The M3 Stuart, officially known as the Light Tank M3, was the standard American light tank of the early years of the Second World War. Entering British service in 1941, it was first used in combat during Operation Crusader in North Africa, and by the end of that year it was also fighting in the Philippines—making it the first U.S.-crewed tank to face the enemy in tank-to-tank combat. In British service it was named “Stuart” after Confederate cavalry general J. E. B. Stuart, though crews often called it the “Honey” for its smooth ride. The M3 evolved directly from the earlier M2A4 light tank, upgraded with thicker armour, improved suspension, and a revised 37 mm gun. By the standards of light tanks, the Stuart was well armoured, with up to 51 mm on the mantlet and 38 mm on the hull front. Armament included the 37 mm gun and multiple Browning machine guns, though the side sponson mounts were soon abandoned. Early versions, the M3 and M3A1, were powered by aircraft-derived radial engines—either a Continental gasoline engine or a Guiberson diesel. Their tall profile came from the need to fit the driveshaft above the fighting compartment, which also reduced internal space once a turret floor was added. The M3A3 introduced a reshaped hull and improved turret, while retaining the same engine. In 1942, to ease demand for aircraft engines, the U.S. introduced the M5 Stuart, which used twin Cadillac V8 automobile engines linked to automatic transmissions. This made the tank quieter, more reliable, and easier to drive. The M5’s hull was redesigned with sloped armour and higher engine decks, and its M5A1 variant became the standard model. Nearly 9,000 M5s were built, alongside almost 18,000 M3s of all types, making the Stuart one of the most widely produced tanks of the war. An additional variant, the M8 75 mm howitzer motor carriage, used the M5 chassis with an open-topped turret. At first, doctrine treated light tanks like smaller versions of medium tanks, expected to engage both enemy armour and fortified positions. As the war progressed, however, their light armament and armour proved inadequate against heavier German tanks. By 1943, the Stuart’s role shifted mainly to reconnaissance and screening, where its speed and reliability were better assets. In the Pacific, against lighter Japanese tanks, it remained in combat use longer, but in Europe it was gradually replaced by the more powerful M24 Chaffee from late 1944. Though outclassed as the war went on, the Stuart was significant as the Allies’ first widely used light tank, a dependable machine that filled critical roles across multiple theatres and left a legacy of mobility and adaptability in armoured warfare.