w/s no.19 fitted to M3 Stuart light tank

Auke · #1 21-12-10, 22:47

Tony, we fitted the WS.19 in the right side (co-driver) side sponson.
I think the US radio's were mostly fitted on the left (drivers) side sponson?
We have no drawings, we only put it close to a bracket where a WS.19 control box could be fitted.
We have the "British" modifications on the tank, like the control box brackets, "A" and "B" antenna brackets, sun compass bracket, 4" bomb thrower bracket and the pistol ports on the sides of the turret welded shut.
It is a M3A1 with the rounded rear armour and a turret basket, but we have not installed it because we don't know how to drive it then...
Cheers, Auke

chamberlain9g · #2 25-12-10, 17:07

Thanks for the reply Auke,I will try to find the brass plate that Phil mentioned hopefully that will show what is needed.
cheers Tony

drcowie · #3 26-12-10, 23:31

This is a radio shelf in a very early Australian M3 Stuart (no protector scopes on front hatches). Pic taken in Victoria, Aussie

chamberlain9g · #4 28-12-10, 14:36

Thanks Des for the reply.
Cheers Tony

colin jones · #5 28-12-10, 22:49

Hi Tony, good to here you moving along with your stuart. How about some pictures and hows your valentine going.
Colin.

carl brown · #6 29-12-10, 22:38

Hi guys. I have been following the thread with interest and wanted to input what i thought. I have Phill's old M3 here in the UK ( hope you are well Phill ?) and am slowly restoring it. Its been on hold for a while due to work commitments but will come together slowly over the next year or two.

Whilst I havn't found the brass 19 set installation plate that phill refers to, I have attached a copy of an M3 stowage diagram extracted from Hunnicutts Stuart book. This really backs up the picture that Des has provided showing that the 19 set was mounted on a tray at the back of the hull. This definitely makes sense if the hull has the fixed 30 cals in the sponsons however the stowage diagram shows it as not having the fixed 30 cals!

It is possible that the wireless was relocated to the sponson on later M3 vehicles, but you have to ask the question why they would loose most of the 30 cal ammo stowage just to relocate the wireless ? If it was relocated, where did the 30 cal ammo get stowed ? In Phills old M3 there are two brackets on the firewall bulkhead just about where the 19 set would be on the tray in Des's picture, and these take what appears to be a 37mm stowage box/ready round box. Was the radio relocated to the sponson to allow for more 37mm stowage ? I don't know the answer either.

I have attached a picture of a friends M3 in Oz showing how he has installed the radio in his M3. Could this be the layout we all think it should be for a later M3 ?

drcowie · #7 29-12-10, 23:05

Tony, have you got a copy of TM11-2713 ? On page 20 it shows the No19 set sitting on some frame above the US base (for earlier set) - see attachment. I have no more info than this.
For interest, the US setup in the driver's side sponson is on a FT-237 mount as per my pics.
Hi Carl - (all parts installed)