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United States' M3A3 light tank, Stuart
M3A3 Light Tank: Aberdeen Tank Museum |
Design
Standardized in August 1942, and classified as Limited Standard in April 1943.
Had an improved turret with a bulge in the rear for the radio installed.10 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 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.
Production
Phased out of production in 1943.
| M3A3 (Stuart V) | |
|---|---|
| Crew | Commander, gunner, driver, co-driver.3 42,3,4,10 |
| Physical Characteristics | |
| Weight | 12.3 tons4, 14.4 tons6 29,700 lb10, 31,752 lb3 |
| Length w/gun | 14' 10"10, 16' 6"3,4 4.53 m2, 5.03 m6 |
| Length w/o gun | |
| Height | 7' 6.5"3,4, 8' 8"10 2.29 m6 |
| Width | 7' 4", 8' 3"3,4,10 2.46 m2, 2.51 m6 |
| Width over tracks | |
| Ground clearance | 16.5"10 0.42 m2 |
| Ground contact length | 116"10, 117" |
| Ground pressure | 10.4 psi10 |
| 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 37 mm M6, gyrostabilized10 |
| Secondary | |
| MG | 3: MG4 3: .30 cal Browning MGs3 3: .30 cal M1919A4 MG, coaxial, hull, AA10 |
| Side arms | .30 cal M2 tripod mount .45 cal submachine gun 12: Hand grenades10 |
| Quantity | |
| Main | 1743,10 |
| Secondary | |
| MG | 7,50010, 6,400-8,2703 |
| Side arms | .45: 500-540 Grenades: 12 |
| Armor Thickness (mm) | 103, 513 Front: 376 Side: 256 |
| Hull Front, Upper | 1.5" (1.75"), 1.5"@0°10 1" - 1.5"4 38.12 |
| Hull Front, Lower | 5/8-1.75" (1.75-3") |
| Hull Sides, Upper | 1"@0°10 25.42 |
| Hull Sides, Lower | |
| Hull Rear | 1"@0°10 25.42 |
| Hull Top | 3/8" 9.52 |
| Hull Bottom | 3/8-0.5" 6.4 - 12.72 |
| Turret Front | 1.5" (1.75"), 1.5"@0°10 38.1 m2 |
| Turret Sides | 1.25"@0°10 25.42 |
| Turret Rear | 1.25"@0° 25.42 |
| Turret Top | 0.5"@90° 9.52 |
| Engine (Make / Model) | Continental Wright2 Continental W-670 OR Guiberson T1020.3 Continental radial4 Guiberson T1020-410 Continental W670-A10 |
| Bore / stroke | |
| Cooling | Air2,4,10 |
| Cylinders | 72 Continental: R-710 Guiberson: R-910 |
| Capacity | |
| Net HP | 2502 @ 2,400 rpm2 2504,6 Continental: 25010 Guiberson: 18510 |
| Power to weight ratio | |
| Compression ratio | |
| Transmission (Type) | Synchromesh10 5 forward, 1 reverse2,10 |
| Steering | Controlled differential10 |
| Steering ratio | |
| Starter | |
| Electrical system | |
| Ignition | |
| Fuel (Type) | Gasoline2 Guiberson: Diesel10 Continental: Gasoline10 |
| Octane | |
| Quantity | 54 gallons 151 liters2 102 gallons |
| Road consumption | |
| Cross country consumption | |
| Performance | |
| Traverse | 360°3,10 Manual and hydraulic10 |
| Max speed | 31 mph10, 34 mph4, 36 mph3 57.9 kph2, 60 kph6 |
| Cross country | 15 - 20 mph4, 20 mph3 |
| Road radius | 70 miles3, 125 miles10, 135 miles 120 km2 |
| Cross country radius | |
| Turning radius | 21' 13 m2 |
| Elevation limits | -10° to +20°3 |
| Fording depth | 3'3, 3' 4"10 0.9 m2 |
| Trench crossing | 6'3, 7'10 |
| Vertical obstacle | 2'3,10 |
| Climbing ability | 30° slope10 |
| Suspension (Type) | Vertical volute and trailing idler.3 Volute Springs2 Vertical volute springing10 |
| Wheels each side | 42 2 double wheeled bogies10 |
| Return rollers each side | 210, 3 |
| Tracks (Type) | |
| Length | Steel, rubber blocks and rubber bushed track pins10 |
| Width | 11 5/8"10 295 mm2 |
| Diameter | |
| Number of links | 6610 |
| Pitch | 5.5"10 |
| Tire tread | Rubber10 |
| Track centers/tread | 6' 1"10 |
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 Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II, Chris Bishop, 1998
- Jane's World War II Tanks and Fighting Vehicles The Complete Guide, Leland Ness, 2002
- Tanks of World War II, Duncan Crow, 1979
- Battle Winning Tanks, Aircraft & Warships of World War II, David Miller, 2000
- Tank Data, Aberdeen Proving Grounds Series, 1968?
- Tank Data 2, Aberdeen Proving Grounds Series, E. J. Hoffschmidt and W. H. Tantum IV, 1969
- Airfix Magazine Guide #26 American Tanks of World War 2, Terry Gander and Peter Chamberlain, 1977
