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United States' M3A1 light tank, Stuart

M3A1 Light Tank with a diesel engine:
United States' M3A1 Light Tank with a diesel engine
Aberdeen Tank Museum 		M3A1 Light Tank
United States' M3A1 Light Tank drawing
Aberdeen Tank Museum 		   

Design

Standardized in August 1941. Started production in April 1942.7 Declared obsolete in July 1943.

Had gyrostabilizer installed and a turret basket11 with seats for the commander and gunner.7 Cupola was removed from new turret design.1,7,1 A periscope with 360° traverse was installed in the turret roof.

Riveted hulls in early production and then replaced by welded hulls.11

The US Marine Corps requested the tanks have diesel engines installed and approximately 500 had radial air-cooled engines installed.

An improved radio and interphone system was installed.

Armament

Sponson machine guns removed.1,7,11 This allowed for more ammunition storage.7

The Combination Gun Mount, M23, was installed. It had a periscopic sight.

The muzzle velocity of the 37 mm gun AP ammunition was 2,600'/sec and weighed 1.9 lb.9

Variants

  M3A1 (Stuart III) M3A1 (Diesel) (Stuart IV)
Crew Commander, gunner, driver, co-driver.3
41,2,3,4,5,9,11 		49
Physical Characteristics    
Weight 28,500 lb3,11
12.2 tons8, 12.7 tons1,4, 14.3 tons9
12,400 kg8, 12,927 kg1,5,11 		14.3 tons9
Length w/gun 14.8'9, 14' 10"1,4, 14' 10.75"3,5,11
4.54 m1,5,11 		14.6'9
Length w/o gun    
Height 7.5'9, 7' 6"4, 7' 6.5"3,5,11, 7' 7"1
2.299 m11, 2.3 m1,5 		7.7'9
Width 7.3'9, 7' 4"1,3,4,5,11
2.22 m1, 2.235 m11, 2.24 m5 		7.3'9
Width over tracks    
Ground clearance 15"9, 16.5"
0.42 m2 		16.5"9
Ground contact length 116"9, 117" 116"9
Ground pressure 10.56 psi, 10.6 psi9 10.6 psi9
Turret ring diameter 46.75"  
Armament    
Main 37 mm M5 or M6 L/561
37 mm L/562
37 mm M5 or M63
37 mm4,5,11
37 mm QF M6 L/53 9 		37 mm9
Secondary    
MG 4: MG4,11
3: 7.62 mm MG1
3: .30 cal Browning MGs3
2: .30 cal MG9 		.30 cal M1919A59
2: .30 cal M1919A49
MG - coaxial 1: .30 cal Browning M1919A4
1: 7.62 mm MG5 		 
MG - hull 1: .30 cal Browning M1919A4
1: 7.62 mm MG5 		 
MG - sponson 2: 7.62 mm MG5  
MG - antiaircraft 1: 7.62 mm MG5  
Side arms .30 cal M2 tripod mount
.45 cal submachine gun
Hand grenades		 .45 1928A1 Submachine gun9
Quantity    
Main 1139, 1163,11 1069
Secondary    
MG 5,1509, 6,400-8,2703, 8,27011 7,2209
Side arms .45: 500-540
Grenades: 12		 3509
Armor Thickness (mm) 15 - 435
103, 513
Front: 1.5"9,11
Front: 3811
Side: 1"9,11
Side: 25.411 		Front: 1.5"9
Side: 1"9
Hull Front, Upper 1.5" (1.75")
1" - 1.5"4
38.12 		 
Hull Front, Lower 5/8-1.75" (1.75-3")  
Hull Sides, Upper 1"@0°
25.42 		 
Hull Sides, Lower    
Hull Rear 1"@0°
25.42 		 
Hull Top 3/8"
9.52 		 
Hull Bottom 3/8-0.5"
6.4 - 12.72 		 
Turret Front 1.5"9,11 (1.75")
Mantlet: 1"9
3811, 38.12 		1.5"9
Mantlet: 1"9
Turret Sides 1.25"@0°, 1.25"9
25.42 		1.25"9
Turret Rear 1.25"@0°
25.42 		 
Turret Top 0.5"@90°
9.52 		 
Engine (Make / Model) Guiberson T1020-4 OR Continental W-670.1,6
Continental Wright2
Continental W-670 OR Guiberson T1020.3
Continental W-970-9A, radial 5
Continental radial4
Continental W670-9a, radial 9 		Guiberson Buda T-1020 Series 49
Bore / stroke   4-cycle9
Cooling Air2,4,9 Air9
Cylinders 72,5,9 R-99
Capacity    
Net HP 250@2,400 rpm2,9
2504,5,11 		22011
Power to weight ratio    
Compression ratio    
Transmission (Type) Synchromesh9
5 forward, 1 reverse2,9 		Synchromesh9
5 forward, 1 reverse9
Steering   Controlled differential9
Steering ratio    
Starter   Electric9
Electrical system   12-volt9
Ignition   Injection9
Fuel (Type) Gasoline2,5 Diesel9
Octane    
Quantity 54 gallons9
151 liters2 		50 gallons9
Road consumption   1.5 mpg9
Cross country consumption    
Performance    
Traverse 360°3, hydraulic
hand9 		Oilgear hydraulic9
Max speed 34 mph4,9, 36 mph1,3,5,11
58 kph1,5, 60 kph11 		37 mph9
Cross country 15 - 20 mph4,9, 20 mph3,11
32 kph11 		15-20 mph9
Road radius 70 miles1,3,5,1, 124 miles9
112.6 km5,11, 113 km1 		84 miles9
Cross country radius 100 miles9  
Turning radius 21'
13 m2 		 
Elevation limits -10° to +20°3  
Fording depth 3'3,5, 42"9
0.9 m2, 0.91 m5 		42"9
Trench crossing 6'3,5
1.83 m5 		6'9
Vertical obstacle 2'3,5
0.61 m5 		24"9
Climbing ability 26° (50%) slope9 26° (50%) slope9
Suspension (Type) Vertical volute and trailing idler.3
Volute Springs2
Vertical volute spring, 2 double wheel bogies9 		Bogies bolted to the hull, support the vehicle on vertical volute springs9
Wheels each side 42 49
Return rollers each side 29, 3 39
Tracks (Type)    
Length    
Width 11 5/8"11, 11.6"9
0.295 m2,11 		11.5"9
Diameter    
Number of links   679
Pitch   5.5"9
Tire tread   Rubber9
Track centers/tread 6.1'9, 6' 1"11
1.854 m11 		6.1'9

Sources:

  1. 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
  2. Panzer Truppen The Complete Guide to the Creation and Combat Employment of Germany's Tank Force 1933-1942, Thomas L. Jentz, 1996
  3. 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
  4. Tanks of the World, 1915-1945, Peter Chamberlain, Chris Ellis, 1972
  5. The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II, Chris Bishop, 1998
  6. Jane's World War II Tanks and Fighting Vehicles The Complete Guide, Leland Ness, 2002
  7. Tanks of World War II, Duncan Crow, 1979
  8. Battle Winning Tanks, Aircraft & Warships of World War II, David Miller, 2000
  9. Tank Data, Aberdeen Proving Grounds Series, 1968?
  10. Tank Data 2, Aberdeen Proving Grounds Series, E. J. Hoffschmidt and W. H. Tantum IV, 1969
  11. Airfix Magazine Guide #26 American Tanks of World War 2, Terry Gander and Peter Chamberlain, 1977
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