US Stuart light tanks in Newfoundland in WWII?

[Sid Guttridge]

Hi Hoist40,

Thanks - definitely M3s, then.

Cheers,

Sid.

[ROLAND1369]

I agree that they are both are M3s, however they are clearly not the same vehicles. The first pictures show early production M3s with the early riveted turret with cupola and pistol ports. while the second set of the Newfoundland parade show the late production version with the welded turret without commanders cupola and pistol ports. Thus unless the unit was reequipped with new tanks the pictures are of different units. To me this supports the conclusion that the first photo shows Marine tanks while the Newfoundland tanks are Army. The army tended to get newer equipment first.

[Sid Guttridge]

Hi Roland,

Thanks.

All that is left is to establish the unit, of which I can find no trace. I guess it was an independent company, or less, that was too small for inclusion in OB books.

Cheers,

Sid.

[Richard Anderson]

Hi Roland,

Thanks.

All that is left is to establish the unit, of which I can find no trace. I guess it was an independent company, or less, that was too small for inclusion in OB books.

Cheers,

Sid.

The only possibility remains the 10th Light Tank Company, en route to Iceland, as a morale builder.

[OpanaPointer]

Have we ruled out Confederate cavalry?

[Richard Anderson]

Have we ruled out Confederate cavalry?

[Sid Guttridge]

Hi Richard,

The problem with that is that the photo is attributed variously to 1942 and 1943, whereas the 10th passed through in 1941.

Perhaps it left a platoon behind?

Cheers,

Sid.

[Sid Guttridge]

Hi Opanapointer,

Well, it is a Stuart in the photo, so perhaps we should not discount that possibility entirely?

Cheers,

Sid.

[OpanaPointer]

Hi Opanapointer,

Well, it is a Stuart in the photo, so perhaps we should not discount that possibility entirely?

Cheers,

Sid.

Bobby Lee is probably looking for him again.

[Richard Anderson]

Hi Richard,

The problem with that is that the photo is attributed variously to 1942 and 1943, whereas the 10th passed through in 1941.

Perhaps it left a platoon behind?

Cheers,

Sid.

No it didn't, the 10th Light Tank Company was organized 15 February 1942 and went to Iceland immediately thereafter. Which is what I thought I said?

The Marines went to Iceland in 1941 in June, stopping in Newfoundland on the way on 7 July.

There is no reason the 10th Light Tank Company didn't do the same en route in February 1942.

[Sid Guttridge]

Hi Richard,

Your posts are quite clear on rereading them. I was conflating the Marine and Army tank companies in error. Sorry.

The Marines' stop over at Argentia in 1941 appears to have been forced on them while diplomatic wrangling went on over their deployment.

However, it seems unlikely that 10th Light Tank Company was held up for the same reason.

I agree that 10th Light Tank Company is the best bet.

I have checked several Newfoundland books, but I can still find no reference to the parade, so the year remains in question, with 1942 the most likely.

Many thanks,

Sid.

[OpanaPointer]

Any Newfie newspapers online?

[Sid Guttridge]

Hi Guys,

I have finally come across a battered copy of Cardoulis's book, A Friendly Invasion.

On p.49 his caption on the photgraph reads, "The general public was astonished when, during a joint American-Canadian military parade in 1942, these tanks came into view. The US Army had twelve of these tanks assigned to the military at Fort Pepperrell."

So it appears we are dealing with a full company, but still have no definitive confirmation as to its identity.

Cheers,

Sid.

[nlhistorysleuth]

Check out my blog post on this very tank:

https://newfoundlandtea.substack.com/p/ ... asure-hunt

Please share info if you have some.

Thanks.

[T. A. Gardner]

I have seen a photo of US Stuart light tanks at a parade in Newfoundland in WWII. They presumably came from a US base there.

Does anyone know what unit they belonged to, how many of them there were, and how long they were present in Newfoundland?

Many thanks,

Sid.

This is the only possibility I can see. On 15 February 1942, Company C, 70th Tank Battalion (Light) was detached and embarked for Iceland where it was re-designated the 10th Light Tank Company. It is possible they did a stop over en route at Newfoundland and did a parade morale builder.

Well, the Iceland convoys did organize at Argentina in Newfoundland before sailing. At least some of the units involved went there by rail or land so it is possible I'd think the tanks were sent there by rail and the "parade" was so they could get to the ship they were loading onto.