United States' M3A3 light tank, Stuart
Photos
M3A3 Light Tank: Aberdeen Tank Museum |
M3A3 light tank5: The American Arsenal |
M3A3 light tank drawing5: The American Arsenal |
Design
The M3A3 was standardized in August 1942, and classified as Limited Standard in April 1943.5
Had an improved turret with a bulge in the rear for the radio installed.5,7 Three additional periscopes are installed.
The 37 mm gun fired a 1.9 lb AP shell at a muzzle velocity of 2,900'/sec.7 The .30 cal MG fired at 2,800'/sec.7
The hull was redesigned with all welded one piece hull front.1,5,6 The front plate was extended which allowed for more room for storage and improved the safety for the driver and assistant driver.6 The driver's hatches are moved to the top of the hull. Periscopes are installed to provide vision for the driver and assistant driver. The sponsons were extended to the rear and this allowed for more gasoline and ammunition storage.7 A storage box is added at the rear of the hull.
A sand shield is extended over the top of the suspension.
Additional improvements included easier steering, improved fire protection and ventilation, detachable head lamps, and a detachable windshield. A Combination Gun Mount, M44, with a telescope was installed.5
Prototype
Production
Phased out of production in 1943.
Variants
Usage
Specifications
| M3A3 (Stuart V), M3A3 light tank5 | |
|---|---|
| Crew | Commander, gunner, driver, co-driver.3 42,3,4,5,7 |
| Radio | SCR-2455 |
| Physical Characteristics | |
| Weight | 12.3 tons4 29,700 lb7, 31,752 lb3,5 |
| Length w/gun | 14' 10"7, 16' 6"3,4,5 4.53 m2 |
| Length w/o gun | |
| Height | 7' 6.5"3,4,5, 8' 8"7 |
| Width | 7' 4", 8' 3"3,4,5,7 2.46 m2 |
| Width over tracks | |
| Ground clearance | 16.5"5,7 0.42 m2 |
| Ground contact length | 116"7, 117"5 |
| Ground pressure | 10.4 psi7, 10.47 psi5 |
| Turret ring diameter | 46.75"5 |
| Armament | |
| Main | 37 mm M5 or M6 L/561 37 mm L/562 37 mm M53,5 37 mm4 37 mm M6, gyrostabilized7 |
| OR | 37 mm M63,5 |
| Secondary | |
| MG | 3: MG4 3: .30 cal Browning MGs3 |
| MG - coaxial | 1: .30 cal M1919A4 MG7 1: .30 cal Browning MG5 |
| MG - hull | 1: .30 cal M1919A4 MG7 1: .30 cal Browning MG5 |
| MG - antiaircraft | 1: .30 cal M1919A4 MG7 1: .30 cal Browning MG5 |
| Side arms | 1" .30 cal M2 tripod mount5 1" .45 cal submachine gun5 12: Hand grenades5,7 |
| Quantity | |
| Main | 1743,5,7 |
| Secondary | |
| MG | 7,5005,7, 6,400-8,2703 |
| Side arms | .45: 500 - 540, 5405 Grenades: 12 (4: Fragmentation Mk II, 2: Offensive Mk IIIA2, 4: Smoke WP M15, 2: Thermite Incendiary)5 |
| Armor Thickness (mm) | 103, 513 |
| Hull Front, Upper | 1.5"5, 1.5"@0°7, 1" - 1.5"4 38.12 |
| Hull Front, Lower | 5/8" - 1.75"5 |
| Hull Sides, Upper | 1"5, 1"@0°7 25.42 |
| Hull Sides, Lower | 1"5 |
| Hull Rear | 1"5, 1"@0°7 25.42 |
| Hull Top | 3/8"5 9.52 |
| Hull Bottom | 3/8" - 0.5"5 6.4 - 12.72 |
| Turret Front | 1.5"5, 1.5"@0°7 38.1 m2 |
| Turret Sides | 1.25"5, 1.25"@0°7 25.42 |
| Turret Rear | 1.25"5, 1.25"@0° 25.42 |
| Turret Top | 0.5"5, 0.5"@90° 9.52 |
| Engine (Make / Model) | Continental Wright2, Continental W-6703, Continental4, Continental W670-A7 |
| OR | Guiberson T10203, Guiberson T1020-45,7 |
| Bore / stroke | |
| Cooling | Air2,4,7 Continental: Air5 Guiberson: Air5 |
| Cylinders | Radial4, 72 Continental: Radial 75,7 Guiberson: Radial 95,7 |
| Capacity | |
| Net HP | 250@2,400 rpm2, 2504 Continental: 2507, 250@2,400 rpm5 Guiberson: 1857 , 220@2,200 rpm5 |
| Power to weight ratio | |
| Compression ratio | |
| Transmission (Type) | Synchromesh7 5 forward, 1 reverse2,7 |
| Gear ratios - 1st gear | 5.37:15 |
| - 2nd gear | 2.82:15 |
| - 3rd gear | 1.72:15 |
| - 4th gear | 1.09:15 |
| - 5th gear | 0.738:15 |
| - reverse | 6.19:15 |
| Steering | Controlled differential7 |
| Steering ratio | |
| Starter | |
| Electrical system | 12 volt5 |
| Ignition | |
| Fuel (Type) | Gasoline2 Guiberson: Diesel5,7 Continental: Gasoline5,7 |
| Octane | 805 |
| Cetane | 505 |
| Quantity | 54 gallons, 102 gallons5 151 liters2 |
| Road consumption | |
| Cross country consumption | |
| Performance | |
| Traverse | 360°3,7 Manual and hydraulic7 |
| Speed - Road | 31 mph7, 34 mph4, 36 mph3,5 57.9 kph2 |
| Speed - Cross Country | 15 - 20 mph4, 20 mph3 |
| Range - Road | 70 miles3,5, 125 miles7, 135 miles 120 km2 |
| Range - Cross Country | |
| Turning radius | 21'5 13 m2 |
| Elevation limits | -10° to +20°3 |
| Fording depth | 3'3,5, 3' 4"7 0.9 m2 |
| Trench crossing | 6'3,5, 7'7 |
| Vertical obstacle | 2'3,7 |
| Climbing ability | 30° slope7, 60%5 |
| Suspension (Type) | Vertical volute and trailing idler.3 Volute Springs2,5 Vertical volute springing7 |
| Wheels each side | 42 2 double wheeled bogies7 |
| Wheel size | 20x65 |
| Return rollers each side | 27, 3 |
| Tracks (Type) | |
| Length | Steel, rubber blocks and rubber bushed track pins7, Rubber block5 |
| Width | 11 5/8"5,7 295 mm2 |
| Diameter | |
| Number of links | 667, 132 or 1345 |
| Pitch | 5.5"5,7 |
| Tire tread | Rubber7 |
| Track centers/tread | 6' 1"5,7 |
Sources:
- The Encyclopedia of Tanks and Armored Fighting Vehicles - The Comprehensive Guide to Over 900 Armored Fighting Vehicles From 1915 to the Present Day, General Editor: Christopher F. Foss, 2002
- Panzer Truppen The Complete Guide to the Creation and Combat Employment of Germany's Tank Force 1933-1942, Thomas L. Jentz, 1996
- British and American Tanks of World War Two, The Complete Illustrated History of British, American, and Commonwealth Tanks 1933-1945, Peter Chamberlain and Chris Ellis, 1969
- Tanks of the World, 1915-1945, Peter Chamberlain, Chris Ellis, 1972
- The American Arsenal, 1996
- Airfix Magazine Guide #26 American Tanks of World War 2, Terry Gander and Peter Chamberlain, 1977
- Tank Data 2, Aberdeen Proving Grounds Series, E. J. Hoffschmidt and W. H. Tantum IV, 1969
