M3A3 Stuart - Quineville Museum - Utah Beach - Normandy.

The M3 Light tank was developed after the American tank designers realized that the Light Tank M2 was becoming obsolete and set about improving it, the M2 was based upon the prototype T2 light tank built by Rock Island Arsenal, after it became clear that the US Army was ill-prepared as far as armored vehicles, training and tactics went. and in 1939 it became clear that a new model, which could be favorably compared to the European models, had to be studied for mass production. The upgraded design, had thicker armor, and for the time the M3 was heavily armored for a Light Tank, it also had modified suspension and new gun recoil system and would be called the Light Tank M3. Production of the vehicle started in March 1941 and continued until October 1943. The M3 was initially armed with a 37 mm M5 gun and five .30-06 Browning M1919A4 machine guns, on top of the turret in an M20 anti-aircraft mount, in a ball mount in right bow, and in the right and left hull sponsons. Later, the gun was replaced with