Tankopedia
WW2LightLight TankUnited States

M3 Stuart

In service 1941 - 1950s

Fast, reliable American light tank that British crews nicknamed the Honey.

Built byAmerican Car and Foundry

M3 Stuart
Stuart at Tankfest 2023 — Geni, via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

Development history

Mechanically excellent and far more dependable than contemporary British light tanks, the Stuart was quickly outgunned but stayed in service for reconnaissance right to 1945. Thousands went to Britain, the Soviet Union and China under Lend-Lease, and post-war examples soldiered on in South America and Asia for decades.

Variants

One canonical record, 3 recorded variants.

  1. M3

    1941

    Riveted hull, twin sponson machine guns.

  2. M3A1

    1942

    Power turret traverse, gyrostabiliser, sponson guns deleted.

  3. M3A3

    1943

    Welded sloped hull with more fuel and better vision.

Notable actions

  • Operation Crusader 1941
  • Guadalcanal 1942
  • Italy 1943-1945