Stuart VI Recce (was: Stuart Recce replacement)

[Alex van de Wetering]

A couple of pictures of a Polish Stuart IV Recce. I am not sure when or where the pictures were taken, but the 1st Polish Armoured division sign can clearly be seen in the second picture.

Stefan; hope you are doing well......hope to catch up with you soon!

Source: https://www.facebook.com/WheelsofLiberation/

[Stefan Leegwater]

Hi Alex,

Great pictures again!

Look forward to catch up!

Stefan

[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."

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."

[Alex van de Wetering]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

When updating this thread by attaching the pictures and fixing the links, I found that there are two more pictures of Stuart VI Recces of the Recce Troop of the 8th Kings Royal Irish Hussars (RAC).

These pictures show a Stuart VI Recce being transported to Berlin in 1945:

Attachment 110367 Attachment 110368 Attachment 110366

For the Berlin Parade of July 21st 1945, maybe?

picture attached from a contact sheet from the Canadian Archives, Berlin parade July 21st 1945. Also attached is a pictures from the Imperial War Museum, BU 9078 that shows the two Turretless M5A1's.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

Click here to see pictures and details of Stuart VI, PRESS ON, CT271427. It was brought home by Lincoln and Welland Regiment after WW2.

Here are some more recent photos of CT271427 made by Trevor Worthy in 2021:

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Sherman VC Firefly at Kleve, Germany, February 1945.

Looks like a Stuart VI Recce on the left.