Soviet M3A1 Stuart, М3 лёгкий – Eastern Front
The first American tank delivered to the Soviet Union under Lend-Lease was the M3 light tank, known in British service as the Stuart. An initial agreement was reached between the U.S. and the Soviet Union in October 1941 for the delivery of 94 M3 light tanks. These tanks came from the September and October 1941 acceptance batches. The first 31 tanks arrived with convoy PQ.6 at Murmansk on December 20, 1941. However, U.S. records do not list any tank deliveries to the Soviet Union in 1941, possibly because they were considered delivered only after Soviet acceptance in January 1942. Soviet documents sometimes referred to these as M2A4 tanks, though they were in fact M3 light tanks.
The tanks were sent to a training school in Gorkiy, and additional deliveries followed. Notably, 201 tanks arrived with convoy PQ.15 on May 5, 1942, 147 with PQ.16 on May 29, and 39 tanks with PQ.17 on July 10, though PQ.17 suffered heavy losses. Land routes through Iran were subsequently developed, with the first 102 M3 tanks arriving through this route in September 1942, contributing to a total of 298 M3 tanks delivered via Iran in 1942.
In Soviet service, the M3 light tank was designated as the M3L (“L” for legkhiy, or light), distinguishing it from the M3 medium tank (designated M3S, “S” for sredniy, or medium). The M3L saw its first combat action in the spring of 1942 during the fighting around Kharkov.
Mixed Reception and Combat Performance
Soviet opinions on the M3L varied. In May 1942, Vyacheslav Malyshev, the Commissar of the Tank Industry, advised against acquiring more American tanks after tests at the Kubinka proving ground near Moscow showed vulnerability to Molotov cocktails and issues with the flat rubber tracks, which were seen as ineffective on varied terrain. Instead, Malyshev recommended acquiring more American trucks.
However, Gen-Lt Vladimir S. Tamruchi, the commander of armored forces on the Southwestern Front, provided a more balanced assessment. In June 1942, he praised the M3L for its good maneuverability and handling, noting that its 37mm gun performed better than the Soviet 45mm gun and the British 2-pounder. Tamruchi also disputed concerns over the tracks, pointing out that the tank offered quieter movement on dry ground. He did note, however, that the M3L was prone to rollovers due to its high and narrow design and that its rubber pads, meant for crew safety, could become a fire hazard. Overall, he found the M3L suitable for mobile operations but less effective for infantry support due to its weaker armor.
Later Deliveries and Variants
Soviet evaluations of Lend-Lease tanks varied significantly, with some commanders offering praise and others critiquing the same features. Despite mixed reviews, the M3L was considered superior to the Soviet T-60 light tank and later the T-70, which was introduced in late 1942.
The improved M3A1 light tank began arriving in late 1942. This model featured a redesigned turret with a turret basket, but Soviet testers at Kubinka found the new turret cramped. Interestingly, the British shared this opinion, and both armies preferred the earlier versions of the M3. By April 1943, about 340 M3A1 tanks had been delivered, marking the final U.S. Lend-Lease deliveries of this type. A few M5A1 light tanks were also sent to the Soviet Union, but the Red Army showed little interest in this variant.