Know it is a Stuart M3 but not sure if it is a M3A3 or another revision.(Can`t figure out how to paste a photo or a link) http://www.tarawaontheweb.org/stuart.jpg
It looks like an M3A1 to me, but I’m no Stuart expert by any stretch of the imagination.
Looks like a M3A1 to me also.
It is most likely an M3A1. It is definitely not an M3A3, those have sloped armor and more closely resemble an M5/M5A1.
Some M3A1 identifying features I spot:
The sponson machine gun ports are plated over with the round covers.
The turret is the later round-sided type.
The turret does not have a cupola.
And most importantly, the hull appears welded (smooth) vs. riveted (which would make it an M3).
[#ditto]
Not to argue but my guess as it being a M3 was based on that (to me) the front fenders in the photo look rounded like the front fenders on the Tamiya M3 kit- The only on-line reference I could find showed the USMC ordering several hundered M3A3s so I guessed it as maybe being a M3A3 if not a M3. Im not able to find a head-on photo of a M3A1 to compare it to so dont know : 1. if the front fender shape is a clue 2. if the front fenders on a M3 and M3A1 are the same 3. if the photo on Tarawa On The Web is not clear enough to me to tell what the actual shape is Since you may have guessed by now that I don`t have a real clue as to what model it is I thought it best to ask here knowing most of you have much more knowledge on this subject than me. Looks like Academy makes a nice M3A1 in 1/35 scale as well.
The front fender shape does not differentiate between an M3 or M3A1. As I stated above, it definitely is not an M3A3. Click on this link to see a frontal view of the excellent AFV Club M3A3. You will see the hull is totally different, especially when viewed from the front.
The vast majority of M3 had a commander’s cupola on top of the turret. The M3A1 did away with the cupola and had a flat turret roof, much like is seen on the M3A3’s turret. The M3A3 was not put into operational use by the US. It was lend-leased to the Allies and the US used the M5 and M5A1 instead.
This link will show you several of the various Stuart types. You can clearly make out the large rivets in the M3 Stuart and near the bottom of the page you can see the smooth hull (no rivets) of the welded hulled M3A1.
http://afvdb.50megs.com/usa/pics/m3stuart.html
While the Academy M3A1 Stuart is a nice kit, they missed some details. Steve Zaloga points them out in his Osprey Modelling book on the M3/M5 Stuart. He identifies the actual kit as a “late M3 with riveted hull…”
I agree with L.C. Rob, and can’t add much to what he said other than this; the early M3 had the “Hex” commanders cupola like the Academy Honey Tank kit. The mid or later production M3 had the “Horseshoe” commanders cupola like the Tamiya Stuart. The M3A1 had no commanders cupola, like your picture. The M3A3 used a different and larger turret like on the M5A1. The M3a3 also had a hull unique to it’s self. The M5 used a M3A1 turret. The M5A1 had a larger turret like the one used on the M3A3.
With all of the above ID points explained now its clearer- I had focused on the one point (fender shape) that I could plainly see that actually wasnt what I should have been looking at in the first place. The links kindly provided with the other ID points explained show me what I should have seen. Have an order going into Squadron that includes the book M3/M4 Tanks in Pacific Combat that was also recommended on this forum. Thanks to all the help everyone here was kind enough to give me,Ive got a much better idea what Im looking at and looking for in a Stuart kit.
I probably recommended the Kagero book on the M3 and M4 in Pacific Combat, decent book with decals included. I also recommend Steve Zaloga’s Modelling the M3/M5 tank if you are interested in “graduate level” upgrading. He is a superb builder and author.
These are the available Stuart kits:
Tamiya M3–this is a diesel engined variant that never saw combat
Tamiya M5A1–last version of the Stuart used, hull too short because they used the M3 lower hull
Tamiya M8 HMC–75mm howitzer armed version of the M5/M5A1, hull too short
Academy M3–includes an M3A1’s interior and is incorrect in that aspect
Academy M3A1–actually a riveted hull late M3
AFV Club M3A3–best of the line, but alas, not a US used variant
AFV Club M5A1 early–announced by AFV Club, but not released yet. Click on the top grenade in this link to check and see when it is released: http://www.hobbyfan.com.tw/
Hey there. I got tired reading what everyone said so I don’t know if I am repeating. I appologize if I am. That is an M3A1. While the USMC did have some M3s, the M3A1 was more common. As Rob mentioned, the cupola is abscent. This is the only real clue just from the picture, I cannot tell if this particular subject has a welded or rivetted hull because of the image quality. Very few M3s were built with the A1 turret, and I believe the USMC never received any of them. Also, the 2nd Tank Batallion was deployed with the brand new (at the time) M3A1.
Edit: I forgot to mention that this vehicle is of the 2nd which was equiped with the A1 during the battle of Tarawa. I have no doubt that this is an M3A1. Rivets or welds, don’t determine if this is an A1, it eliminates the possiblity that it is a M3 if it has welds. Again, it must be a M3A1 simply because that is the type of Stuart the 2nd had on Tarawa. The big visual tell is the cupola-free rounded turret.