A welcome addition to the Allied forces this week as the M5 Stuart light tank speeds into our webstore!
An update from the classic M3 Honey light tank, the M5 was widely used by U.S. forces, as well as under lend lease to Britain and other Allied nations. Here we present the M5 and the M5A1 – just the job for fast, recce duties!
The M5 light tank, nicknamed 'Stuart' by British troops in honor of the famous American Civil War General, J.E.B. Stuart. The first variant of the M5 saw a new, updated hull from that used by its predecessor, the M3, although it retained the same turret.
Armed with a 37mm gun as well as hull and co-axial machineguns and pintle-mounted .30 cal machinegun, the M5 served with most Allied nations, although after trials, the Red Army decided to reject it in favor of the older M3.
The M5A1 mounted a new turret on the M5 hull. The turret had the same 37mm gun as its predecessor, but incorporated an overhang which housed the radio. This version of the Stuart was the main variant in service with U.S. forces from 1943.
To man your new Stuart light tanks, look no further than our U.S. Tank Crew pack – with our Figure Head system of separate heads, there's lots of scope to make a unique-looking vehicle or two…
M5 and M5A1 Stuarts also served with British, Canadian and Polish forces. Happily, we have a great looking set of British tankers to crew your Stuarts…
And yes, we will be making the M3 Honey from the M5…