed well and fired at the correct distance. The 37 mm provides a fast-firing gun with a maximum penetration of 84 mm at 100 m (M51B1 shell), being able to penetrate most of the opponents it will face. The penetration power and gun accuracy drop considerably beyond 500 m and become unreliable past 700 m. The gun is equipped with a vertical stabiliser, giving the ▄M3A3 a huge advantage in some cases as you can fire precisely while moving, but keep in mind that it activates only when the tank is driving under 10 km/h.

While it lacks the post-penetration damage to disable most enemies in one shot, it can quickly finish them off with its fast reload. However, the gun can overheat from shooting several shots without interruption and cause a loss of accuracy noticeable even at 200 m distance. A short pause between shots will prevent this from happening.

37 mm M6 Turret rotation speed (°/s) Reloading rate (seconds)
Mode Capacity Vertical Horizontal Stabilizer Stock Upgraded Full Expert Aced Stock Full Expert Aced
Arcade 174 -10°/+20° ±180° Vertical 19.0 26.4 32.0 35.4 37.7 3.77 3.34 3.07 2.90
Realistic 11.9 14.0 17.0 18.8 20.0

Ammunition

Penetration statistics
Ammunition Type of
warhead 		Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
10 m 100 m 500 m 1,000 m 1,500 m 2,000 m
M74B1 AP 79 76 65 54 45 37
M51B1 APCBC 87 84 73 60 50 41
Shell details
Ammunition Type of
warhead 		Velocity
(m/s) 		Projectile
mass (kg) 		Fuse delay
(m) 		Fuse sensitivity
(mm) 		Explosive mass
(TNT equivalent) (g) 		Ricochet
0% 50% 100%
M74B1 AP 883 0.87 - - - 47° 60° 65°
M51B1 APCBC 883 0.87 - - - 48° 63° 71°

Ammo racks

Ammo racks of the ␗M3A3 Stuart (identical)
Full
ammo 		1st
rack empty 		2nd
rack empty 		3rd
rack empty 		4th
rack empty 		Visual
discrepancy
174 131 (+43) 87 (+87) 44 (+130) 1 (+173) Yes

Notes:

  • Only 144 shells are modeled in the racks 1 to 4.
  • The 1st rack contains 13 shells but empties after having fired 43 shells.
  • The 2nd rack contains 52 shells but empties after having fired 44 shells.
  • The 3rd rack contains 24 shells but empties after having fired 43 shells.
  • The 4th rack contains 55 shells but empties after having fired 44 shells.
  • To go into battle with the turret and the flanks empty of ammo, pack 44 (+130) shells (racks 1 to 3 emptied).

Machine guns

7.62 mm M1919A4 machine gun
Ammunition4 500 rounds
Belt capacity250 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
10.4 → 8.0 s
Fire rate500 shots/min
7.62 mm M1919A4 machine gun (coaxial)
Ammunition3 000 rounds
Belt capacity250 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
10.4 → 8.0 s
Fire rate500 shots/min
Main article: M1919A4 (7.62 mm)

The M3A3 has two 7.62 mm M1919A4 machine guns, one being coaxial to the main gun and the other roof-mounted. The two machine guns can quickly incapacitate the exposed crews on some vehicles or do some serious damage to low-passing planes. The machine gun is only enough to destroy poorly protected vehicles such as the AS 42, the FlakPz I and GAZ-AAAs. The penetration of around 10 mm is not enough to go through the frontal armour of lightly-armoured vehicles like SU-5-1, Panzerjäger 1 or 15cm sIG 33 B Sfl. They are still a vast improvement over the previous Breda machine guns.

7.62 mm M1919A4
Mount Capacity (Belt) Fire rate Vertical Horizontal
Pintle 4,500 (250) 500 -10°/+70° -60°/+15°
Coaxial 3,250 (250) 500 N/A N/A

Usage in battles

The M3A3 Stuart is best used as a point-capturer and a hit-n-run tank. Its extreme mobility gives the player uncountable ways to play with the enemy. At the start of a battle, it can quickly cap a nearby point first, but note that some wheeled vehicles, like the Sd.Kfz.234 series in a mixed battle can still outrun the M3A3 on-road, therefore posing a great threat. Or it can get to an ambush position near the point and wait until the prey comes. With its reliable gun, the M3A3 should be able to destroy the first wave of enemies easily and quickly.

In the middle stages of a battle, the M3A3 can utilise its excellent mobility and get to wherever needs help while carefully looking around. If the M3A3 unexpectedly encounter an enemy in its path, don't panic! Circle around the enemy and try to force it to turn, this way it usually cannot aim at the M3A3 accurately, then reduce the M3A3's speed down under 10 km/h and keep moving. Now the M3A3's stabiliser will give the tank a great chance to hit while on the move as it stabilises the gun when the tank is under 10 km/h, making it easier time to put the gun on target while moving compared to the enemy.

The frontal armour of this tank is also quite good at a distance. Find a building or a big rock as cover and angle the hull for about 40 degrees. When ready to fire, go out of cover and stop once the 37 mm gun is exposed, don't go out too much or the thin side armour will be exposed to be hit. Keep in mind that with this tactic the player should only engage the low-penetrating enemies at more than 400 m, as their penetration will drop significantly at that distance while the M3A3 can still penetrate 73 mm of armour, which is enough to go through most of its opponents like the T-50, SU-76M or Crusader Mk III.

Enemies worth noting:

Specific enemy vehicles that bear mentioning are firstly any Germans with the 20 mm KwK38 or FlaK38 cannons, these guns might be small in calibre but can have up to 48 mm of penetration, which is enough to go through the M3A3. Combined with a rate of fire of 280 rounds per minute, and a very short reload time, these guns will very easily take out your crew before you have a chance to respond. To counter these opponents, the best chance you have is to angle your frontal armour which can make it difficult for their PzGr 40 HVAP-T rounds to penetrate. The Russian T-50 and T-126 are vehicles you will also see commonly, these have fairly thick and angled frontal armour that will prevent you from easily getting through. These tanks can also carry an APHEBC round that will destroy you in one shot with little difficulty, to counter you should use your speed to attempt to get a side shot into either the turret or engine. If the T-50 cannot move you can outrun its turret and finish it without much difficulty.

It is likely that the M3A3 will encounter some rough heavies, like the Matilda III and the B1 bis. The best tactic against these types of targets is to use the M3A3's fast speed, get within 200 m from them and attack, with shooting at point-blank range being the most effective way. Before conducting an attack, check the M3A3's and the enemy's surroundings to make sure no one will ambush the M3A3. While charging, use the M3A3's quick turns to suddenly change direction to avoid being shot if they are aiming and firing at the M3A3. Once the tank is at the ideal distance, manoeuvre so that the gun is perpendicular to their armour. Do not shoot if the enemy is angling! The small calibre 37 mm gun is very likely to bounce off or not penetrate against sloped armour.

For the Matilda III, shoot at the middle of the near-vertical frontal plate to knock out the driver first, since the 37 mm shell is not enough to knock out the gunner after penetrating. Once it is immobile, go to its side and finish it by shooting its hull sides. Or, shoot the right side of the gun mantlet to disable its gunner. For the best chance of penetration, do not shoot its turret side.

For the B1, either aim for the near-vertical frontal armour plate at the right side of the hull, or the turret ring to incapacitate the commander/gunner, or simply move to its side and knock out the crews one by one by hitting its flat side armour.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Great firepower: the 37 cannon mm has good penetration, excellent rate of fire and a gun depression of -10°, allowing the M3 to adapt to most kinds of rough terrain.
  • Excellent acceleration, top speed and turning ability on all terrains; easily outruns common opponents like the Pz.III and Crusader
  • Access to a vertical stabiliser which most tanks don't have, giving it an advantage in a sudden encounter
  • Respectable sloped armour that, if angled, might bounce some shells from a distance, such as the 37 mm M6 on other M3 Stuarts
  • Small turret profile makes it harder to get hit

Cons:

  • Weak armour against high-penetration shells like the 76 mm F-34/ZIS-5
  • Its shells do not have explosive filler, severely limiting the post-penetration effect especially against spacious tanks like the LVT(A)(1)
  • Inefficient brakes when trying to stop the tank at full speed
  • Hull is fairly tall for a light tank and the crews are closely packed, reducing its survivability
  • While fast, it is still slower than the Sd.Kfz.234 series on the road
  • Angling brings no additional protection as there are angled plates of armour on both sides.

History

After World War II, Italy joined NATO. As part of the military aid program, the United States supplied Italy with a diverse set of vehicles, including the M3A3 Stuart, which was designated Carro Leggero M3A3 in Italian service. The Military Aid program which the Stuart would first appear in would be in the year of 1948, allied countries such as America proceeded to distribute several different types of surplus armoured fighting vehicles for Italy. Delivery of the inital batch of vehicles would continue up until February of 1949, the contents of this package also included various types of Sherman tanks, artillery pieces, trucks and munitions. The first units would enter service in Italy with the Armoured Calvary Squadron, and 2 other armoured battalions made from previous brigades which broke up during the last stages of the second world war. In Italy it was actually very good piece of kit to have access to, it was light, easily transportable and gave infantry and other security roles a vehicle with decent armour protection, at least when compared to what previously was being fielded. Some in Italy would be modified to fit the reconnaissance role, which would remove the inital turret and replace it with a mount for a 50 caliber machine gun. The standard variant would have a crew of 4, whilst the reconnaissance variant only needed a crew of 2. During its service, it didn't face any combat, but would recieve a potential upgrade program which replaced the american cannon with an Italian made one. This was likely to see if there was room for conversion to allow the tank to remain in service longer. Overall the M3A3's in Italian service would be operational up until the year of 1957, where the last units would officially be replaced by more modern vehicles better adapted for Italian needs.

Media

Skins

See also

Vehicles equipped with the same chassis
Other vehicles of similar configuration and role

External links


U.S. Army Ordnance Department/Corps*
Light tanks  T18E2 · M24 (Designed in collaboration with Cadillac)
M3 Stuart  M3 · M3A1 Stuart · M3A1 (USMC)
M5 Stuart  M5A1
Medium tanks  M3 Lee
M4 Sherman  M4 · M4A1 · M4A2 · M4A3 (105) · Calliope
  M4A1 (76) W · M4A2 (76) W · M4A3 (76) W
M26 Pershing  T20 · T25 · M26 · M26E1 · M26 T99
Patton Series  M46 · M46 "Tiger" · M47
Prototypes  T54E1 · T95E1
Heavy tanks  M103
M4 Jumbo  M4A3E2 · Cobra King · M4A3E2 (76) W
M6 Heavy  M6A1 · M6A2E1 · T1E1
M26 Pershing  T26E1-1 · T26E5
Prototypes  T14
T29  T29 · T30 · T34
T-32  T32 · T32E1
Tank destroyers  M3 GMC · M10 GMC · M56
M8 GMC  M8 HMC · M8A1 GMC
M36 GMC  M36 GMC · M36B2
Prototypes  T28 · T95
SPAAGs 
Production  M19 MGMC · M42
Export/Captured  ␗M8 HMC · SU-57
Stuart  Stuart I · Stuart III · ␗M3A3 Stuart · ␗M3A3 (1st PTG) · ▄M3A3 · ▄M3A3 Stuart · ▃Stuart VI (5th CAD) · ␗M5A1
Lee/Grant  ▂M3 Medium · ▃Grant I · Grant I
M4 Sherman  Sherman II · ▄M4A1 · ␗M4A1 (75) W · ▀M4 748 (a) · ▂M4A2 · ▄M4A3 (105) · ▅M4A3 (76) W · ▄M4A3E2
  ␗M4A4 · ␗M4A4 (1st PTG) · ▄Sherman V · ▄M4A4 · ▄Sherman I Composito
M26 Pershing  M26 "D.C.Ariete" · M26A1
M47 Patton  mKPz M47 G · ▅M47
M10 GMC  ␗M10 GMC · ▄M10 GMC
M36 GMC  ␗M36 GMC · M36B1 · ▅M36 · ▄M36B2
M19 MGMC  ▅M19A1
M42 MGMC  ▅M42 · ␗M42
  *The Ordnance Department was renamed to the Ordnance Corps after the Army Reorganization Act of 1950.

Italy light tanks
  Italy
L6/40  L6/40 · L6/40 (31 Rgt.)
M11/39  M11/39
Autoblindo  AB 41 · AB 43
Fiat 6614/6616  FIAT 6614 · AUBL/74 · AUBL/74 HVG
R3 Capraia  R3 T106 FA
Centauro  Centauro I 105 · Centauro I 105 R · Centauro I 120 · Centauro RGO · VRCC
Freccia  VBC (PT2) · Freccia
Dardo  Dardo · VCC-80/60 · VCC-80/30
Other  C13 T90
USA  ▄M3A3 · ▄M24 · ▄M18
  Hungary
WWII  Csaba · Toldi IIA
Post  ◔BTR-80A · KF41

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