"Honey tank" - Turret-less or otherwise.

Glad that was of use Ron, you might like this shot of a M5 with the free French
cheers
Les

 

Whilst playing around with the new GOOGLE images search facility I came across this super website that will fit in nicely on this thread.

The opening para sets the scene and explains exactly why the turrets were taken off.

The Canadian Army had both Stuart V (M3A3) and Stuart VI (M5A1) gun tanks on strength in NW Europe. But the Stuart, with its 37 mm gun, was completely outclassed as a gun tank. Therefore they were used as reconnaissance vehicles only. It was found that the removal of the turret turned it into a very fast reconnaissance vehicle. The weight saved increased the speed and the profile was lowered considerably. Most of the Canadian Stuart Vs (M3A3) were used with the turret discarded and they built up a good reputation. They were quite popular as recce vehicles, ammunition carriers, ambulances and troop carriers. Most, if not all Stuart Recce Vehicles used in NW Europe were based on the M3A3 or Stuart V, but a Stuart VI Recce was never in the books. However, this preserved example is the living proof of the resourcefulness of Canadians at war...

Made in Canada - CMP vehicles > Stuart VI Recce

Ron

 

Turret-less!

Video is loud so turn volume down a bit

[YOUTUBE]q4LyxdPQqRA[/YOUTUBE]
Dave

 

Stuart Tank Manuals

 

Stuart that switched sides. Interesting to note a number of instances of captured M3's being used by the Japanese in Burma and the Philippines.
This thread has a few more pictures.
Tanks in World War 2 Forum • View topic - Help ID this tank.

 

Did you watch the other two later videos, Dave?

[YOUTUBE]uDm3aWsghwg[/YOUTUBE]

[YOUTUBE]bEyLfl76MGY[/YOUTUBE]

Slightly amazed if that dog is still with 'em...

I hadn't noticed the later videos. Thanks! They really did a nice job. I had a feeling these guys were pretty competent after the first minute or two of hollering was over in the first one.

Probably half the dogs in the southern US are named Dixie
She seems pretty agile. I bets she gets a lot of experience chasing weird stuff they build.

Dave

 

Wow me, Adam. What type of vehicle did those tracks on the front previously carry?

 

I've got one, A real one that is, was converted post war to turretless by the British Army to tow a 17 pdr AT gun, but I found a turret and have put it back to a turreted M5 !

www.2ndarmoredineurope.co.uk

 

We actually have 8 of them and 13 shermans in the group, you will see some of them in the new war film FURY next November

 

John

Could you oblige by posting a pic here ?

Many thanks !

Ron
(who fought in one, whilst with the 4th QOH)

 

Here is a photo of my wife driving one that my mate [ Rick ] has, she is 5 ft 10 tall tight fit, the other photo from my collection is post war 57 ZR 54 has 10 VDW Class II 6.53. Towing a gun on the back.
Keith

 

Enjoyed reading this thread and a few years late posting a question. Were the first turretless Stuart Recce's that were issued to 8th Army in early 1944 equipped to tow a trailer for equipment or ammunition? Anyone have a picture?

Chris......

 

Ran across this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrAlB1WHL-Q

 

Apart from the Turretless Honey, there was a High Speed Tractor Version of the M2, the for-runner of the M5 Stuart.

You can clearly see the Running gear is almost identical.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M4_Tractor

Regards
Tom