Chars M3A1/A3 yougoslaves

Ci-dessous un article (en anglais) sur un sujet plutôt original:

http://www.tanks-encyclopedia.com/light ... v-service/

L'utilisation et la constitution d'une brigade de chars M3A1/A3 au sein de l'armée de partisans yougoslaves en 1944.

C'est à ma connaissance, le seul cas ou des partisans furent équipés de chars par les alliés (en l’occurrence les anglais) et formèrent une brigade de chars qui combattirent les allemands.

On y voit la transformation de certains de ces chars par le remplacement de la tourelle par le montage d'un canon de 75mm pak40, ou de canons de 20mm Flak38.

[Prosper Vandenbroucke]

Bonjour Olivier,
Très bel référence. Tiens j'ai trouvé un autre texte, lui aussi en anglais. (Désolé)

In 1944,The combined Yugoslavian resistance stumbled upon a problem. The caliber (37mm) of the main gun on the Stuart M3A1/A3 tanks was inadequate for anti-tank duties in 1944/45, but Stuarts were still used, since most German tanks on this front were older (mostly Italian and French models). There was also nothing better available at that time, partly because there were not enough Soviet-supplied weapons. The Partisans, as a result, were forced to use the AEC Mk.II armored car (due to its better firepower, the 6 pounder – 57mm Anti-Tank Gun) for engaging better and stronger enemy tanks in mix units together with Stuart tanks.
But this tactic of using both vehicles types for fighting enemy armor led to a lack of any reconnaissance (vehicle or infantry) element of the brigade. The inability to determine exact information about the enemy forces, in particular, unit strength and exact positions, led to great losses.
By the end of the War, more than 60 Stuart tanks were destroyed or damaged. On several of these damaged tanks, the turrets were removed and Partisan engineers decided to try to mount some captured German weapons, to be used as improvised self-propelled guns with increased firepower. Two confirmed modifications are known; one armed with a German 7.5cm PaK 40 anti-tank gun and the second armed with the 20mm Flak 38 Flakvierling anti-aircraft gun. These modifications were quickly built and put into use without proper testing.



https://live.warthunder.com/post/815266 ... nt=3125197

Bien amicalement
Prosper

Beau sujet !

Je ne connaissais que la rumeur autour du mortier de 120 sur châssis de M3.
Rencontré au détour d'un quizz !

Olivier !

Original en effet .......