The M3 Stuart/light tank M3 was a US light tank of World War II first introduced into service in the British Army in early 1941. Later, an improved version of the tank entered service as the M5 in 1942, to be supplied to British and other allied Commonwealth forces under lend-lease, prior to the entry of the United States into the war.
The British service name "Stuart" came from the U.S. Civil War Confederate general J. E. B. Stuart and was used for both the M3 and the derivative M5 light tank. Unofficially, they were also often called "Honeys" by the British, because of their smooth ride. In U.S. use, the tanks were officially known as "light tank M3" and "light tank M5".
Stuarts were first used in combat in the North African campaign; about 170 were used by the British forces in Operation Crusader (18 November – 30 December 1941). Stuarts were the first American-crewed tanks in World War II to engage the enemy in tank versus tank combat when used in the Philippines in December 1941 against the Japanese. Outside the Pacific War, in later years of WWII, the M3 was used for reconnaissance and screening.
