The tank was created on the basis of the T-5 in 1935 and was produced since 1937 in four modifications: M-1 (basic version, 90 units produced); M1A1 (with faceted turret, 17 units produced); M-1AE1 (with diesel engine "Giberson" T-1020, 7 units produced); М1А2 (with improved suspension and W-670 engine, 34 units produced). A total of 148 vehicles were produced and used for training purposes. Tank performance characteristics: length – 4.1 m; width – 2.4 m; height – 2.3 m; ground clearance - 380 mm; weight – 8.8 t; reservation - 6-16 mm; engine type - radial 7-cylinder carburetor air-cooled W-670; engine power – 250 hp; specific power – 26.6 hp/t; speed on the highway – 72 km/h; Power reserve – 190 km; main armament – ​​1-2 12.7 mm M-2HB machine guns; ammunition - 1,500 rounds; additional weapons - 1-2 7.62 mm M-1919A4 machine guns; ammunition - 2,380 rounds; communications - radio station SCR-209; crew - 4.

Light tank M-2A1

Light tank M-2A2

The tank was developed on the basis of the English Vickers Mk-E tank and entered service in 1935 and was produced in four modifications: M-2A1 (two machine guns in a single turret, 10 units produced); M-2A2 (double turret with mixed-caliber machine guns, 239 units produced); M-2A3 (double turret, improved armor and chassis, 72 units produced); M-2A4 (single turret with 37 mm cannon and coaxial machine gun, 375 produced). A total of 696 vehicles were produced. Tank performance characteristics: length – 4.4 m; width – 2.5 m; height – 2.7 m; ground clearance - 381 mm; weight -11.4-12.8 tons; armor – 6-25 mm; engine type - radial 7-cylinder air-cooled carburetor "Continental" R-670; engine power – 250 hp; specific power – 29 hp/t; speed on the highway – 58 km/h; Power reserve – 320 km; armament - 37 mm M-5 cannon; ammunition - 103 rounds; 12.7 mm Browning M-2 machine gun or two 7.62 mm Browning M-2 machine guns; communication means - radio station SCR-210; crew – 4 people.

The tank was created on the basis of the M-2A4 tank and was mass-produced in 1941-1944. The tank was produced in the following modifications: M-3 Stuart I (an improved version of the M-2A4, 4,525 units produced); M-3 Stuart II and Stuart Hybrid (with a Giberson diesel engine, 1,285 units produced); M-3A1 Stuart III-IV (with a new turret and reinforced armor, 4,621 units were produced, including 211 with a diesel engine); M-3A3 Stuart V – (with a hull of inclined armor plates and a new turret, 3,593 units produced). In total, about 14 thousand cars were built. Under Lend-Lease, mainly the M-3A3 modification, was supplied to the UK (5,473 units), the USSR (1,676 units), China and France. On the basis of the tank, self-propelled guns, a flamethrower tank and an armored personnel carrier were built. Tank performance characteristics: length – 4.5 m; width – 2.2 m; height - 2.4 - 2.6 m; weight - 12.7 - 14.7 tons; ground clearance - 420 mm; armor 10–44 mm; engine type - gasoline 7-cylinder radial "Continental" W-670-9A or diesel 9-cylinder radial "Giberson" T-1020-4; engine power – 250 or 220 hp. With; specific power – 15.4 – 17.9 hp/t; speed on the highway – 50-58 km/h; Power reserve – 113 – 217 km; main armament - 37 mm M6 cannon; ammunition - 103 - 174 rounds; additional weapons - 3 or 5 7.62 mm M-1919A4 machine guns, ammunition - 7.2 - 8.2 thousand rounds; communication means - SCR radio station with telephone intercom RC 61; crew – 4 people.

In 1941, based on the M-3A1 tank, a modification was developed under the designation M-5. It differed from its predecessor in the installation of a twin Cadillac engine with an automatic transmission, increased armor and a number of other innovations. The use of a turret from the M-3A3 tank on this tank led to a new modification - the M-5A1. During 1942-1945. 2,076 units of M-5 were produced, and 7,585 units of M-5A1. of which, 1,431 vehicles were delivered under Lend-Lease to the UK. Tank performance characteristics: length – 4.3-4.8 m; width – 2.2 m; height – 2.5 m; weight - 15 - 15.7 tons; ground clearance - 420 mm; armor 10–64 mm; engine type - twin petrol 8-cylinder V-shaped "Cadillac" Series 42"; engine power - 220 hp. With.; specific power - 12.7 - 13.3 hp/t; weapons reserve - 161 km; main armament - 37 mm M-6 cannon; ammunition - 103-174 rounds; additional weapons - three 7.62 mm M-1919A4 machine guns; ammunition - 6.2 - 6.7 thousand rounds; communications - SCR type radio station and internal telephone intercom RC-61; crew – 4 people.

The air transportable tank was put into service in 1943. A total of 830 vehicles were produced, 260 of which were transferred to Great Britain under Lend-Lease. The hull is welded, the double turret is cast, cylindrical in shape, with a rear niche in which the radio station was located. On the sides of the tank hull there were attachment points for suspension under the aircraft. Tank performance characteristics: length – 3.9 m; width – 2.2 m; height – 1.8 m; ground clearance – 250 mm; weight – 7.4 t; armor – 10-25 mm; engine type - opposed 6‑cylinder carburetor liquid cooling "Lycoming" 0-435T; engine power – 162 hp; specific power – 19.8 hp/t; highway speed – 56 km/h; Power reserve – 177 km; main armament - 37 mm M-6 cannon; ammunition - 50 shots; additional weapons - 7.62 mm Browning M-1919A4 machine gun; ammunition - 2,500 rounds; means of communication – radio station SCR-510; crew – 3 people.

The tank entered service in 1943. A total of 4,731 vehicles were produced, 300 of which were delivered to the UK. Self-propelled guns were built on the basis of the tank: M-19, M-37, M-41. Tank performance characteristics: length – 5.6 m; width – 3 m; height – 2.7 m; ground clearance - 460 mm; weight – 18.3 t; armor – 13-38 mm; engine type - twin V-shaped 8-cylinder carburetor liquid-cooled Cadillac Series 44-T24; engine power – 220 hp; specific power – 10.9 hp/t; highway speed – 56 km/h; Power reserve – 160 km; main armament - 75 mm M-6 cannon; ammunition - 48 rounds; additional weapons - 12.7 mm M-2HB machine gun (ammunition - 400 rounds), two 7.62 mm M-1919A4 machine guns (ammunition - 37-50 rounds), 50.8 mm breech-loading smoke mortar M-3 ( ammunition - 14 min), communications - SCR radio station and tank intercom; crew – 5 people.

Despite the fact that the Red Army and the Soviet people bore the brunt of the blows from the Wehrmacht troops, the American allies still managed to fight. Of course, for them that war (no matter what the latest blockbusters say) unfolded mainly in the Pacific direction.

In many ways, World War II tanks helped them break the resistance of the Japanese and make good money from Lend-Lease. American cars are not so famous, but still some of them had good characteristics.

Light tanks

Considering that the legendary engineer Christie was an American, one should not be surprised at the abundance of light tanks in the USA. There were four of them in total, not counting a decent number of various modifications.

M3 "Stuart"

These American light tanks were created back in 1940, and the “cavalry” M1 and the light tank M2A4 were used as a base. The layout was classic: the MTO was located at the rear of the hull, the fighting compartment and controls were in the middle part of the vehicle, and the drive rollers were located at the bow.

The chassis used a typical American solution for that period: four small twin rollers on each side, as well as idler wheels reinforced with powerful springs. The hull and turret were made from ordinary sheet armor by welding and riveting. Armament: five 7.62 mm Brownings and a 37 mm cannon.

Its last modification, M3A3, was released in 1942. Instead of five machine guns, only three were left. In the manufacture of this model, welding was mainly used; the armor plates were arranged with a rational slope. It is considered the most popular light tank in the whole world, since almost 24 thousand vehicles were produced in just a couple of years. A lot of Stuarts were delivered to the USSR under Lend-Lease. In some South American countries, the “old men” could be seen in service right up to the 90s of the 20th century.

M5 "Stuart"

It represents a further development of the ideas laid down in the M3A3. In principle, this American branch of tanks is generally very similar, since the engineers tried to use only proven solutions (mass production). It was armed with the same 37 mm cannon and three 7.62 mm Brownings. This time the gun was equipped with a line of sight stabilizer.

The tank differed from its predecessor in a fundamentally new power plant, represented by two V-shaped gasoline engines with liquid cooling, a fundamentally new design of the entire hull and turret, as well as new control devices.

M22 "Locust"

In 1944, due to the urgent need of airborne units for their own armored vehicles, the M22 Locast was developed and put into service. In principle, these American light tanks were not much different from the M3. The layout remained absolutely identical: the transmission, controls and drive rollers were located in the front of the hull, the crew compartment was in the middle, and the engines were located at the rear.

Only the design of the power plant was completely rethought; a six-cylinder carburetor engine was used, the highlight of which was the horizontal arrangement of the cylinders. This made it possible to make the entire tank much more compact, reducing its silhouette and dimensions. The gun remained the same. The location and design of the rollers were inherited from the M3. Only the guide wheels were made more massive, coupled with better springs.

M24 "Chaffee"

These American World War II tanks also began production in 1944. Due to the rethinking of the role of light tanks, they were used primarily as reconnaissance and landing tanks. They had many parts and components from the M3 and M5 (the fluid coupling and gearbox were borrowed completely), but in their shape and armament the tanks were sharply different from all their predecessors. The hull and turret were made exclusively by welding. The armor plates are located at the lowest possible angles.

Massive hatches were made in the upper glacis and rear to make life easier for repair parts. This time, five pairs of rollers and an individual torsion bar suspension were used. The main weapon was a powerful 75 mm cannon. It was paired with a 7.62 mm Browning machine gun. Another similar machine gun was installed in the front of the tank. For the first time, 12.7 mm Browning M2HB began to be mounted on the roof. To make firing from a cannon more accurate, a hydraulic stabilizer of the Westinghouse system was used.

Medium tanks

These were the more reliable, better armored tanks of World War II. American vehicles in this category made a name for themselves thanks to the Sherman, which was also loved by our soldiers. According to veterans who fought in allied vehicles, it was a luxury T-34. However, first things first.

M3 "Grant"

It became the first medium tank to enter service en masse. The M3 Grant is often confused with the M3 Stuart. Of course, these American tanks (photos are in the article) belong to completely different classes. The main feature was the three-level (!) arrangement of weapons. In the sponson, on the lower tier, a 75 mm cannon was installed with a vertical guidance angle of 32 degrees.

On the second tier there is a turret with a 37 mm gun and a forward machine gun. The third level is represented by another turret with a machine gun, from which it was possible to effectively suppress both ground and air targets. Thus, the development of American tanks (as well as Soviet ones in their time) followed the path of increasing the number of turrets, but this direction was quickly recognized as erroneous.

To rotate the turret with a 37 mm gun, not only a mechanical, but also a hydraulic drive could be used. The gun was aimed vertically using only a mechanical drive. The sights are telescopic, observation devices are made according to a prismatic design. During manufacturing, casting, welding and riveting were used. The turret, sponson and the entire front section were cast.

As a result, these American tanks of World War 2 turned out to be extremely unconvincing: too weak armor, too high a height, poor placement of weapons, low performance of star aircraft engines (which were chronically in short supply).

Despite the huge amount of weapons, firepower in practical conditions turned out to be very low. In terms of weight, the vehicle was almost identical to the German Tigers, but in terms of combat effectiveness it was at the level of a light tank.

However, the tank was still produced en masse from 1939 to 1942, until it began to be massively replaced by the M4, the more successful tanks of World War II. American cars of this generation turned out to be much better.

M4 "Sherman"

The most popular medium American tank, which was used by both the Americans, the British and the Red Army. He was the last to go through Lend-Lease en masse. It was very different in layout and weapon system from previous vehicles. The layout and design of the power plant and suspension remained largely the same, since during the war it was necessary to maintain high production rates as much as possible. Perhaps it was the best American tank.

The chassis was completely copied from the M3. However, excluding the earliest types, the suspension bogies were still greatly changed: for example, the support rollers were now attached to the rear. The housings were made using welding and/or casting. The frontal part was assembled from welded and cast parts by welding, and a 75 mm caliber gun was installed in a turret, which was made exclusively by casting.

At first, these American tanks (photo above) were equipped with air-cooled Continental engines, but they were massively consumed by the aviation industry, and therefore the Americans constantly had to look for alternative types of engines. As a result, the number of serial modifications increased sharply. required a crew of five people. Among the domestic tankers who fought in this “foreign car”, the tank earned good reviews.

Tankers, in particular, liked the high-quality interior decoration and the supply of food (as well as whiskey and good cigarettes), which was packed into the car as a gift. Many lives were also saved by the viscous armor, which (unlike the T-34) did not crumble even when penetrated, which protected the crew from injury from flying pieces of scale.

Heavy tanks

Oddly enough, many military historians believe that American heavy tanks did not exist in principle. The same "Pershing", which was considered a heavy tank, was much inferior in weight to the German "Tiger". However, we had approximately the same situation. The answer is simple - the Wehrmacht classified armored vehicles by caliber, and the Americans and I classified them by their mass.

Tank M6

Production was limited to a small series in 1941 and 1942. It was armed with two guns at once: 76.2 mm and 37 mm guns, paired with each other. In addition, it was equipped with three. Four pairs of double small rollers were used in the chassis.

There were three modifications, the first of which had a hull made by casting, while later they switched exclusively to high-quality welding, which was not a feature of all World War II tanks. American vehicles in this regard were far superior to domestic armored vehicles.

Power transmissions of both hydromechanical and electrical types were used. The tower was made exclusively by casting. To balance the extremely awkward and unstable twin gun system, the rear of the turret had to be significantly lengthened. A commander's cupola was provided, as well as a mount for mounting an anti-aircraft machine gun.

For negotiations, a fairly high-quality walkie-talkie and an internal one created on its basis were used. In general, the design was clearly unsuccessful: the armament for this type of tank was weak, the armor was thin, and the height was too high. Therefore, in total, only 40 units of new equipment were produced, and the M26 was used as the “heavy” vehicles.

Tank M26 "Pershing"

These American World War II tanks were put into service in 1944. Initially they belonged to the class of heavy tanks (losing in all respects to German technology of this class), but due to insufficiently powerful weapons they were soon “demoted” to medium tanks. They weighed 41.5 tons. The body was welded and assembled from ready-made castings and parts. The bottom is trough-shaped. The front part of the body is made by casting and has a rational slope of the surfaces. The tower has an elongated shape, a commander's cupola and a mount for an anti-aircraft Browning are provided.

As for the chassis, a classic torsion bar suspension and six road wheels were used. It was the chassis that tankers greatly respected, as it turned out to be extremely reliable. The engine is a petrol eight-cylinder Ford, of the GAF-V type. Liquid cooling, transmission - hydromechanical. It provided the tank with a high acceleration rate and excellent smoothness.

The main weapon is a 90 mm M3 cannon, from which the armor-piercing weapon was fired at a speed of 810 m/s. It was additionally equipped with a pair of 7.62 mm machine guns, one of which was forward-facing, coaxial with a cannon. A 12.7 mm anti-aircraft machine gun was mounted on the turret. It had a quadrant-protractor, which allowed for fairly accurate shooting from closed positions. M26 managed to take part in the final stage of World War II. In total, about one and a half thousand cars were produced.

Current state of affairs

Modern American tanks have little in common with their predecessors. German specialists had a significant influence on their development. The current Abrams is distinguished by a high profile, massive armor and a large amount of armor space. Unlike tanks from World War II, it has rather rough shapes and powerful weapons, the basis of which is a 120 mm rifled gun. The main difference from its predecessors is the classic suspension and

Thus, modern American tanks are only slightly similar to their predecessors.

Armored vehicles Photo album part 2 Bryzgov V.

AMERICAN LIGHT TANK M3 "STEWART"

Developed in 1939. It was mass-produced since 1940. It was in service with the US Army and supplied to the USSR. Used in battles of the Second World War.

Tactical and technical characteristics

Weight, t. 12.7

Crew size, people 4

Overall dimensions (length x width x height), mm.. 4445x2465x2490

Armament

gun, pcs. 1

caliber, mm. .. 37

ammunition, 103 rounds

machine gun, pcs. 5

caliber, mm... 7.62

ammunition, cartridges... 14000

Armor protection, mm

body forehead.. .. 38

Engine power, hp 250

Maximum speed, km/h.48

Cruising range on the highway, km.. 130

Depth of water obstacles fordable, m 0.8

Design Features

The base is original.

General layout - the transmission is located in the bow of the hull, the power plant is located in the stern.

Armament - a cannon and a coaxial machine gun are equipped with a telescopic sight; two machine guns are located in the side niches of the hull; mechanical gun aiming mechanisms. Protection - the hull and turret are made of high and low hardness armor, the roof and bottom are made of non-armored steel; A manual fire extinguishing system has been installed.

Chassis – engine – seven-cylinder air-cooled star; transmission - a manual gearbox is connected to the engine by a driveshaft; rotation mechanism - double differential; spring suspension, blocked; the guide wheel is sprung; a radio station and a tank intercom were installed.

From the book History of the Tank (1916 – 1996) author Shmelev Igor Pavlovich

American light tank M3 "Stuart" The M3 light tank was a development of the M2A4. Increasing the thickness of the armor and, consequently, the mass required strengthening the chassis. A large diameter sloth was lowered to the ground to increase the length of the track's supporting surface. In the chassis

From the book Armored Vehicles Photo Album part 2 author Bryzgov V.

American light tank M5 Since July 1943, an improved version of the light tank M3, designated M5 (modifications M5 and M5A1), began to be produced. At first glance they looked like the M3, but received a new power train and engine, a slightly modified hull and turret,

From the author's book

American medium tank M3 In June 1940, the American command ordered the industry a new medium tank, which was a development of the low-volume M2 with enhanced armament and armor. Since there was no experience installing a 75-mm cannon in the turret, it was placed in the hull

From the author's book

American medium tank M48 Patgon III This tank, created in 1951, has a long backstory. Back in May 1941, the Americans decided to create a tank that would be stronger than the Sherman. In 1943–1944, prototypes of 30-ton tanks were built. One of them, T26EZ, in September 1944

From the author's book

American light tank M41 (Walker Bulldog) During the Korean War (1950 - 1953), the Americans used the light tank M24 (Chaffee) for reconnaissance, which was put into service in 1944 (combat weight 18 tons, 75 mm gun with an initial armor-piercing projectile speed of 620 m/s). The tank had very

From the author's book

American main battle tank M60 The new tank, created in 1959, was a development of the M48 tank and differed from it in armament, power plant and armor. Since 1960, it has been mass-produced by Chrysler. It retains the M48 layout, many components and parts of both

From the author's book

American light tank M551 Sheridan The need for an air-transportable tank led to the development of the T92 light tank by 1954. It had many interesting design solutions, but it turned out to be difficult to manufacture and did not enter service. Since the late 50s,

From the author's book

AMERICAN MEDIUM TANK M3 "General Lee" Developed in 1938. It was mass-produced since 1939. It was in service with the US Army and was supplied to the USSR. Used in battles of the Second World War and in regional conflicts. Tactical and technical characteristics mass, i.e.

From the author's book

AMERICAN LIGHT TANK M3 "STEWART" Developed in 1939. It was mass-produced since 1940. It was in service with the US Army and supplied to the USSR. Used in battles of the Second World War. Tactical and technical characteristics Weight, tons 12.7 Number of crew, people 4 Overall dimensions

From the author's book

AMERICAN MEDIUM TANK M 4A4 "SHERMAN" Developed in 1941. It was mass-produced since 1942. It was in service with the armies of the USA and Great Britain, and was supplied to the USSR; after 1945, it was in service with the armies of many states in Western Europe and Asia. Used in battles second

From the author's book

AMERICAN LIGHT TANK M-24 "CHAFFEE" Developed in 1943. It was mass-produced since 1944. It was in service with the armies of the USA, Canada, and Great Britain; after 1945 it was supplied to France, Italy, Turkey, Iran, and Japan. Used in battles of the Second World War. Tactical and technical

From the author's book

AMERICAN MEDIUM TANK M46 "PATTON-1" Developed in 1948. It was mass-produced from 1948 to 1952. Was in service with the US Army. Used in battles in Korea. Tactical and technical characteristics Weight, tons 44 Number of crew, people 5 Overall dimensions (length x width x height),

From the author's book

AMERICAN LIGHT TANK M 41 "WALKER BULLDOG" Developed in 1949. It was mass-produced since 1950. It was in service with the armies of the USA, Germany and the countries of the Middle East. Used in battles in South Vietnam and the Middle East. Tactical and technical characteristics Weight, t..

From the author's book

AMERICAN MAIN TANK M48A3 Developed in 1958. It was mass-produced from 1958 to 1964. It was in service with the US Army and the armies of other NATO countries, as well as Israel. Used in battles in South Vietnam and the Middle East. Tactics - technical characteristics Weight, i..

From the author's book

AMERICAN MAIN TANK M60A1 Developed in 1962. It was mass-produced from 1962 to 1980. It is in service with the armies of the USA, Iran, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, South Korea, Spain, and Turkey. Used in battles in South Vietnam and regional

From the author's book

AMERICAN MAIN TANK M 485A5 Developed in 1975. It was mass-produced from 1975 to 1980. It was in service with the US Army and the armies of other NATO countries, as well as Israel. Used in battles in the Middle East. Tactical and technical characteristics Weight, tons 47.6 Crew size,

Light tank M3 Stuart.

The tank was created in 1940 on the basis of the so-called “cavalry” M1 and light M2A4. The combat vehicle had the following layout: the power compartment is located in the rear part of the hull, the combat compartment and control compartment are in its middle part, the transmission and drive wheels are located in the bow. The chassis uses 4 small pairs of interlocked road wheels on board and sprung idler wheels. The hull and turret are made of rolled sheet armor by welding and riveting.

The tank's armament consisted of a 37 mm cannon coaxial with a 7.62 mm machine gun and three 7.62 mm machine guns mounted in the bow of the hull - two in the side compartments and one next to the driver. Fire control from the cannon and the coaxial machine gun was carried out using a telescopic sight; the gun's aiming mechanisms were mechanical. In addition to the basic model M3, its modifications M3A1 and M3A3 were produced. They had round turrets without a commander's cupola and were equipped with systems for stabilizing the gun in the vertical plane. On the latest modification of the M3A3, released in 1942, of the three bow machine guns, only the machine gun mounted next to the driver is retained. The body of this modification was already made with a rational slope armored sheets, mainly welding was used in its manufacture. Radio stations and intercoms were installed in cars of all modifications. M3 series tanks were used as the main armament of reconnaissance units. In 1943 the M3 was replaced in production

By the beginning of World War II, the American army had two types of light tanks. The infantry was armed with 292 tanks of the M2A2 and M2AZ modifications. These were double-turret vehicles with a 7.62 mm machine gun in one turret and a 12.7 mm machine gun in the other turret. Motorized cavalry units had 112 M1 and M1A1 combat vehicles in service. Exactly the same weapons were housed in one tower. Structurally similar tanks had the same chassis, which consisted of four road wheels on one side. Interlocked in pairs into two balancing trolleys, they were suspended on vertical buffer springs. The chassis was, perhaps, the main advantage of these, unremarkable and by 1939 quite outdated combat vehicles. Her performance was amazing! In November 1934, the T5 tank (prototype M1) made a test run from the Rock Island Arsenal to Washington, 1,450 km long. The average speed was 48 km/h! Starting on November 14, Captain T. Nixon and J. Proske reached Washington three days later, breaking all speed records for tracked vehicles. Subsequently, this chassis design was used on all American tanks until 1945. The fighting in Europe showed the futility of purely machine gun weapons, which forced the acceleration of the development of a new light tank with artillery weapons.

The first copies of the lightweight M2A4 rolled off the assembly line of the American Car and Foundry plant in May 1940. Its production ended in March 1941 after the production of 365 vehicles. Ten more were manufactured by Baldwin Locomotive Works in April 1942. The M2A4 carried features of both pre-war American tanks (archaic for 1940, for example, five primitive inspection hatches along the perimeter of the turret) and light combat vehicles of the Second World War. Without leaving a noticeable mark on the history of tank building, the M2A4 became an important milestone in the history of the American army. Its appearance coincided with the creation of tank forces of the US Army. This significant event occurred on July 10, 1940. The first commander was Brigadier General Adna Chaffee, and the headquarters remains at Fort Knox. On July 15, 1940, the formation of the 1st and 2nd tank divisions began, which were mainly armed with M2A4s. These formations became the first of sixteen American tank divisions formed during the Second World War. (Almost all allied tanks and self-propelled guns are shown in detail in the documentary "Allied Tanks")

M2A4 tanks were used mainly for training purposes. They only saw combat once - at the end of 1942 on the Pacific island of Guadalcanal as part of the 1st Marine Tank Battalion. The UK received four tanks under the Lend-Lease program.
Soon after the release of the first vehicles, the design of an improved version of the M2A4 began. The thickness of the armor was increased to 38 mm, which entailed an increase in weight to 12 tons. In order to somehow reduce the specific pressure, the sloth was placed on the ground. This solution made it possible to increase the stability of the machine. For more reliable protection of the power plant, the rear part of the hull was also redesigned.
The first prototype was created on the basis of the M2A4 at the Rock Island Arsenal, and on July 5, 1940 it was accepted into service under the designation “M3 light tank.” American Car and Foundry released the first production M3s in March 1941, immediately after the end of production of the M2A4.

Structurally, the new vehicle repeated its predecessors, incorporating a number of shortcomings inherent in American tanks of the 30s. Thus, its width was limited by the dimensions of the standard American floating bridge of the pre-war years. The high and short hull did not allow placing an artillery system with a caliber larger than 37 mm in the turret. Narrow tracks, borrowed from lighter vehicles, resulted in high specific pressure and limited maneuverability on soft soils.

The main advantages of the Stewart M3 tank include high operational reliability and excellent dynamic characteristics. The armament was also quite powerful, consisting of a 37-mm M6 cannon and five 7.62-mm Browning M1919A4 machine guns (one coaxial with a cannon, the second course-mounted, two in the side sponsons and one anti-aircraft).

During mass production, changes were constantly made to the design of the tank, mainly technological. Thus, the multifaceted riveted turret on early production vehicles gave way to a similar shaped but welded one, and then it was replaced by the so-called “horseshoe-shaped” turret, the side walls of which consisted of a single bent armor plate. On tanks of later production, the hull was assembled using partial welding. From the second half of 1941, a stabilizer was installed on the M3 for aiming a 37-mm cannon in the vertical plane.

In 1942, due to a shortage of standard Continental W670-9A gasoline aircraft engines, some tanks were produced with the Giberson T-1020-4 diesel engine. It should be noted that diesel tanks did not take root in the American army; they were used mainly for training purposes and were exported. In total, from March 1941 to August 1942, 5811 M3 tanks were produced, 1285 of them with diesel engines.

In April 1942, production of the M3A1 modification began. The commander's cupola was replaced with two triangular hatches. The machine guns in the sponsons were eliminated and additional ammunition was placed in their place. (As for M3 tanks, this was often carried out in the army.) Until August 1942, the M3A1 was produced in parallel with the M3. Its production ceased in February 1943; a total of 4,621 units were produced, of which 211 were diesel.

The M3 received its baptism of fire not under the American, but under the English flag. Of the 538 vehicles produced from April to June 1941, 280 were sent to North Africa, where the British 8th Army experienced an acute shortage of armored vehicles. In the British Army, the M3 (and later M5) series tanks were named “General Stewart” - in honor of the American general who commanded the Confederate cavalry during the American Civil War. Depending on the modification, the tanks were called: M3 - “Stuart I”, M3 (with diesel) - “Stuart II”, M3A1 - “Stuart III”, M3A1 (with diesel) - “Stuart IV”. The first Stuarts were received in July 1941 by the 8th Royal Irish Hussars. By November, all three regiments of the 4th Tank Brigade had American tanks. On November 18, 1941, eight kilometers from Gabr Saleh, the 8th Hussars and 5th Royal Tank Regiments of this brigade collided with the 5th German Tank Regiment. As a result, the British lost 11 and the Germans lost 7 vehicles. In December, the brigade was brought to the rear and some results were summed up. It turned out that during two months of intense combat operations, out of 166 “Stuarts” of the 4th Tank Brigade, only 12 units failed due to technical reasons. The British, who constantly struggled with their capricious tanks, were delighted. And in general they liked “Stuart”. In terms of armament, armor and maneuverability, the light American vehicle was in no way inferior to the British “heavy cruisers” A9, A10 and A13. The only thing that did not suit the British was the small power reserve. However, the next batches of Stuarts arriving in the UK were equipped with two additional fuel barrels. The English tank crews nicknamed “Stuart” in a soldierly rude and at the same time affectionate manner - “milky”

In the Royal Tank Corps, tanks of both modifications - M3 and M3A1 - were used mainly in North Africa and Burma until the end of 1943. In total, from 1941 to 1943, 1829 and 1594 M3 and M3A1 tanks were sent to the UK under Lend-Lease from the USA, respectively. During the same period, the Soviet Union received 1,676 M3A1 units.

The Stuarts' baptism of fire as part of the American army took place in the Philippines in December 1941. On December 22, five M3s from the US 192nd Tank Battalion encountered a group of Japanese Ha-Go tanks in the jungle. The result was disastrous: the Americans lost four vehicles. Subsequently, all the Stuarts in the Philippines were captured by the Japanese. In February 1945, they again fell into American hands.
As part of the 1st and 2nd Tank Divisions of the US Army, the M3 and M3A1 were used in 1942-1943 in North Africa, and as part of the tank battalions of the Marine Corps - until 1944 in the Pacific Islands. Moreover, the Marine Corps preferred tanks equipped with diesel engines.

Tactical and technical characteristics of the Stuart MZ
Combat weight, t 12,428
Crew, people 4
Length, mm 4531
Width, mm 2235
Height, mm 2515
Ground clearance, mm 420
Armor, mm 10-45
Speed ​​(on highway), km/h 48
Cruising range (on highway), km 113
Rise, deg. 35
Wall height, m ​​0.61
Ditch width, m 1.83
Fording depth, m 0.91
Engines
Option Type Model Quantity Power, hp
1 K "Continental" W670-9A, 7-cylinder, star-shaped, air-cooled, power 250 hp. With. at 2400 rpm 1,250
Armament
Option Type Caliber, mm Model Quantity Ammunition / 1
Gun 37 M5 1 103
Machine gun 7.62 "Browning" М1919А4 5 8270

Country of origin USA
Developer, American Car and Foundry
Number of copies released: 22743
Year of adoption 1941