M3 Stuart light tank, 1942

[nuyt]

The Dutch East Indies were assigned a batch of 50 M3 Stuarts, en route in March 1942 when Java fell. The tanks were subsequently sent to Australia where they served with either the Australian or US Army.
Does anybody know which type/version of M3 this would have been (turret shape etc.)?
Does anybody have pics of the tanks in Australia?

Thanks!
Nuyt

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally posted by ericnuyt
The tanks were subsequently sent to Australia where they served with either the Australian or US Army.
Does anybody know which type/version of M3 this would have been (turret shape etc.)?

Nuyt, expert Paul Handel in M3 Stuart Light Tanks In Action In New Guinea writes: "at least one shipment was “Refugee Cargo”, indicating that a shipment bound for a destination other than Australia was diverted to this country when the original destination was overrun by the Japanese".
Further, Paul notes "in Australia there was great confusion over deliveries allocated and deliveries received, coupled with the fact that ships carrying refugee cargo arrived at undesignated ports and with cargoes unknown to local authorities until unloading and sorting took place. Official records therefore at best can only provide a part picture, ...".
So it seems M3 Light Tanks assigned to the NEI were diverted to - and used by - Australia, but their exact subtype will probably remain unknown. Possibly some of the members of the G103 · Stuart Light Tank mailing list can help to shed further light on this subject?

Regards,
Hanno

[nuyt]

Thanks Hanno for that and the link!
The hunt goes on...

Regards,
Nuyt

[Shane Lovell]

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

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally posted by Shane Lovell
This notes the following US registration numbers and serial numbers and suggests the vehicles were for US forces, not Dutch.

Shane, thanks for your most informative posting.

But, could you please explain the above remark? I'm asking because as far as I know, all vehicles built under US Ordnance contracts got US registration numbers and serial numbers, whether or not they were later sold/lend-leased to foreign nations.

The fact that MV Tosari was a Dutch ship (of the Rotterdam Lloyd) and arrived unexpectedly shortly after the fall of Java, to me is a strong indication this shipment of Stuart tanks was destined for the KNIL.

Possibly the details on the second shipment can either confirm or negate this assumption.

Thanks,
Hanno

[nuyt]

Well, Shane, thank you very much! Thats exactly what I wanted to know. I'll dig up some pics at the AWM site. As I understand it correctly, all these tanks are shown after modification and will look more or less like British Stuarts?

Again, thanks!

Kind regards,
Nuyt
Overvalwagens!

[Crewman]

Originally posted by ericnuyt
Does anybody know which type/version of M3 this would have been (turret shape etc.)?
Does anybody have pics of the tanks in Australia?

The pictorial of the Australian Stuarts.


Library of Congress LC-USE6-D-009207


Library of Congress LC-USE6-D-009218


Library of Congress LC-USE6-D-008519


Library of Congress LC-USE6-D-009222


Library of Congress LC-USE6-D-009232

[Crewman]

Library of Congress LC-USE6-D-009188


Library of Congress LC-USE6-D-009185


Library of Congress LC-USE6-D-009178


Library of Congress LC-USE6-D-009177


Library of Congress LC-USE6-D-009184

[Crewman]

Originally posted by ericnuyt
Does anybody have pics of the tanks in Australia?

Library of Congress LC-USE6-D-005325


Library of Congress LC-USE6-D-009204


Library of Congress LC-USE6-D-009219


Library of Congress LC-USE6-D-009215


Library of Congress LC-USE6-D-009205

[Crewman]

Originally posted by ericnuyt
Does anybody have pics of the tanks in Australia?

Library of Congress LC-USE6-D-009216


Library of Congress LC-USE6-D-009217


Library of Congress LC-USE6-D-009208


Library of Congress LC-USE6-D-009223


Library of Congress LC-USE6-D-009230

[Crewman]

Originally posted by ericnuyt
Does anybody have pics of the tanks in Australia?

Library of Congress LC-USE6-D-009226


Library of Congress LC-USE6-D-009213


Library of Congress LC-USE6-D-009225


Library of Congress LC-USE6-D-009221

[gjamo]

Corowa circa 1950s

[gjamo]

You couldn,t sit on them on a hot day though.

[nuyt]

for all those pics!
Appreciated!
Kind regards,
Nuyt

[Scrivo18]

I have an M3 Stuart that I have been restoring, serial Number 2026 which I believe is one of the refugee tanks referred to in this thread. Please check out the military page at www.scrivens.com.au Shane Lovell has been researeching the history for me

[Bob Moseley (RIP)]

And here is another pic. I had a ride in this a couple of years ago. What a buzz!! Tim fired it up and we disappeared in a cloud of smoke. I love the smell of smoke in the morning. Then drove around the paddock. Like being in a 44 gallon petrol drum over Niagara Falls. Wouldn't have missed it for the world.
Bob

[Col Tigwell]

There is one of these complete and running ona farm about 25 KMS out of Norseman WA.

He also has two Grants, at least one of which was a goer, and he did have interest in getting one complete.

I did about 12 years ago, arrange the swap for a Grant gun, for a set of new tracks for Harold Thomas's Grant.

Regards

Col Tigwell

[Tony Smith]

Originally posted by Shane Lovell
This notes the following US registration numbers and serial numbers and suggests the vehicles were for US forces, not Dutch.

.............
W-302567 2033
...........

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.

HTH

Shane

See this site for further info on the fate on hull No.2033.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally posted by Tony Smith
See this site for further info on the fate on hull No.2033.

M3A1 hull no. 2300 still exists, too. Fascinating!

H.