Stuart VI Recce (was: Stuart Recce replacement)

[Dutchy]

Hi gents, newbie here.
I hope you don't mind my commenting, but I've just finished reading a great book called Taming The Panzers - Monty's Tank Battalions (3RTR at War) where the turretless modification to the Stuart gets a mention.

The reasoning behind removing the turret in the first place was apparently that it stuck up too high over the 'bocage' hedging in France when the recce units were belting round the small lanes. As the turret (a) offered minimal protection, (b) made an ideal target and (c) the armament was pretty useless by then, it was therefore decided to get rid.

Apparently after removing the turret, the 3RTR recce Sqn guys welded a semi-circle of steel (usually from a knocked out Sherman or suchlike) over half the remaining hole and mounted a MG on the new base.

Unfortunately, the book was woefully short of pics of the conversion.

HTH

[Dutchy]

I thought some of you might be interested in seeing a turretless Stuart model I've just finished.

It's based on a Tamiya M5A1 with a scratch built interior and has markings for 3RTR in the Normandy bocage '44. Initially I only put a .30 on the front mount but after reading some of Ron's writings elsewhere decided that an AA .50 needed fitting too.

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/ken.hol...00Dsc03495.jpg

Ron, apologies if I've got things in the wrong place - but you didn't give much detail away.

[Ron Goldstein]

Hi Ken

Purely by chance I spotted your Honey model and I'm flattered to learn that you added the .50 Browning after reading my earlier posting.

As to the model itself, I am most impressed !

If I was pushed to make comment as regards to how accurate the model is I would have to admit that we seemed to have more room in the hull of the tank than the model shows but, let's face it I only have my memory to rely on and we are talking about 64 years ago

Best regards and well done that man !

Ron

[Dutchy]

Thanks for the kind words Ron.
I have to admit, the interior was down to quite a bit of guesswork based loosely on a pic of an add-on kit you can get for the standard model. As the add-on cost more than the kit itself I thought I'd make my own from scratch.

[Haridimos]

Jumped here from the sister thread M3 Stuart recce / command pics / info required when I remembered that I had a photo of a Stuart mk 6 Gun towing conversion,
at the AFTER THE BATTLE magazine #37 issue.

The photo shows a Stuart VI at Portsmouth scrapyard ca 1982.

stuart mk6_portsmouth_1982.jpg

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Stuart Recce (M3A3 as far as I can see), but it is in use with Canadian troops liberating Ermelo:

8f8f64348e6ed44c7b79db80255575cb.jpg 7df2781f1b3d04dc881c66102ca5179d.jpg
Date: 1945-04-18. Location: Tonsel - Harderwijkerweg 148, Ermelo
Source: [1] and [2]


Stuart Recce in service with Dutch troops in Indonesia in March 1949. Not an M5A1, but an M3A3 included here because it gives a good top view:
Een_Recce_M3_Stuart_tank_%28waarvan_het_machinegeweer_is_verwijderd%29_passeert_het%2C_Bestandde.jpg
Collectie / Archief : Fotocollectie Dienst voor Legercontacten Indonesië Reportage / Serie : [DLC] Actie met tanks bij Toba en omstreken Beschrijving : [][2e Eskadron Vechtwagens] Datum : maart 1949 Locatie : Indonesië, Nederlands-Indië, Sumatra Fotograaf : Burgt, Th. van de / DLC Auteursrechthebbende : Nationaal Archief Materiaalsoort : Negatief (zwart/wit) Nummer archiefinventaris : bekijk toegang 2.24.04.02 Bestanddeelnummer : 264
Source: http://proxy.handle.net/10648/247ce5...1-fd36bf1ea194

[Alex van de Wetering]

Here is a picture of a turretless Stuart M5A1 in use by the Polish 1st Armoured Division on 11 april 1945 in Emmen, Holland.

source: beeldbankwo2.nl

Also attached is a screen grab of a video of the liberation of Coevorden. Units shown are again 1st Polish Armoured division.....and hard to see, but it looks a lot like 5 or 6 M5A1 Stuart Recce's.

source: http://drentsarchief.nl/onderzoeken/...true&miview=ff

from 2:45

Alex

10PSK Stuart.jpg Coevorden Stuart RECCE-.jpg