Originally restricted, this WWII training film “Vehicular Firing M5 Light Tank” shows a “preflight” readiness checklist performed by the crew, and then focuses on the role of the gunner, who is tasked with operating the 37mm gun. After a combat training exercise, the procedures for shutting down and stowing the tank are shown. The narrator focuses on the role of the Stuart in taking out enemy machine gun, anti-tank, and emplacement positions — but notes at 1:40 that it was “never intended” to take out enemy heavy armor, especially at long ranges. The instruction provided is to close with 400 yards of an enemy tank, and then aim the highly-precise 37mm gun at an enemy tank’s weak spot (such as the tread). At (2:15), a Stuart crew is shown at a practice range. The crew is described — first the tank commander / assistant gunner / coaxial machine gunner is shown, the gunner, a bow gunner in charge of the bow machine gun and assistant driver, and the driver (3:00). At (3:15) steps to start the tank are shown including warming up the vacuum tube based interphone. At (3:52) the tank is buttoned up. At (4:15) the .30 caliber machine gun is inspected and made ready. At (5:12) the turret is unlocked and traversed. At (6:26) the gyro control unit is put to vertical and the gun freed. The stabilizer and stiffness of the gun is adjusted (7:00) to keep the recoil uniform. At (7;29) the gas line for the motor is opened. At (8:14) the 37mm gun is thoroughly checked out and the electronic firing controls inspected. At (9:27) the breech is opened and ammunition boxes inspected. At (9:56) the commander installs his periscope. At (10:11) the gun is aligned with the periscope sight by using a fire tower as an aiming point. The barrel of the gun is aligned by eye. Animation shows this more clearly. At (13:20) spare heads are also aligned (in case one is damaged in combat). At (13:40) a direct vision scope is mounted. At (14:39) battle conditions are simulated on the range, with the commander using a periscope to view the situation. Various commands are demonstrated, including loading of various types of ammunition, and firing range and position. At (17:20) the method of determining a target’s range and position is demonstrated through animation. At (19:40) use of tracer ammunition is demonstrated, including use of the coaxial machine gun’s tracers to help locate the target. At (20:30) methods of correcting aim are summarized. At (21:23) use of a lead table to hit a moving enemy vehicle is shown. At (22:44) the after-action procedures are shown, including unloading the machine guns, opening the hatches, refilling all the ammo racks and boxes, and securing the gun and turret.
The M5 Light Tank was an improved version of the American M3 Stuart/Light Tank M3. The M5 was created after the Cadillac Division of GMC suggested to the Ordnance Department to install twin Cadillac engines and a commercial Cadillac Hydramatic transmission in an M3. The idea was more or less proved after the tank made a 500 mile test run. Due to the always acute shortage of Continental engines, the modified vehicle was approved for production and standardised as the Light Tank M5 in February 1942. (It was originally to be designated Light Tank M4, but this was changed to M5 to avoid confusion with the M4 medium tank (Sherman), then going into production.) The M5 model ended up being quieter, cooler and roomier than the M3, and the automatic transmission greatly simplified crew training.
The M3 tanks first entered combat service in North Africa through the lend-lease program in 1941. In British / Commonwealth service the tank was known as the “Stuart” (after Confederate general J. E. B. Stuart) or more colloquially as the “honey” because of its cushy ride. Roughly 170 M3s were used by the British forces in Operation Crusader (18 November – 30 December 1941). M3s were the first American-crewed tanks to engage the enemy in tank versus tank combat when used in the Philippines in December 1941. The first American M5s to see combat action were part of Operation Torch. In the later years of WWII the M3 and M5 were used primarily for reconnaissance and screening. In all, 2075 M5s were produced (including British versions) during the war.
This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com
