Mystery surrounds the full history of this M3A3 Stuart Light tank on display at the superb WWII Museum at Quineville, north of the Utah Beach landing area.
Built in the US between 1942 and 1943 at one of the American Car & Foundry Company’s factories, it was one of 3,427 units constructed. Evolved from earlier models, the A3 versions had an improved hull, uprated and sloped armour, and an additional space at the rear of the turret to incorporate a larger radio system.
The M3A3 would have been armed with a 37mm main gun and three 7.62 machine gun with a crew of four serving inside. Power was from a Continental W670-9A powerplant, a seven-cylinder radial engine also used in aircraft such as the Boeing Stearman. It developed 262 horsepower and could propel the 14.7 tonne tank up to 50km/h.
Sadly, the original factory serial number on this vehicle was removed and replaced by a new plate during the time it was in service with French armed forces, making it difficult to chart its exact journey.
However, it’s believed it served with General Leclerc’s 2nd Armoured Division which landed on Utah Beach at Saint Martin de Varreville on August 1, 1944 – a Division which made its way from the beach to help liberate Paris.
What part it played in that liberation remains unknown, although further research is being undertaken by the new owners of the museum - the current custodians of this remarkable tank - and they are doing their best to restore it and discover its true history.
On the outside you can see it carries many scars, although it’s believed these aren’t from battle but from its status as a firing range target following the end of the war. Up close you can see impacts of heavy arms fire, as well as a couple of areas which seem to have been impacted by either air-dropped training rounds or explosive munitions. During a restoration process a few years ago a live round was discovered jammed into one of the wheel bogeys!
We were also granted an exclusive look inside the tank and it’s in a pretty good state given the vehicle’s later role in life. As with most vehicles on display it’s missing its engine and items from the crew compartment, as well as the original guns.
While much of the white paint has faded inside, there are areas where it remains and these highlight some of the markings used by the crew – including stowage markings for a canteen, decontamination kit, and the tank’s periscope.
If anyone has any further information which could shed light on this vehicle then please get in touch.
Huge thanks to Tim and Oceane at the WWII Museum in Quineville for allowing us access to the inside of the Stuart tank.