STUART A History of the American Light Tank Volume | By R.P. Hunnicutt STUART A History of the American Light Tank Volune | wy RO oaalext Lice Drawings Color Dessiog ® DP. Dyer Uwe Res Brera ty Colonal lames H. Tach BC, TS. Amy (Rated * PRESIDIO CONTENTS Foroserd 4 Isrodueton « TART I EARLY DEVELOPMENT OF THE LIGHT TANK 7 ‘Wocld War = and Festvar Modifiations we ’ New Light Tank Designs... an Light Laake and Combat Cats ss PARE Ul LIGHT TANKS FOR WORLD WAX If 1 Preparation fat Wat oe cece ee oe 1s Light Tank MBAS... anne 1s Tight Tank M3 Serie. DIU ca Tight Tank M3 Series. ote cetetsceeees nevi mm Tight Tank T? Serie Receive fe 199 ight Tanke TB, TH6, and TE Hive, 2 Light Tanks TEE, MD ans TEL TOIL aa ‘Aisborn> Tanks srcees BL PART II SPECIALIZED LIGHT ARMORFD VRHICLES Amtibian Tanks and ‘Tank Descyers st SelPropelled Artillery a ‘Antiancraft Vehicles ur Flotation and Deep Watee Tending Equipment +0 Recovery an Engiceer Vellcles 368 Flan ‘Those. Vehicles. mm ‘hacked Canien, time Movers, Cor-tand and Reconraissanes: Vohieles 381 PART IV LIGHT TANKS IN ACHION 0... cores 389 Deer Bulles Bary Opersions Again: the Zepangie Nocth Aftia, Sie y ane Tely Nazthowe Bheope ard Ai 6 the Seviet Uain Diol Offensive CChise-Burm:-Irein Viera Toreign Modi Coneanion PART ¥ REFERENCE DATA 455 Colon Seti: 437 Procuvion aid Lenl-Lease Data ast Wehice Dace Sheets =.» 465, Weapum Dita Suse. crate 498 Reload Boag ses soci 508 det ss ves eee 500 ACKNOWT. ‘The tesearch fr ht book has estrada 02” tha Fant ‘hit sears parallel with “as sé he mel 346 main beats rnk devslopm.e. Aa with the eze:s: Books inthis sete the oo ection af th ats Colonsl Robe Take ws Aveuasle seus of material, prricully fe: due tacks Trder tm Nhrk: aur Tl, His callestion is now int ibrezy (the Prtan Museur: at Fort Keox, Kecrasky Woh Pandy, ‘David Hel, aed Charcs Ter os f the Patou Museum ‘sere percilirly pfu in Lacing kota data and photo jgiuphs tt tke Museums colleedoa. Some serv of his book cowl! nan have beem site without tasitenes. Major Falck Je Cooney and Jon T. Ciemens Dt Armor Magaz:ze glee wsz> belpfil in abtaning pto- raps o€ semi of Te ear y ar Trot woul Lie io anes my thanks to Colonel James Leach who agreed "9 wtte tke foreont thr this eae is comments ov hia sary service wilh the M20 and M3 Hpk uaks were asveme.y useful. De. Noris Perkins vas tae sours of many prowmgrep=s 0" the ea'y while is service a aan fcc ur ng Ue [ution a trains ‘ng ofthe S2..nal Auuncted Division provided the basis {ete exellent book "Rll Again Second Armare This ‘coe andeulsely the nest anures ou is ealy aang svith 2 M2M uid MB light tane: in the U.S. Ary Teennia, doaile of the site tank MIO'7 eo Fs pontu- tion beckgraind came Frm Hayes Otoupalik wos done tensive “eel wi Oh. vehi > provided the Shotographs showing ths “en: in production, Male Wisin Salsa deerined many of tc pec ens Ut lc to be over- Some aafne the Wis ached preductier. These were included m his superb Watery ofthe World War 1 Tank Corps “Tees “Em Rewgh DGEMENTS Rey Hamilton and Jacques Litlef 14 tasked down etal of the M13 and MS Tigh ram: aris to plete Ue dota sheets om thee veces. Leon Burg of =3> Technical Library at the Tank Automatics Commané (TACOM) Toealed mumerous parts onthe drwelapmet pyran dui= ing World War Ue Ondmawe MUseuzn at Aberdeen Plawing Ground also vas a ye-uadle senmee ef nforma tioa, De, Willan Atsctsr, Amand Pramcini, nul Alan “illingar aril: material eaves 0 C= comapleton of this book ‘Obla:ning color phorozraphs of te early ligt tasks precertd slfizll poi. Froe Pecne a the Nationa Avclives -1 Washington, D.C, wrs estromaly alpful in Jnceing the eeloe photographs included an th book Tn Erglane, Deval Ellen and Gecrge Forty 67th Tne [Museo a ovingtoz. Camp fund merous phi:carapt: and docur-anis pot ving the Amer Lyht tks [2 Frid servic, Akiicial valuable ifoematon em rer (Mike Wilss at the Inpecial War Museurr in London ‘As uaa, “he fone view devas wer peya:23 by Ph Dyer ond the dustjacket glowing was the woe of Uo Fest, Alan Mil.avand IIMS Typoprarty were « ges he.p in the final assemiby ofthe tex ana pow capi. ther ene aur included: BIUBeasley and The: Fre Aunoied Division Asoeiatcn, lars D. Berry, Henry ‘Gardiner, Lstseert Colonel Blmer iy, Mati Gen Colne! ED. Aeileag, Colone! GLB, Jarrea. Roach Tes- se, Donald |, Loughia, Jim Mesio, Brigicer General Tat MeD. Robinen, Michael Rovers, Brigade: G. ‘Mast and Ria, Willits Wagner, General C2. Whi, 1 feuant Catone. George Wither, Readall W/aew, Charles Vust, and Seven Zaloga. FOREWORD CCofovel Janes M. Leush BSC U.S Army (Retired) Those asovates and veterans oF “gt nero, so marines, engireers—desigoet, anc hisodans wil ree ssthey pore through these pages of Dik livanicut = most te the hiarical ans af ts Ameri- His teaimanial to the Stuar: tar: and related ayeterss 5 one of cis most eun-prebensive rnd ficult 0 date, because of tz wide vartance of combat aid wombat sup Pst wehictes sidied, devsloped, of Fede since trond War 1. Thousands of hours of research and study of hundreds of photographs, cos-mentatvi, draw ings and inwerviews with many elder and rapsly passing pioneers inhe endesvr. hus obviously 9207 challenging as. [My own exposure fo ight tanks Sega ine perl 19 dune 1986 thrgh December 941. T served as BOG-bow funne, achize yumer ard nk enmmiw=ron the MZA2 Mac West” light sak, which moved uae euiber 59 and two Browning caliser 30 machine guns, My unt, the Ihre tank Battalion stationed a Bret Bening, Georgia ‘ws equippoe with ese tanks, as vs the Ht Tank Com amy a1 Schevield Farricks, Hawai, when the Japanese tacked on 7 Deceraber 10 Nine days tater, the 13a tankers, weequipped with suapeuver worn M3 ight aks repossessed ‘tom the 2nd Armored Division, wete on a troop tai headed west 0 San Francisco's Angel Island. The 2c Acmeved Division's ‘nuzarce perenrsl, in omer ineprome the comsit read fess ofthese anes, ests 4» anerably fine to rplnce Some of the eagincs and tracks om the Mie, Realy ler combar se were not! Por sample, we other oercoemissioned officers ait myself, plus a Prints First (Css Yolunese from the 2nd Armored Divisio, wee te foul tankers an eu company sho had eer fied te ek’: ‘ine: gun, mus’ Jess trained om i. Ths stunt fore ‘most in ind, we set up an “om tank" irs.ning pregram wile onthe selling ums. We meved our eres rer the flatcars to cur tanks fs a eras Lebaron couse on the ten and th: 27m gen ‘Ten days oF 90 later, wie our $.8. President Teylor lowed westward own the Pil opines, Wo rein foree ou Ser unis the 2nd and the eth Light Tak Bataiers (athe scuiebutt went). we wene afew et Te the sum Uns on some of the tanks positioned eu the ships open kok. Me discovered 1h tur dismay that several of tae 35 would not rem te battery tur secs shot, When she Ut Mert inta "ces, the gun shtekd dropped just enagh to bind sie tube, reversing s rete to betisty—and {9 think we vere eure to was. Lae, we en sped the Zoe inthe gun sisi hur ts wa a> ordnance job. Pechaps Ged wan wilh a6 rir we weve to land "poecefully” at Hore‘ulu karbor on 7 January 1843, exactly one ton: follow:rg che surprise attack, We we:e Ur seinforee the Hrmatian defense forces alg withthe ith Tank Company. Subseyuenily,Iessons ofthe Pailpoinc and North Asi= ean eamparans sey resulted a the ‘oongizai of ou ight 27k hatslions io medium >atalioss, These ‘quipped wilh Lee M's Sharman uns cemapenies ene one corepany of ight tacks using M3, 65, oF MA nk. Their role £5 fighting vehicle was changed 1o that of tecim nasoance, scout, Mink und wanes poand, econ of foree and escort where they sade ma or eesti alirs the success of our world-wide armor operali:, Former tiers, Army Chief of Stiff Gordon Sullsan and Colonel Harry Summers both ned he near tragedy with he cmploy-nento light fant an ig aks dat ing she Korea: War. isk Boece Smith ofthe 24th [-Fan- tty Divisio: rushed fiom Japan along witk ight M24 CChafice rks fom the 78 Heavy fin nae aly) Lk al Ialios and Sie 24h Recomnaissines Cenypeny were 10 match forthe North Kereans equipped wit Russian made TH tanks. The TM had suecesstuly stood saint the famous German Punter urn Work’ War T. According tb Colonel Su=r, the rapid ara four MH Sher Mf Persvings end M46 Patton, aong with the 3.5 inc, nttank 1oc80l, sou self tne sation ‘One a the urderving times ct this book highlights the oin.ag effet andl sidy by our Aras branch board, ‘borateres and indus lism Work War [tothe presont Their unrelenting goal is, and has bee>, t desiga ui {develop for xs fare, a8 they impor upon existing eh <lesand weapon stems for Ue salty and sucecss ofthe Cerin, che diversity of our inéustrial base fas met ane continigs 0 soe. Las elullenge. Who would have dreamed, fer ckar-pey shat che Uoited Shoe Machinery Corporation would develop and produce Quad-5) aut aircraft guns, tat the Sandard Oil Development and CF Bram Companies would tke he (sad in lane tower deyelupmeni. pr het Firestone would atemnp upgua tie (MG igh ank tc mouat a Sim howicer, or thar T Walter Christie, forever -e iowa in combat veces. would estan gromsman snd never the gree, Dozens of Fitle known und ay unknown compan priced ina ytd of programs in thew overall it to gi our oops the heat sfster's cure tesa eau deliver, They stil do. Im (is publication, Dick Ieanieutt once again has sexzuableda superb back is rhe user, despre, develope, prosuce=and historian cas use vou contin effoe 19 por st pau ee wha act [nt ‘Artzored Forzes—the Combined Aras Te INTRO ian tanks go ina hale ere "eu Tak asl George 8. ‘Renault Mla17, ines the Uniter Size Avuyy at net imo fac ne mink oft wan, AU bor:>. a cas” program Was nls ay W produce an Amrssican wees othe Rewault Bowever Ine ae oF prparedness x Uwe United States aolayee the progrsct and nea and hustlites, esp a musshee expeneitor and mienzy, Adie 749 ur O52 of the American Fur RonacTes were cnapleted aad designated first as the six- fon seta. tractor en Tater as the cv eo tank MIS, Tk ont sued to acewe inthe Tia Stas yan the mid 128s, The objective af le volume it trae he develop 1 hig of ths Areca ight nk foe: the pric flan and saaiiacion ofthe Prench Renault un the end forWerle War I) The greatest mph ig aw the wat Ececlopment ofthe M3, Ma, ad Mt seckes of gt anks Sinlihe oe vehicles using Ubes> chasse. Se cowerws “ncliged on oer maifssriame and sevice oF 2rHON lhe veces ceveloped during Wel Whe TL. Tn aditon, thedevelopmor” nf he Mri wu cir carviage N18 and iis enrrisccaives is dscribed, Although the MIR wns neta [ult sack, ited many of fhe sme cauactess and sect: anprerriate [or ilusion ir this volume, T= seme irascencion alge apphes to some ofthe cee tnd ing, selivles. Te portelar, Tho ENT(AIC) an the LVTIAY‘2) were clawed ly the United Sites Ary as sr bn tubs deep thei ettemely Hah ara: Thas "iy ae also incloded Soren he vei aude o proves acempists com but history of these vehicles, Sez actions 1m bricity ascribed to s:a6 when te varius tks wee ft cozy infced thai un ill state ther: characteristics, good fd bud, che sey of the take in aoton harer fel te these who fou in thom andl iv dhe histaies ot the urls thar vec thom See uf Uae hstesies have been bret {quota fo ilusAras the porfor-unce of the rsms ad the cues shey used against 1 frequenlly azote poxertu, adversary, ‘Ae sal aa res2arch pro remain to be fled ince ron Ut wouk! help o complet: the sto. co hie‘, aay waps any sly Tightens "The aula would be grul RA, Mornieun oimant, Cu fora pil B92 PART | EARLY DEVELOPMENT OF THE LIGHT TANK fone a Reraic TIT rag up th Ameri ess Ts nasi tsk mail he eis Ror machine 2 won On Fane 1957, General ole 3, Petahing ative anes oh the eedingelemens of the A-neciean Espedi- foncry Forsss, Since the Usited Siaes Army had no cspersnce wih nbs, noard wes pointed x Daly ‘dy te.” emplcysent and te cefne the Army's reculre~ iments, The ~sontmendations of this boord penpeae “ae ‘tool both ght und henry tanks, The lear uk slectau ‘asthe Anglo-Ame:iean Mark VIN des:zn whne= we fo be sasembled in Pracs2 using cerspanemts me ifherurs inthe Trt States axl Great Britain, Te ua Ci fig le requceweat, ar'angements vere act t9 manutice ture the French Reaauls ETVT inthe United States. ttl. ieovaest mete vhs pedi qa of bl Ue lig nc asavy tarks Soule be avalasle by April #18, Ursor- fun yess carats proved tebe ply opie 14 fo Ameriosn il ark reuched Ine ucyis por to the ‘Aumuatice ir Naveriber, Mark V ad Mark V Star heavy tanks wer obtained fom. Been to equip ene fan: Fens hl Renal FT w2%e pcs ow Ui ight tank unis 1 WAK 1 ASD POSTWAR MODIFICATIONS Resa’ WE of he 90-4 Tak Be ace ino action th the Shh Distr sua! Bours, rae 26 Senerer ita on eal cits ies ween he ee ear