M3 Stuart

Light Tank M3
M5A1 at Base Borden Museum, Canadian Forces Base Borden, Ontario, Canada.
Type	Light tank
Place of origin	United States
Production history
Designer	U.S. Army Ordnance Department
Manufacturer	American Car and Foundry Cadillac division of General Motors General Motors Massey-Harris
Produced	1941–1944
Number built	22,744 M3 and M5
Variants	See Variants
Specifications (Light tank M5A1, late production )
Weight	33,500 lb (15.19 metric tons)
Length	15 ft 10.5 in (4.84 m) with sand shields and rear stowage box
Width	7 ft 6 in (2.23 m) with sand shields
Height	8 ft 5 in (2.56 m) over anti-aircraft machine gun
Crew	4 (Commander, gunner, driver, assistant driver)
Armor	0.375 to 2.5 in (9.5 to 63.5 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 (164 kW) at 3,400 rpm
Power/weight	14.48 hp/metric ton
Transmission	Hydramatic 4 speeds forward, 1 reverse
Suspension	Vertical volute spring suspension (VVSS)
Fuel capacity	89 US gallons (340 liters)
Operational range	100 mi (160 km)
Speed	36 mph (58 kph) on road

The M3 Stuart, formally Light Tank M3, is an American light tank of World War II. It was supplied to British and Commonwealth forces under lend-lease prior to the entry of the U.S. into the war. Thereafter, it was used by U.S. and Allied forces until the end of the war. The name "General Stuart" or "Stuart" given by the British comes from the American Civil War Confederate General J. E. B. Stuart and was used for both the M3 and the derivative M5 Light Tank. In British service, it also had the unofficial nickname of Honey after a tank driver remarked "She's a honey". To the United States Army, the tanks were officially known only as "Light Tank M3" and "Light Tank M5". Stuarts were the first American-crewed tanks in World War II to engage the enemy in tank versus tank combat.

Observing events in Europe, American tank designers realized that the Light Tank M2 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, the M2A4, the M3 was initially armed with a 37mm M5 gun and five .30-06 Browning M1919A4 machine guns: coaxial with the gun, on top of the turret in an M20 anti-aircraft mount, in a ball mount in right bow, and in the right and left hull sponsons. Later, the gun was replaced with the slightly longer M6, and the sponson machine guns were removed. For a light tank, the Stuart was fairly heavily armored. It had 38 mm of armor on the hull front, 44 mm on the hull bottom, 51 mm on the gun mantlet, 38 mm on the turret sides, 25 mm on the hull sides, and 25 mm on the hull rear.