M3 Stuart

But not as crazy as the British regimental system. A man can blow a fuse trying to figure that system out.

Here's a sample of US M-1 nomenclatures of the WW2 era.

M-1 bayonet
M-1 carbine
M-1 chemical mine
M-1 combat car (a light tank armed w/machine guns)
M-1 garand
M-1 helmet
M-1 mortar
M-1 rocket launcher (a precursor to the bazooka)
M-1 Thompson sub-machinegun
M-1 Thompson carbine (fired a 30 caliber round)
M-1 90 mm gun
M-1 gun 120 mm gun
M-115 howitzer (AKA M-1 8" howitzer)
M-1 flame thrower

 

What's wrong with:

[SIZE=10pt]M1 8-ton Artillery Prime Mover (1932)
M1 Cunningham Armored Car (1934)
M1 Scout Car (1935)
M1 Half-Track Car (1939) [/SIZE]
[SIZE=10pt]M1 75mm Pack Howitzer (1927)
M1 105mm Antiaircraft Gun (1927)
M1 105mm Field Howitzer (1928)
M1 90mm (Anti-Motor Torpedo Boat) Gun
M1 155mm Field Gun (1938)
M1 4.7-inch (later reclassified as 120mm) Antiaircraft Gun (1943)
M1 90mm Antiaircraft Gun (1940)
M1 37mm Antiaircraft Gun (1940)
M1 155mm Field Howitzer (1941)
M1 4.5-inch Field Gun (1941)
M1 57mm Antitank Gun (1941)
M1 40mm Automatic (Antiaircraft) Gun (1941)
M1 240mm Field Howitzer (1943)
M1 8-inch Field Howitzer (1944)
M1 8-inch Field Gun (1944) [/SIZE]
M1 Cavalry Combat Car (1935)
[SIZE=10pt]M1 Light Tank (1928)[/SIZE]
[SIZE=10pt]M1 Medium Tank (1928)[/SIZE]

 

I Don't know, ask Poppy.
Though his mind may now have been blown even more, so it may take a while for an answer. :unsure:

Next week, learning to live with the wild world of Sd.Kfz. Numbers!

 

Yes, poor fellow probably needs a sedagive.

He'll need another when you start adding the (r), (f) and (t)s to the Sd Kfz numbers

 

We've been teasing Poppy (only because we know you can take it but he makes a good point.

Didn't the informal names like Stuart, Grant and Lee begin with the British?

Before that, I can see Poppy's point. "There are 10 M3s available." "M3 medium tanks" seems awkward in normal conversation.

The Navy calls the F-18E/F the Rhino and not Hornet because it weights over 5 tons more than the earlier Hornet version and they don't want to take a chance setting the catapult or arresting wires for the wrong plane, which would be a disaster.

 

The whole "naming" thing is such a kettle of fish I'm devoting an entire chapter to it in For Purpose of Service Test. The long and short of it is it is difficult to say. U.S. Army Ordnance had to be dragged kicking and screaming to the realization that naming ordnance like the Army Air Force did its planes would be a cool thing. The British may have started the actual naming with the Stuart and Grant, but that is hardly clear either. About the best you can say is that the naming began sometime in 1941.

 

There was also an M3 halftrack.
Moral is don't ask for a "spring for an M3".

 

When I first joined the 4th Queen's Own Hussars in 1945 I was to discover my tank was a Stuart Mk 3 with no turret !.

When, many years later I visited the tank museum in Latrun, Israel I was shown a Mk 3 but WITH it's turret

http://ww2talk.com/forums/gallery/album/82-visit-to-the-tank-museum-at-latrun/

Ron

 

Turned into a good read. Appreciate all the info.
Thanks always to Mr Goldstein.

Got a little frustrated with my continued inability to make a point.
If i could, would try to not make another point again:

My book ref-
The M3 has a 37mm main gun, has 44.5mm (1.75 inch) max and 10mm (.375 inch) minimum armour, and weighs 27,400.
The M3 has a 75mm main gun, has 37mm max- 12mm minimum armour, weighs 60,000.

Both entered service in '41.

Are there any other WW2 tanks with the same nomenclature 'M3' or other, where there is such a huge discrepancy between them- 31,000 pounds and a 38 mm larger gun/armour and the roles intended for each.
I could see buddy asking for an M4 and getting an older model low velocity 75 mm rather than an Easy 8 or Firefly.
But if you asked for an M3 and got a 37 mm armed model...

 

The book is in error, the M3 medium's max armor should be 51mm, and not 37mm.

Further, no matter which M3 tank you asked for...You were getting a 37mm gun.

 

Sorry, but you remain confused. The "nomenclature" was not the same. The nomenclature was:

"Medium Tank M3" or "Light Tank M3".

Do you notice the difference? Just to be clear, I will highlight the difference for you in BOLD this time:

"MEDIUM Tank M3" or "LIGHT Tank M3".

Do you see now?

BOTH had a turreted 37mm gun. ONLY the Medium Tank M3 had a 75mm gun, mounted in a limited traverse mount in the right sponson.

So yes, the Germans had a tank with the nomenclature of "M3" as well. And yes there was a huge discrepancy between a Panzerkampfwagen III, Ausführung A and an Ausführung K.

Similarly, the British had three tanks designated the "Mark III". A Light Tank Mark III. A Cruiser Tank Mark III. And a Infantry Tank Mark III. All very different beasts.

Each had very different gun and armor combinations.

 

We can agree.
Looking forward to your bits in- For Purpose of Service Test.

 

Always happy to have agreement, but it is understanding I am more concerned about right now.

I hope 500+ pages of "bits" is something to look forward to.