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Britain
Light Tank M3A1 (Stuart III) (Stuart III)

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The Light Tank M3A1 (Stuart III) was designed in 1941 based on the existing fully tracked Light Tank and was in use from 1941 to 1990.

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Photo of Light Tank M3A1 (Stuart III) (Stuart III)

General Details
Specifications
Operational Date(s)1941 - 1990
Quantity Produced4621
Weight14.7 tonne
Crew4
M.G's small3
M.G's large(>10mm)n/a
Length4.58 mtr
Width2.26 mtr
Height2.31 mtr
Engine Details/Performance
Max Road Speed34 mph
Max Cross Country Speed20 mph
Range Road124 miles
Range Cross Country49 miles
Fuel TypePetrol
Fuel Capacity54 gal
Horse Power250 hp
Power/Weight17 hp/tonne
General Information
The Light Tank M3A1 (Stuart III) was designed in 1941 based on the existing fully tracked Light Tank and was in use from 1941 to 1990.

The vehicle was powered by Continental 'W-670' petrol powerplant producing 250 HP which could drive the vehicle on roads at up to 34 mph with a range of about 124 miles before refuelling. Its cross country performance was good providing a max speed of about 20 mph and a range of about 49 miles.

It was armed with 3 light machine guns which were 0.3 inch Browning Machine Gun M1919A4s. Its main armament consisted of a 37mm Antitank Gun M6 which could penetrate 56 mm of flat plate at 400 metres

The Light tank M3 Stuart V was a tank based on the M2A4 with the 37mm anti tank gun having a gyrostabiliser.

The power was provided by a 250hp Continental petrol engine, driving through the front drive wheel, then via 2 pairs of road wheels to a rear idler then back over 3 return rollers.

This model had the sponson machine guns removed and a bulge at the rear of the turret for a radio.

Armour Details
Turret
Front38mm@(38mm)
Side25mm@(25mm)
Rear25mm@(25mm)
Top10mm@90°(10mm)
Superstructure
Front38mm@45°(54mm)
Side25mm@(25mm)
Rear25mm@(25mm)
Top9mm@90°(9mm)
Hull
Front38mm@45°(54mm)
Side25mm@(25mm)
Rear25mm@(25mm)
Top9mm@90°(9mm)
Armour (x)mm @ (y)° (Effective mm @ 0°)
Effective Armour - Maximum 54 mm - Minimum 9 mm



Weapon Details
Flag
0.3 inch Browning Machine Gun M1919A4
(Machine Gun) x 3
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ManufacturerBrowning
Manufactured1919 - 1945
Calibre7.60mm
LengthL/80
Rate of Fire480 rpm
Number of Rounds 6750
 
 
Ammunition Details
Name/Id Calibre Weight MVelocity Explosive Content
.30-06 Springfield
(BALL Standard Small Arms)
7.62mm 0.012Kg 820M/Sec
Range(Mtr)1002004008001200160020002400
Flight Time(Secs) 0.15
Penetration(mm@30°) 2
Penetration(mm@0°) 3
Hit Probability(%) 98


Weapon Details
Flag
37mm Antitank Gun M6
(Anti Tank Gun)
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History
This was the Tank mounted version of the 37mm M3
ManufacturerWatervliet Arsenal
Calibre37mm
Number of Rounds 147
 
 
Ammunition Details
Name/Id Calibre Weight MVelocity Explosive Content
AP M74 Shot
(AP Armor Piercing)
37mm 0.86Kg 885M/Sec
Quoted Penetration 36mm @ 500mtr/0°
Range(Mtr)1002004008001200160020002400
Flight Time(Secs) 0.12 0.24 0.51 1.15 2.01 3.19 4.93 7.73
Penetration(mm@30°) 61 55 48 38 30 22 16 10
Penetration(mm@0°) 71 64 56 45 35 26 19 12
Hit Probability(%) 98 98 98 96 64 25 8 2



HE M63 Shell
(HE High Explosive)
37mm 0.73Kg 792M/Sec 0.039Kg explosive
Maximum Range not shown as gun elevation is limited
Range(Mtr)1002004008001200160020002400
Flight Time(Secs) 0.13 0.27 0.57 1.29 2.25 3.56 5.51 8.63
Direct Fire
Range(Mtr)1002004008001200160020002400
Flight Time(Secs) 0.13 0.27 0.57 1.29 2.25 3.56 5.51 8.63
Hit Probability(%) 98 98 98 93 57 22 3 1
Blast/Fragmentation Effects
Burst radius Infantry in open 99% kill0 mtr Burst radius Infantry in open 66% kill1 mtr
Burst radius Infantry in open 33% kill3 mtr  Armour Penetration inc roof at 1 mtr0 mm
An explosion within 1 mtr of infantry in the open will cause > 66% casualties and could damage some AFV's.
An explosion within 3 mtr of infantry in the open will cause 33% casualties.
The blast effect of this shell exploding within 1 mtr of an armoured vehicle will not cause any significant armour damage.

Hit probability is based on a static 2 x 2.4 metre panel at 0 degrees(vertical) at the range specified.

The data that has been used to create these records has come from Wikipedia, The Lone Sentry, The Bundes Archive and numerous books and websites that have provided the detailed information that has not been available anywhere else. The information we use to calculate the penetration tables, flight times and the hit probability comes from the Gun Calibre, the Shell Mass(Kg) and the muzzle velocity, plus range reductions to allow for gravity and wind resistance. This calculation originally came from a pre-war Krupp calculation which has been modified, and seems to fit the actual test results.

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