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United States' M3A3 light tank12, Stuart

M3A3 Light Tank:
United States' M3A3 Light Tank
Aberdeen Tank Museum
M3A3 light tank12:
United States' M3A3 Light Tank
The American Arsenal
M3A3 light tank drawing12:
United States' M3A3 Light Tank drawing
The American Arsenal
 

Design

The M3A3 was standardized in August 1942, and classified as Limited Standard in April 1943.12

Had an improved turret with a bulge in the rear for the radio installed.10,12 Three additional periscopes are installed.

The 37 mm gun fired a 1.9 lb AP shell at a muzzle velocity of 2,900'/sec.10 The .30 cal MG fired at 2,800'/sec.10

The hull was redesigned with all welded one piece hull front.1,11,12 The front plate was extended which allowed for more room for storage and improved the safety for the driver and assistant driver.11 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.10 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.12

Production

Phased out of production in 1943.

  M3A3 (Stuart V), M3A3 light tank12
Crew Commander, gunner, driver, co-driver.3
42,3,4,10,12
Radio SCR-24512
Physical Characteristics  
Weight 12.3 tons4
29,700 lb10, 31,752 lb3,12
Length w/gun 14' 10"10, 16' 6"3,4,12
4.53 m2
Length w/o gun  
Height 7' 6.5"3,4,12, 8' 8"10
Width 7' 4", 8' 3"3,4,10,12
2.46 m2
Width over tracks  
Ground clearance 16.5"10,12
0.42 m2
Ground contact length 116"10, 117"12
Ground pressure 10.4 psi10, 10.47 psi12
Turret ring diameter 46.75"12
Armament  
Main 37 mm M5 or M6 L/561
37 mm L/562
37 mm M53,12
37 mm4
37 mm M6, gyrostabilized10
OR 37 mm M63,12
Secondary  
MG 3: MG4
3: .30 cal Browning MGs3
MG - coaxial 1: .30 cal M1919A4 MG10
1: .30 cal Browning MG12
MG - hull 1: .30 cal M1919A4 MG10
1: .30 cal Browning MG12
MG - antiaircraft 1: .30 cal M1919A4 MG10
1: .30 cal Browning MG12
Side arms 1" .30 cal M2 tripod mount12
1" .45 cal submachine gun12
12: Hand grenades10,12
Quantity  
Main 1743,10,12
Secondary  
MG 7,50010,12, 6,400-8,2703
Side arms .45: 500 - 540, 54012
Grenades: 12 (4: Fragmentation Mk II, 2: Offensive Mk IIIA2, 4: Smoke WP M15, 2: Thermite Incendiary)12
Armor Thickness (mm) 103, 513
Hull Front, Upper 1.5"12, 1.5"@0°10, 1" - 1.5"4
38.12
Hull Front, Lower 5/8" - 1.75"12
Hull Sides, Upper 1"12, 1"@0°10
25.42
Hull Sides, Lower 1"12
Hull Rear 1"12, 1"@0°10
25.42
Hull Top 3/8"12
9.52
Hull Bottom 3/8" - 0.5"12
6.4 - 12.72
Turret Front 1.5"12, 1.5"@0°10
38.1 m2
Turret Sides 1.25"12, 1.25"@0°10
25.42
Turret Rear 1.25"12, 1.25"@0°
25.42
Turret Top 0.5"12, 0.5"@90°
9.52
Engine (Make / Model) Continental Wright2, Continental W-6703, Continental4, Continental W670-A10
OR Guiberson T10203, Guiberson T1020-410,12
Bore / stroke  
Cooling Air2,4,10
Continental: Air12
Guiberson: Air12
Cylinders Radial4, 72
Continental: Radial 710,12
Guiberson: Radial 910,12
Capacity  
Net HP 250@2,400 rpm2, 2504
Continental: 25010, 250@2,400 rpm12
Guiberson: 18510 , 220@2,200 rpm12
Power to weight ratio  
Compression ratio  
Transmission (Type) Synchromesh10
5 forward, 1 reverse2,10
Gear ratios - 1st gear 5.37:112
- 2nd gear 2.82:112
- 3rd gear 1.72:112
- 4th gear 1.09:112
- 5th gear 0.738:112
- reverse 6.19:112
Steering Controlled differential10
Steering ratio  
Starter  
Electrical system 12 volt12
Ignition  
Fuel (Type) Gasoline2
Guiberson: Diesel10,12
Continental: Gasoline10,12
Octane 8012
Cetane 5012
Quantity 54 gallons, 102 gallons12
151 liters2
Road consumption  
Cross country consumption  
Performance  
Traverse 360°3,10
Manual and hydraulic10
Max speed 31 mph10, 34 mph4, 36 mph3,12
57.9 kph2
Cross country speed 15 - 20 mph4, 20 mph3
Road radius 70 miles3,12, 125 miles10, 135 miles
120 km2
Cross country radius  
Turning radius 21'12
13 m2
Elevation limits -10° to +20°3
Fording depth 3'3,12, 3' 4"10
0.9 m2
Trench crossing 6'3,12, 7'10
Vertical obstacle 2'3,10
Climbing ability 30° slope10, 60%12
Suspension (Type) Vertical volute and trailing idler.3
Volute Springs2,12
Vertical volute springing10
Wheels each side 42
2 double wheeled bogies10
Wheel size 20x612
Return rollers each side 210, 3
Tracks (Type)  
Length Steel, rubber blocks and rubber bushed track pins10, Rubber block12
Width 11 5/8"10,12
295 mm2
Diameter  
Number of links 6610, 132 or 13412
Pitch 5.5"10,12
Tire tread Rubber10
Track centers/tread 6' 1"10,12

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. -
  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
  12. The American Arsenal, 1996
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