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

Philliphastings · #1 13-01-11, 04:06

Carl - I am pretty sure that plate was still attached to the inside of my Stuart, if not then loose with the spares ?

Also there was at least one very badly rusted example of that radio table as fitted to the early M3 with the spares, although I admit I was not certain exactly what it was for at the time.

The Museum Stuart still has the radio plate inside the hull, though some B%$#@&d had ripped the data plate out and stolen it many years ago.

I could try to photograph the plate some time but it's dark in there - and there are spiders...

Cheers

Phill

Philliphastings · #2 13-01-11, 04:10

Carl your stowage diagram would have been a godsend when I was fitting out the Stuart for display. I now realise that some of the small bins I have picked up over the years (and still have) are for the water and oil bottles etc in the Stuart.

Cheers

Phill

carl brown · #3 13-01-11, 10:29

Phill

I'll go through the parts again to see what I can see. I did sort most of it out and its all racked up on shelves. A picture of the radio table in the Museum Stuart would be really good if possible.
There are a few bits soon to leave Bills place to come here, including the remaining few track blocks. Any chance the oil and water bottle stowage bins could come as well ?

Philliphastings · #4 17-01-11, 03:49

Carl - there is no radio shelf in the museum Stuart, it's the radio schematic data plate I was referring to.

The small bins were in the boxes of spares with the tank. The ones I have left are damaged and will go into the museum Stuart.

Cheers

Phill

oztankboy · #5 14-02-11, 07:39

Here is the basic lay out with what you require for the W/S 19 when fitted in the right hand sponson.

Phil...

Mrs Vampire · #6 16-10-13, 06:12

Hi
My two bobs worth.

The first batch of M3 Stuarts ( the refugee cargo Dutch ones used in Buna etc) were modified to look like the drawing (above) TD 262 according to the Australian archives. ( my copy of that drawing came from the file specifying the fit out ) .

The photos from Buna show the sponson Guns removed and the holes welded up with a substantial amount of steel. The diagram above shows ammo and oil amongst other things were put where the guns used to be.

Later hybrid Stuarts almost certainly had the sponson guns removed . some has the semi circular ammo bins as in the M3A1 but with checker plate lids so you could stand on them. I have seen one shot with a seat mounted on the side of the basket-less turret and have seen in the flesh Australian Stuarts with the welded fitting to take that. I for many years thought the bracket was a fitting so either powered or hand traversing gear could be fitted..I could never make sense of it until I saw the seat fitted to the Stuart in the Dutch museum. ( Those were Hybrid M3s. )

I am not sure if we ever used M3 or M3 hybrids with sponson guns though I have seen one resto job with them in place in Australia I have never seen a period photo with them in Australian service.

Des can you say which Stuart you photo was taken from???

Mrs Vampire · #7 16-10-13, 06:31

Carls photo appears to be of Bill O'reilleys Stuart.

I am not confident that is an accurate set up. The rear of the hull appears to have the places for the W/T shelf. I also note the Turret in this tank has the fittings on the turret for a basket....I suspect that some "recreation" has been exercised .

My own Stuart had the #19 fitted in the stbd sponson ...the shock mounts still being in place when I first got the hull way back in 1970 .

Pictured Bill's Installation and turret detail and my own radio installation in an M3A1 .