Year | March 1941 |
Vehicle Type | [@type] |
Origin & Designer | [@designer] |
Numbers Produced | 4.526 |
Crew | 4 (Commander/Gunner, Loader, Driver & Assistant Driver) |
Main Armament | 1 x 37mm L/53 M5 or M6 Gun |
Main Armament | [@sponson_traverse] |
Elevation | -10° to +20° |
Turret Traverse | 360° (Manual) |
Gun Traverse | [@gun_traverse] |
Gun Mount | [@gun_mounts] |
Maximum Range | [@maximum_range] |
Armour Penetration | [@armour_penetration] |
Gun Sight | [@gun_sight] |
Secondary Armament | 1 x .30 cal M1919A4 Machine Gun (AA Mount). 1 x .30 cal M1919A4 Machine Gun (Coaxial). 1 x .30 cal M1919A4 Machine Gun (Bow).
|
Smoke Discharger | [@smoke_discharger] |
Ammunition Carried | 103 x 37mm & 8.270 x .30 cal |
Height | 2.64m |
Width | 2.24m |
Length | 4.53m |
Combat Weight | 12.700 kg |
Ground Clearance | 0.41m |
Fording Depth | 0.91m |
Trench Crossing | 1.80m |
Obstacle Clearance | 0.61m |
Climbing Ability | 30° |
Radio | SCR 245 |
Armour | Upper Hull Front: 44mm. Lower Hull Front: 37mm. Upper Hull Sides: 25mm. Lower Hull Sides: 25mm. Hull Rear: 25mm. Hull Top: 13mm. Gun Mantlet: 38mm. Turret Front: 38mm. Turret Sides: 25mm. Turret Rear: 25mm. Turret Top: 13mm.
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Engine | Continental W-670-9A (Petrol) |
Transmission | 5 Forward & 1 Reverse |
Maximum Road Range | 68 miles (110 km) |
Maximum Cross Country Range | 68 miles (110 km) |
Maximum Water Range | [@maximum_water_range] |
Maximum Road Speed | 36 mph (58 kph) |
Maximum Cross Country Speed | 20 mph (32 kph) |
Maximum Water Speed | [@maximum_water_speed] |
Variants | M3 Diesel: 1.285 Built from June 1941. M3A1: May 1942, 4.410 Built. Incorporated a new powered turret (24°/Sec) with Gun stabilizer. M3A3: September 1942, 3.427 Built. Sloped armour and overhang for SCR 508 Radio.
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Notes | The main U.S. Light Tank at the start of the war. The M3 came about after US observers had recognised the need for an improved light tank to equip their reconnaissance battalions, this come about by monitoring events in Europe and noting how effective the German tanks were in action. The British gave the M3 its baptism of fire in the battle of Sidi Rezegh in the western desert and was well light by their crews. The model M3 was fast and reliable and with 13.648 M3s, M3A1s and M3A3s produced it served on all fronts. |