Engines of the Red Army in WW2 - M3A1 Light Tank Standard Production

Light Tank M3A1 »Stuart«, standard production series

During early February, 1943, the Russian winter counteroffensive, starting around Stalingrad 2½ months ago, had almost driven the Germans out of the Kaukasus.
The latter found themselves encircled on the Taman peninsula and pressed against the Black Sea shores.
In order to outflank the German defense, the Northern Kaukasus Front launched an amphibious landing operation at the Ozereika bay.
30 »M3L« M3A1 tanks of the 563^rd Independent Tank Batallion were loaded on three ferries (»Bolinder« of Swedish origine) heading for the beaches.
However, instantly discouvered by the German and Roumanian troops, the operation ended in a disaster with the loss of all tanks.
The vehicle shown, participating in the landing, is the standard production version, with

welded hull, rounded at the rear,
sponson machine guns omitted and openings plated over,
armoured tank filler caps and
stowage bin on the front right fender.

Special Thanks to Mr. Claude Gillono, France, for providing precious information.

Sources :

Hunnicutt, »Stuart: A History of the American Light Tank«, volume 1,
Forty, Tanks in Detail 2, M3-M3A1-M3A3, Stuart I to V
Shillito, »Armour in Focus, M3 Series Light Tank«