Stuart

Three:

 

This 3-part video interview will interest you then:
http://memory.loc.gov/diglib/vhp/story/loc.natlib.afc2001001.07755/

 

The M24 was a light tank that had that lower profile, sleeker, longer design, but still maintained the "light" status and had a 75mm. I'm sure it weighed more than a Stuart, but it was lighter than a medium tank.

 

Chaffee was very much a 'next generation' machine.
M5 a push towards standardisation & simplification using some older-fashioned design work.
M24 arguably the first really standardised machine, springing from lessons learnt on the M5 & others.
Evolution over revolution.

 

Lots of Stuart running gear:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-6rvEvc3IE

 

I know I asked somewhere, but not sure if I ever got to the bottom of where this little demonstration occurred.


Makes me think of the cresting demonstration of a WW1 rhomboid for the king, which resulted in most of the crew being knocked unconscious...

 

Given my fading memory I think I read somewhere that the Stuart/Honey's had a very low casualty rate which seems a bit implausible until KB reminded me of their recon role. Beats the hell out of a jeep and better than a half tract. As for fear factor laughter can be very distracting too. You have to like the gawkey critters.

Gaines