Stuart VI Recce (was: Stuart Recce replacement)

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Found on FB:

"These photos are from a US Army 4t Corps history of the campaign across NW Italy pushing the Germans to and across the Po River."
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Bob Holt added:

"Nice assortment of photos. There were a couple of posts over on the U.S. Tanks & TDs in Italy FB group about the photo with the turretless Stuart and fascine carrier in US service. These vehicles belonged to a US Provisional Armored Engineer Assault Company that was formed in preparation for the Spring 1945 Po Valley offensive. The turretless Stuart carries 751st Tank Battalion markings. All of the independent tank battalions had to exchange their new M24s to the 1st AD in March 1945. The 751st drew some badly beaten up M5/M5A1s in the exchange, which they deemed unfit for combat. It's possible that they converted this one to a personnel carrier since it had limited value as a fighting machine."
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