M5/M3 Stuart

The little tank that could.

"I shall strive to inculcate in my men the spirit of chase."

– J.E.B Stuart

The Stuart tank was a light tank utilized by the United States during World War II, most notoriously in the Pacific against the Japanese empire before the Sherman was more widely available

Mid War

My little armored fighting vehicle.

Late War

American

The American Stuart in late war is a kawaii as fuck utility and escort vehicle in Late war and probably the best variant of the Stuart available.

In Real Life

"It followed me home."

The M3 Stuart started as a replacement to the M2 Light tank, and served as the baseline for the M8 Scott. The M3 was very heavily armored compared to tanks of its type, and was equipped with aircraft engines and a 37mm gun with a pile of Browning 30 calibre machine guns.

After the war began in full, it was determined a new variant was needed to decrease use of aircraft engines on non-aircraft vehicles. Thus the M5 variant was introduced, which was redesigned and made slightly taller.

The M5's wartime service ranges from mixed to largely negative, depending on who you ask. The Soviets considered them largely a burden, as the M3's they were supplied under Lend Lease were super temperamental and ill suited for the Russian Winter, and strained their logistics. The British were eager to have anything useful, and used them as recon or command vehicles. British Tank Crews in 1940-41 North Africa found the Stuart's ease of use and maintenance as well as maneuverability so helpful in the deserts of Libya and Egypt that they gave the tank the affectionate nickname "Honey", though there is a chance that the nickname part is a misconception. The Chinese nationalists and Communists were largely grateful to have anything they could use to fight against the Japanese, and the Marine Corps found the tank adequate for their purposes, even though they largely replaced them with the M4 Sherman later in the war. The Army reported to Eisenhower that their position was the Stuart was entirely inadequate as a fighting vehicle, and was largely being phased out in favor of the M24 by this time.

In developing countries, the Stuart found a useful niche as cheap armor units that could provide adequate tank support to otherwise poorly or lesser equipped militaries. Paraguay still has a dozen or so being used for training and drills.