M3 Stuart Light Tank, TL6 (1941-1943)
Used by the US and UK, the M3 Stuart was typical of the better light tanks at the start of WWII - well built, well armored and poorly armed. Also known as the Honey as it was very well-liked by its crews. The Stuart was used well into the war, replaced starting in early 1943 by the similar M5 Stuart (larger engine, 33% more main gun ammo, thicker frontal armor) and eventually the M24 Chafee (with a 75mm L38 gun, same as used on early M4 Shermans). A variant of the M5 was the M8 HMC, which mounted a 75mm L17 howitzer in an open-topped turret and carried 46 HE rounds, and was used to provide infantry fire support until replaced by the Sherman 105 (armed with a 105mm L28 howitzer). Command and personnel carrier conversions were also known.
A significant number of M3/5's were exported to South America after the war; many lasted into the 1980's. A Brazilian company rebuilt around a hundred, giving them new engines and a new turret (mounting a French low-velocity 90mm cannon) among other improvement; the tank was designated the X1A1 and was offered for export, but no buyers are known.
In a Space or Traveller campaign, the M3 Stuart can be used as a top-line mid-TL6 light tank.
Subassemblies: tracks, full rotation turret, open mount
Body Features: Slope on body and turret: 30 degress front
Propulsion: 185 kW tracked drivetrain
Weaponry (turret): 37mm tank gun, .30-cal coax MG, 70x37mm AP
rounds (body), 33x37mm HE rounds, 3000x.30-cal rounds
Weaponry (open mount): .30-cal MG, 500x.30-cal rounds
Weaponry (body): .30-cal MG, 1200x.30-cal rounds [some versions
carried two more MGs in the hull]
Weapon Accessories: partial stabilization for both turret guns,
universal mount for open mount MG
Instruments and electronics (turret): none
Instruments and electronics (body): one medium range radio
Miscellaneous: fire extinguisher
Controls: Mechanical
Occupancy: Short
Passengers: None
Crew: Driver and Hull MG gunner in hull, Commander and 37mm Gunner/Loader
in turret, all in normal crew stations
Environmental Systems: none
Power: 185 kW gasoline engine, 8.325 gph [if cruise is 60% top
speed, a reasonable approximation, it should be doubled to get an accurate
real-world range]
Fuel: 47 gallon tank, 47 gallons gasoline
Access, Cargo and Empty Space: Turret - 7.31 cf empty space,
Body - 11.57 cf empty, 10 cf cargo and 47.4 cf access space, open mount
- 0.05 cf empty space
Volumes: Body 225 cf, Turret 80 cf, Tracks 135 cf, Open Mount
1 cf; Surface Area: Body 222 sf, turret 111.4 sf, tracks 157.9 sf, open
mount 6 sf; Total Area 497.26
Structure: heavy frame
Hit Points: Body 666, Turret 334, Track (each) 237
Structural Options: none
Armor (Turret): PD 5 DR 180 Front, PD 4 DR 100 Left and Right,
PD 4 DR 50 Back, PD 4 DR 30 Top, std. metal
Armor (Body): PD 5 DR 180 Front, PD 4 DR 100 Left and Right,
PD 4 DR 50 Back, PD 4 DR 30 Top, PD 4 DR 50 Underside, std metal
Armor (Tracks): PD 4 DR 25, std metal
Statistics: Empty Weight 4048, Loaded Weight 27359 lbs (2.56
tons), Volume 441 cf, Size Modifier +4, Price $64,008, HT 10
Ground Performance: Top Speed 37 mph, gAccel 2 mph/s, gDecel
20 mph/s, gMR 0.25, gSR 5, Very Low ground pressure, 4/5 off-road speed
New Weapons
37mm L53 tank gun: one medium barrel, breechloader
Dam 7dx4, Malf Crit, Type Cr, SS 20, Acc 14, 1/2 Dam 1000 yds, Max
4900 yds, ROF 1/3
AP rounds do 7dx4(2).
HE rounds do 2d+1[4d].
.30-cal machine gun: use TL6 7.62mm MG, but ROF 8