Dear Eric
Finally, a subject that I can add something substantive on.
The 50 M3 Light General Stuart tanks you refer to arrived in Australia in two shipments. I have some information on the first here at work, however, will have to look through my papers for details on the second.
Detailed information exists on 25 of the 50 General Stuarts. They arrived aboard the refugee ship MV Tosari unexpectedly at Melbourne on 24 March 1942. A document providing detailed descriptions of the vehicles ' Tanks Light M3: Notes on vehicles as received - Melbourne' exists in the Australian Archives (series MP729/6 file number 51/403/168)
This notes the following US registration numbers and serial numbers and suggests the vehicles were for US forces, not Dutch.
W-302456 2012
W-302549 2015
W-302555 2021
W-302548 2014
W-302556 2022
W-302559 2025
W-302560 2026
W-302566 2032
W-302567 2033
W-302719 2185
W-302733 2199
W-302734 2200
W-302743 2209
W-302749 2215
W-302748 2214
W-302772 2238
W-302774 2240
W-302775 2241
W-302791 2257
W-302811 2277
W-302834 2300
W-302838 2304
W-302853 2319
W-302855 2321
W-302565 2031
Monthly acceptance data provided by Joe DeMarco in the US shows that the vehicles were accepted in Nov / Dec 1941
Nov - Serial No 1972 - 2209
Dec - Serial No 2210 - 2507
The Australian report also noted that they were fitted with the D39273, horseshoe turret. Steven Zaloga has previously stated this type of turret entered production with serial number 1946, however, Joe DeMarco believes it may have happened earlier with Serial No 1701.
After unloading the vehicles were sent to workshops where they were fitted out to a modification schedule based on the British schedule then in existence. I can detail this further if you are interested.
With this completed most were issued to 2/6th Australian Armoured Regiment who participated in the Buna / Gona battles of late 1942 / early 1943. Pictures of the vehicles at this time can be found on the Australian War Memorial website collection database using the search terms Buna or Sanananda.
If you want any further information please
contact me.
HTH
Shane