M3 Stuart - Variants - US Variants

US Variants

• M3 (British designation "Stuart I"). 5,811 vehicles were produced.

1,285 M3s had Guiberson diesel installed and were called "Stuart II" by British.

Late production M3s were fitted with turret developed for M3A1, though without turret basket. These tanks were dubbed "Stuart Hybrid".

• M3A1 (Stuart III). 4,621 were produced from May 1942 to February 1943.

New turret with turret basket and no cupola. Gun vertical stabilizer installed. Sponson machine guns were removed.

M3A1s with Guiberson diesel were called "Stuart IV" by British.

• M3A3 (Stuart V). 3,427 produced.

Put into production to integrate hull improvements brought by the M5 into the M3 series. Turret with rear overhang to house radio. Welded hull with sloped armor, 20° in from the vertical, on front and sides.

• M5 (Stuart VI). 2,075 produced.

Twin Cadillac engines. Redesigned hull similar to M3A3, but with vertical sides and raised engine deck. Turret as for M3A1.

• M5A1 (Stuart VI). 6,810 produced.

M5 with the turret of the M3A3; this was the major variant in US units by 1943.

• 75mm Howitzer Motor Carriage M8. 1,778 units produced.

Based on M5 chassis. The gun was replaced with the 75 mm M2/M3 howitzer in open turret and a trailer hook was fitted so an ammunition trailer could be towed. Provided fire support to cavalry reconnaissance squadrons.

• 75mm Howitzer Motor Carriage M8A1.

M8 HMC variant based on M5A1 chassis.

• T18 75 mm Howitzer Motor Carriage.

Self-propelled gun based on M3 chassis. 75 mm M1A1 pack howitzer was mounted in a boxy superstructure. The project started in September 1941 and was abandoned in April 1942. Only two were produced, 75 mm Howitzer Motor Carriage M8 was chosen to be produced instead.

• T82 Howitzer Motor Carriage.

Self-propelled 105 mm howitzer based on M5A1 chassis. Canceled in 1945.

• T56 3in Gun Motor Carriage.

Self-propelled gun based on M3A3 chassis. The engine was moved to the middle of the hull and a 3-inch gun was mounted in a superstructure in the rear. The project started in September 1942 and was abandoned in February 1943.

• T57 3in Gun Motor Carriage.

Variant of T56 with Continental engine of the Medium Tank M3. Also dropped in February 1943.

• T27 / T27E1 81 mm Mortar Motor Carriage.

M5A1 with turret replaced by superstructure in which an 81 mm mortar was installed. Also carried .50 cal Browning M2HB machine gun. The project was abandoned in April 1944 because of inadequate crew and storage space.

• T29 4.2in Mortar Motor Carriage.

Design similar to T27, with 4.2 inch (107 mm) mortar. Was abandoned for the same reason.

• T81 Chemical Mortar Motor Carriage

M5A1-based 4.2 inch (107 mm) chemical mortar carrier.

• M3 with Maxson Turret.

Anti-aircraft variant developed in 1942. Was armed with four .50 cal. machine guns in a turret developed by Maxson Corp. The project was rejected because of the availability of the M16 MGMC.

• 40 mm Gun Motor Carriage T65.

Anti-aircraft vehicle based on lengthened M5A1. Was armed with Bofors 40 mm gun. Was ordered into production, but on Light Tank M24 chassis, so became the M19 Gun Motor Carriage.

• 20 mm Multiple Gun Motor Carriage T85.

Anti-aircraft vehicle based on same chassis as T65 (M5A1). Was armed with quad Oerlikon 20 mm cannons.

• M3/M5 Command Tank.

M3/M5 with turret replaced by small superstructure with a .50 cal. machine gun.

• T8 Reconnaissance Vehicle.

M5 with turret removed and mounting for .50 cal machine gun.

M3 with T2 Light Mine Exploder'.

Developed in 1942, was rejected.

• M3/M3A1 with Satan Flame-gun.

Ronson flamethrower installed instead of the main gun. 20 tanks were converted for US Marine Corps in 1943.

• M5A1 with E5R1-M3 Flame Gun.

Flame thrower was installed instead of the hull machine gun.

• M3A1 with E5R2-M3 Flame-gun.

Flame thrower was installed in place of hull machine gun.

• M5 Dozer.

M5 with dozer blade. Turret was usually removed.

• M5 with T39 Rocket Launcher.

T39 launcher with 20 7.2" rockets mounted on the top of the turret. Never reached production.

• M5A1 with E7-7 Flame Gun.

Flame thrower was installed instead of the main gun.

• M5A1 with E9-9 Flame-throwing equipment.

Prototype only.

• M5A1 with E8 Flame-gun.

Turret replaced by boxy superstructure with flame thrower in a smaller turret. Prototype only.