Bolt Action - M3 Stuart Plastic Kit
This box contains 1 x plastic M3 Light tank with options to use:

• 5 MMG
• Flamethrower
• External Fuel tanks
• Sand guards
• Rounded or plate turret variants

The British Army was the first to use the "Stuart" in combat. About 170 Stuarts took part in Operation Crusader proving superior or comparable to most of the tanks used by the Axis forces. Crews liked its relatively high speed, smooth ride and mechanical reliability, hence the name "Honey" was occasionally used by crews as it drove "Sweet like Honey".

During 1942, the British started keeping Stuarts out of tank-to-tank combat because as a lightly armed light tank they were outgunned by the heavier German vehicles, using them primarily for reconnaissance.

The M3 was also the first American crewed tank to engage an enemy tank. Fighting their first tank battle in December 1941, when a platoon of five M3s led by Lieutenant Ben R. Morin engaged the Imperial Japanese Army (IJA) 4th Tank Regiment's Type 95 Ha-Go light tanks north of Damortis.

Stuarts were also supplied in large numbers to the Soviet Union.

After their experiences in Africa, the US army disbanded the light tank battalions, adding them as recce to their medium tank battalions.

Many upgrades were developed such as man packed flame throwers, or with the turret removed, as a "Stuart Recce". Some others were converted to armoured personnel carriers known as the "Stuart Kangaroo", and some were converted command vehicles.

The M3A1 made its combat debut on Guadalcanal, where it was part the 1st Marine Tank Battalion in 1941 where it proved an excellent tank in jungles against the ill equipped Japanese, serving with both the US and British forces until gradual replacement by the Sherman from 1944.

Box also contains the new Bolt Action Stat Cards for two versions of this tank, Damage Markers and Decals

Note: Models supplied unassembled and unpainted