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Forums - Research / WW2 |
This WW2 forum is intended for asking and discussing reference or historical related issues pertaining to WW2 (1939-1945) subjects. |
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| Subject: | Is TIGER an M3 Hybrid? |  |
| Date: | Jan 6, 2003 |
| From: | mike foncannon | |
Hi Guys,
The new Academy M3A1 kit has caused me to drag out my references and has raised some questions.
I was originally trying to determine if the 1st AD M3A1 named TIGER on the Academy box art had a rounded rear end or not.
Squadron/Signal's STUART:US Light Tanks in Action has a picture of the disabled TIGER on page 16. It shows the partially welded hull.
Hunnicutt's STUART has another photo of TIGER on page 400 being inspected by German troops. Unfortunately, in is also from the left front and doesn't show the rear end.
In their color spread Sqd/Sig depicts TIGER with a rounded rear.
On page 19 they have a caption: "These views illustrate the new rounded engine deck of the welded hull M3A1."
That statement would lead one to believe that all welded hull M3A1's would have the rounded rear.
However, there are several photos in Hunnicutt's STUART that show M3A1's with diesel engines that have welded hulls with angular rear ends.
All riveted M3A1's appear to have the angular end.
I haven't been able to find anything in Hunnicutt that mentions the introduction of the rounded rear end.
(That doesn't mean he didn't cover it, just that I have not finished mining his entire book yet.)
So the rear end was a toss up.
THEN, I noticed something interesting...in the photos of TIGER, the sponson guns are still in place rather than blocked over.
As these guns were eliminated from M3A1 production (with the pilot model having the gun ports blocked over) and the space used for additional mg ammo storage, I suspect TIGER is really a late model M3 with the newer turret.
As such, it would have the M6 gun in an M23 mount but lack the turret basket and powered traverse system. (Hunnicutt, page 142)
These were dubbed Stuart Hybrids in British service.
The only confirmed photo that I have found of the M3 Hybrid (Hunnicutt, p 142) shows an angular rear end and welded sides.
In Sqd/Sig STUART page 16 the top photo is captioned as a Marine M3A1 (Diesel), it is a riveted hull and again the sponson guns are present. Company C, 1st Marine Tk BN. Another possible Hybrid?
Any other ideas? Comments?
hth,
mike
p.s. The Hunnicutt photo of TIGER is evidently the earlier photo in a sequence as the left gun and tripod are still present and the turret and hull hatches are still closed.
In the Sqd/Sig photo there is evidence of the vehicle being picked over and the turret traversed. The left gun and tripod have been removed. |
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