M3 Stuart

Light Tank M3 / General Stuart
     
Název:
Name:
M3 M3
Originální název:
Original Name:
Light Tank M3
Kategorie:
Category:
lehký tank light tank
Výrobce:
Producer:
DD.03.1941-DD.08.1942 American Car & Foundry Co., Berwick
Období výroby:
Production Period:
DD.03.1941-DD.10.1942
Vyrobeno kusů:
Number of Produced:
4526
Prototyp vyroben:
Prototype Built:
DD.07.1940
Osádka:
Crew:
4
Technické údaje:
Technical Data:
 
Bojová hmotnost:
Combat Weight:
12428 kg 27400 lb
Délka s kanónem dopředu:
Length with Gun Forward:
4531 mm 14 ft 10 ⅜ in
Délka korby:
Hull Length:
4531 mm 14 ft 10 ⅜ in
Celková šířka:
Overall Width:
2235 mm 7 ft 4 in
Celková výška:
Overall Height:
2515 mm 8 ft 3 in
Světlá výška:
Ground Clearance:
419 mm 1 ft 4 ½ in
Šířka pásu:
Track Width:
295 mm 11 ⅝ in
Měrný tlak:
Ground Pressure:
0.07 MPa 10.47 psi
Pancéřování:
Armour:
Trup:
- predný horný: 38 mm
- predný spodný: 16...44 mm
- bočný a zadný: 25 mm
- zvrchu: 10 mm
- zospodu: 10...13mm


Veža:
- spredu:38 mm
- zboku a zozadu: 32mm
- zvrchu: 13 mm
Hull:
- Front, Upper: 1,5in
- Front, Lower: 5/8...1,75in
- Sides and Rear: 1in
- Top: 3/8in
- Bottom: 3/8..1/2in


Turret:
- Front: 1,5in
- Sides and rear: 1,25in
- Top: 1/2in
Pohon:
Propulsion:
 
Typ:
Type:
Continental W-670-9A (7 valcový hviezdicový zážihový motor) Continental W-670-9A (7 cylinders, Radial, gasolin engine)
Výkon:
Power:
186.4 kW při 2400 ot/min 250 bhp at 2400 rpm
Převodové ústrojí:
Transmission:
manuálna prevodovka, 5 rýchlostí vpred, jedna vzad manual shift, 5 gears forward, one reverse
Výkony:
Performance:
 
Rychlost na silnici:
Road Speed:
57.9 km/h 36 mph
Rychlost v terénu:
Cross-country Speed:
? km/h ? mph
Jízdní dosah po silnici:
Cruising Range on Road:
112.7 km 70 mi
Jízdní dosah v terénu:
Cross-country Cruising Range:
? km ? mi
Překonávání překážek:
Obstacles Crossing:
 
Svah:
Gradient:
27 ° 60 %
Boční náklon:
Side Slope:
? ° ? %
Překročivost:
Trench Crossing:
1.83 m 72 in
Výstupnost:
Vertical Obstacle:
0.61 m 24 in
Brodivost:
Fording Depth:
0.91 m 36 in
Výzbroj:
Armament:
 
Hlavní:
Main:
37mm kanón M5, alebo M6 so spriahnutým guľometom kalibru .30 Browning M1919A5 na lafete M22 (vo veži) 37 mm Gun M5, or M6 with coaxial machine gun .30 Browning M1919A5 in Combination Mount M22 (in turret)
Vedlejší:
Secondary:
1 x .30 guľomet Browning M1919A5 (v prednej časti trupu)
1 x .30 guľomet Browning M1919A4, protilietadlový na veži
2 x .30 guľomet Browning M1919A5 (v sponzonoch)


úchyt pre .30 guľomet M2, alebo samopal kalibru .45
1 x .30 machine gun Browning M1919A5 (in ball mount in bow)
1 x .30 machine gun Browning M1919A4, antiaircraft on turret
2 x .30 machine gun Browning M1919A5 (sponsons)


1 x tripod mount for cal .30 machine gun M2, or .45 submachine gun
Uživatelské státy:
User States:








Poznámka:
Note:
Britské označenie General Stuart British nickname General Stuart
Zdroje:
Sources:
Catalogue of standart ordnance items, second editions 1944, vol. 1 Tank and Automotive; Office of the Chief of Ordnance Technical Division, Washington D.C.; 1 june 1945
URL : https://www.valka.cz/M3-Stuart-t6341#465675 Version : 0

The M3 light tank

was created by upgrading and improving the M2A4 light tank. Compared to its predecessor, it featured stronger armour and better mechanical properties (reliability). The prototype tank was unveiled in July 1940, with mass production taking place from March 1941 to October 1942 at the American Car and Foundry Co.


During production, the tank underwent many changes. The original design of the tank had a hexagonal turret, and the individual plates of the turret and chassis armor were riveted together. Later, the turret fabrication technology was changed to welding, and eventually the tank was fitted with a round-section turret for which welded homogeneous armor was used (as well as for the hull).


The chassis suspension was the same as M2A4 (coil springs). However, unlike its predecessor, the rear tension wheel was placed at ground level, which increased the contact area of the tracks with the ground and reduced the kerb weight. The tracks with rubber feet had a width of 295 mm and a link length of 140 mm. In total, the belt consisted of 132-134 links.


Two powerplants were designed to power the tank - a gasoline, 7-cylinder, Continental W670-9A radial engine (M3 tank) and a diesel, 9-cylinder, Guiberson T1020-4 radial engine (Guiberson T1020-4 M3 (Diesel) tank). Both versions used a manual transmission with five forward and one reverse speed. The 211-litre fuel tank gave the tank a range of up to 113 km. In the case of longer-distance movements, fuel supplies could be increased by using two additional tanks of 94.64 litres each, which were removed before the start of combat operations. The tank's wiring worked with a voltage of 12 V. The tank was equipped with a fire extinguisher (5 kg CO2) and a manual extinguisher (2 kg CO2). In addition, an M2 decontamination device was fitted.


The tank crew consisted of 4 persons. The driver's and assistant's workstations were in the forward part of the hull. Their forward view was provided by glazed portholes in the hatches. In a combat situation, the hatches were protected by armoured shields and the view was possible through a rectoscope. The commander-loader and gunner had seats in the turret. Access to the turret was possible through a hatch located in the raised dome, which also served as the commander's observation room - either through the open hatch in the safe zone, or through the protectoscopes in the combat zone (the first tanks produced were not equipped with protectoscopes, only visors). The turret allowed full-circle metering with manual drive. The SCR-245 radio station was used for communication.


The main armament of the tank was a 37mm cannon M5, or M6. Mated to the cannon was a Browning .30 caliber M1919A5 machine gun. The common lafette allowed the guns to be aimed from -10° to +20°. Originally the weapons were not stabilized, but later the lafette was fitted with a gyroscopic stabilizer to increase the accuracy of fire while the vehicle was moving. A machine gun M1919A4, intended as an anti-aircraft gun, was mounted on the turret. The M1919A5 machine gun was mounted in a ball bearing in the front of the hull, and the other two machine guns were mounted in the side sponsons.


For the tank's armament, 103 37 mm calibre shells (anti-tank M51B1 or M51B2, fragmentation M63 and smoke M2), 8270 rounds for the machine gun (.30) and 500 .45 calibre rounds for the submachine gun were carried. In addition, 12 hand grenades (cluster Mk. II - 4 pcs, assault Mk. IIA with M6 detonating fuse - 2 pcs, smoke M15 (white phosphorus) - 4 pcs and incendiary - 2 pcs). Anti-armour shells from 37mm cannon reached a muzzle velocity of 884 m/s at a maximum range of 14053 m. Their kinetic energy allowed to penetrate hardened steel armour with a thickness of 46mm at a distance of 1093 m.


In August 1941 a modification of the M3A1 was introduced, and in March 1943 the M3A2 light tank was introduced, which was essentially identical to the M3A1 except that it used a welded hull. Serial production of this type did not begin


Catalogue of standard ordnance items, second editions 1944, vol. 1 Tank and Automotive; Office of the Chief of Ordnance Technical Division, Washington D.C.; 1 june 1945
http://afvdb.50megs.com/usa/m3stuart.html
URL : https://www.valka.cz/M3-Stuart-t6341#465752 Version : 0
Light tank M3 of the equipment 1. tank battalion of the marine corps captured during the exercise in New Zealand shortly before his deployment to Guadalcanal, November 1942..
M3 Stuart - (US Marine Corps)

(US Marine Corps)
URL : https://www.valka.cz/M3-Stuart-t6341#465753 Version : 0
At the turn of 1941 and 1942, the Red Army became one of the first foreign users of M3 Stuart light tanks. This M3 christened "Kuibyshev" was captured by the German Wehrmacht.
M3 Stuart - (USNA)

(USNA)
URL : https://www.valka.cz/M3-Stuart-t6341#14740 Version : 0
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