M3A1 Stuart (new project) - August 9th, 2024

Hello everyone. It's me Antony, back with another Blog in 2024. We are now on August 9th - past the half of 2024.

I know. I've been absent without writing anything new here. Job, studies, playing video-games, watching some YouTube videos, listening to some musics and doing my chores at some moments.

I'm now working on the new role as health community agent. These days were pretty nice and easy, despite they were related to the administrative, reception and pharmacy routines. Few were related to the role we (my colleagues and I) shall perform. For now we are in the training phase.

The 8th semester is finished. Another thing I won't be bothered with. After the second university, I'll give a break for good.

New Nightwave intermission chapter is now complete, again. Yet, I'm waiting for the new 1999 update where you can play as Arthur (Excalibur).

Enough of that, let's go to the important thing in this Blog. I'm going to bring new images of a new project I started recently. I said I won't start another one while I have lots of them to finish. Again, my habit of starting new projects projects spoke louder.

First of all, I wanted to share the images of the new project in my previous Blog, but somehow I couldn't upload more images. I guess Google has lot of technical issues to solve in Blogger/Blogspot. It might make me to search for alternative places to share my content in case Blogger/Blogspot presents a considerable number of issues and lose interest in the long run. Still, let's go to the important thing for today.

The new tank I started is the American M3A1 Light Tank - nicknamed as the Stuart tank. As always, I like to share the story of planes, vehicles, ships, weapons and more.

The M3 and the M5 Light Tank, popularly known as the Stuart tank by the British after the Confederate general J. E. B. Stuart, are a series of light tanks built in the United States that were used by the Americans and the Commonwealth forces during WW2. When World War 2 started, the Americans observed the tanks' performance in Europe and Asia - realizing that their M2 Light Tanks were obsolete due to its 37 mm gun and thin armor protection against the German, Japanese, French and British tanks. In response, the engineers designed an improved version of the tank with a new gun recoil system, thicker armor, and modified suspension system, designated as the M3 Light Tank. Production of the vehicle started in March 1941 and continued until October 1943. It was fairly heavily armored compared to its rivals and adversary tanks, although its vantage was speed and mobility. Both the M3 and M3A1 models were equipped with an air-cooled radial engine, either a gasoline-fueled 7-cylinder Continental W-670 (8,936 built) or a 9-cylinder Guiberson T-1020 diesel (1,496 built). However these two engines were demanded for new aircraft. To relieve the demand for these radial engines, a new version was developed using twin Cadillac V8 automobile engines and twin Hydra-Matic transmissions operating through a transfer case. It was called the M4 but soon was renamed as M5 to avoid confusion with the M4 Sherman. The first action was the North African campaign with about 700 Stuarts being sent to Britain to face Italian forces from Egypt to Maroccos, later the German Afrika Korps commanded by Erwin Rommel. During Operation Crusader, the Stuart tanks proved to be comparable against the Panzer III Ausf. G but superior when facing the Italians L3/33 and the Fiat M13/40 in mechanical characteristics. However some issues were met by British crewmen when operating the Stuart like the 37 mm M5 guns being weaker to penetrate heavier armor, poor internal layout and limited range, which was a severe problem in the highly mobile desert warfare as units often outpaced their supplies and were stranded when they ran out of fuel. On the other hand, crews liked its relatively high speed and mechanical reliability, especially compared to the Crusader tank - the main British Cruiser tank. Compared to the American model the Crusader had the same armor protection but the British tank was slower, less reliable and several tons heavier. In addition, the Stuart could receive High-Explosive shells to counter infantry and anti-tank guns emplacement, which at that time the HE shells were not available for the 40 mm QF 2-pdr gun mounted by most Crusaders. In contrast the Crusader had higher fuel capacity and greater range than the Stuart. The British used the Light Tank until 1942 when they relegated it to reconnaissance as most German Panzer received more advanced guns like the 75 mm KwK 40 from the Panzer IV and the dreadful Tiger I with its 88 mm KwK 36 gun. Some Stuart tanks had their turrets removed to save weight and increase mobility and range. These were designated as Stuart Recce for recon roles and Stuart Kangaroo as Armored Personnel Carriers. In the US, the M3A1 and the M5A1 saw action in North Africa, the Mediterranean, the Western Front in Europe and in the Pacific Theater. In Europe, most of the crewmen were tasked to make reconnaissance and avoid combat with German tanks, especially against the Tiger and Panther tanks. In the Pacific Islands, most of the American tanks proved superior against Japanese tanks, mainly the Type 95 Ha-Go light tanks. One of the major variants were the Ronson flamethrower-equipped tanks - nicknamed as the M3 and M3A1 Satan. Another Allied major power that operated the Stuart tanks was the Soviet Union but the conditions in the Eastern Front were difficult for the American light tanks. The Soviets didn't enjoy it due to its narrow tracks that resulted in higher ground pressure, especially in muddy terrain during the Rasputitsa; and the engine required high-octane fuel, which complicated Soviet logistics as most of their tanks used diesel or low-octane fuel. Other nations included the Republic of China, Italy, Mexico, Portugal, Belgium, Colombia, Cuba, Venezuela and Brazil - with Bernardini S/A Indústria e Comércio developing a series of radical Stuart upgrades for the Brazilian Army in the 1970s, designated as the X1A with a new 280 hp Saab-Scania diesel engine, a new improved suspension, new upper hull armor, fire controls and DEFA 90 mm gun in a new turret. Variants included the X1A1 and the X1A2; and others. The last nation that continued operating the M3 and M3A1 is Paraguay with 10 units in service and 4 in storage.

Here's the images of the M3A1 Stuart:








As usual, the M3A1 received some components from my previous projects, like the wheels, the tracks, the 37 mm gun and the Bogie suspension system from the M4A1 / M3 tanks. The chassis, the turret and the top plates were made separately. It looks good, despite I may change the forward section of the M3A1. The suspension system, the turret, the sights and the gun mantlet requires a refinement.

Next components are: the engine exhaustion outlets, the antenna, the Browning machine guns (the barrels and the M1919 Browning placed on top of the turret), the tools, the decals, a nice texture and rigging the tank.

After the M3A1, I plan to make the other Stuart tanks like the M3, the M5 and the M5A1.

Well, that's it for now my friends. I hope you like this Blog. Let us hope this year bring us new content and something different from the usual. In case I have some spare time to enjoy, I'll be working on other things aside from Blender projects and my personal things. Until the time comes, you will be surprised to see them. See you next time.

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