Hi gents, newbie here.
I hope you don't mind my commenting, but I've just finished reading a great book called Taming The Panzers - Monty's Tank Battalions (3RTR at War) where the turretless modification to the Stuart gets a mention.
The reasoning behind removing the turret in the first place was apparently that it stuck up too high over the 'bocage' hedging in France when the recce units were belting round the small lanes. As the turret (a) offered minimal protection, (b) made an ideal target and (c) the armament was pretty useless by then, it was therefore decided to get rid.
Apparently after removing the turret, the 3RTR recce Sqn guys welded a semi-circle of steel (usually from a knocked out Sherman or suchlike) over half the remaining hole and mounted a MG on the new base.
Unfortunately, the book was woefully short of pics of the conversion.
HTH
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