[Mrs Vampire]

Hi
My two bobs worth.

The first batch of M3 Stuarts ( the refugee cargo Dutch ones used in Buna etc) were modified to look like the drawing (above) TD 262 according to the Australian archives. ( my copy of that drawing came from the file specifying the fit out ) .

The photos from Buna show the sponson Guns removed and the holes welded up with a substantial amount of steel. The diagram above shows ammo and oil amongst other things were put where the guns used to be.

Later hybrid Stuarts almost certainly had the sponson guns removed . some has the semi circular ammo bins as in the M3A1 but with checker plate lids so you could stand on them. I have seen one shot with a seat mounted on the side of the basket-less turret and have seen in the flesh Australian Stuarts with the welded fitting to take that. I for many years thought the bracket was a fitting so either powered or hand traversing gear could be fitted..I could never make sense of it until I saw the seat fitted to the Stuart in the Dutch museum. ( Those were Hybrid M3s. )


I am not sure if we ever used M3 or M3 hybrids with sponson guns though I have seen one resto job with them in place in Australia I have never seen a period photo with them in Australian service.

Des can you say which Stuart you photo was taken from???