Three entries from me in a week? Yes, I'm treating you.
The M3 Stuart equipped 2/6 Armoured Regiment was the first Australian tank unit to serve in Papua New Guinea. A squadron arrived in Port Moresby in September 1942; in November HQ and C squadron arrived, and B squadron was initially deployed to Milne Bay. In December, B and C squadrons were shipped to Buna on the northern coast. where they took part in the fighting at Buna and Sanananda.
Of course, it was soon realised that a fast, lightly armoured reconnaissance tank was not best suited to jungle warfare, with many tanks lost to Japanese anti-aircraft and infantry guns. It also didn't help that the crews and the infantry had never been trained to cooperate. However, the 37mm guns did help with taking out Japanese bunkers.
This tank is for 8 troop of B squadron. The 2/6th Armoured Regiment is the only one which fought in the Pacific that I haven't been able to find tank names for, so I just went with "Billy".
The model is 1/56 from Blitzkrieg Miniatures. The hull and tracks are cast as a single piece, with a separate resin turret and metal guns. I'm not sure if it shows up in the photos, but the master must have been 3D printed as there are some ridges which hadn't been cleaned up. I didn't notice them until it came to painting. I do want to add a few more Stuarts to my Australian force for "Big ChOC" games based around the Buna and Sananands campaigns.
For scoring, this is one 28mm vehicle which gives me 20 points and an entry for the "What a Tanker!" prize.
To misuse an old advertising slogan for a popular confectionary, With this tank, you're really spoiling us! Nicely done Tamsin, three entries in one day. You must be exhausted, I certainly am!
I like the Stuart Tank, its got a very 'cavalry' feel about it that must have appealed to those old mounted regiments that had their horses replaced with armour. Tally HO! Although I doubt there were many tank charges in the Jungle!!
Great entry Tamsin, and 20 Points well earned.
Lee
Lovely looking Stuart! Great little tank!
ReplyDeleteBest Iain
Oh 'Honey', that's a smashing little Stuart. See what I did there?
ReplyDeleteAhem.
I have one of the later models sitting in the wings and I hope I can come close to your's in quality. Good one Tamsin!
Nice Stuart Tamsin. I wouldn’t fancy clanking around the jungle in one of those!
ReplyDeleteExcellent work. Cheers
ReplyDeleteLovely looking tank.
ReplyDeleteTop looking tank, Love all the sh... sorry mud on it, looks proper lived in 👍
ReplyDeleteLovely looking tank there Tamsin!
ReplyDeleteTerrific-looking tank, Tamsin. Wonderful weathering :-)
ReplyDeleteGreat job Tamsin - looks great.
ReplyDeleteGreat work Tamsin.
ReplyDeleteThe Stuart is one of my favourite tanks. Somehow, it seems cute. And this is a really nice version, Tamsin. As this one's Aussie and you say they "brewed up" pretty readily, I guess that makes it a Billy can.
ReplyDeleteLovely job
ReplyDeleteThat’s a great looking little tank Tamsin!
ReplyDeleteVery good painting work and a balanced weathering in that tank, Tamsin. I have an eye for ight vehciles (either Allied or Axis) and this is really nice
ReplyDeleteAhh! You commented while I was replying to all the others!
DeleteThanks! I tried to keep the weathering as light as possible, but still portraying the muddy environment it was working in :)
@ Lee - cheers! I recall reading many years ago that the colonel of a Stuart regiment in the Western Desert did order his regiment to charge :)
ReplyDelete@ Iain - thanks! :)
@ Curt - cheers! I did see what you did there. I'll look forward to seeing your later Stuart :)
@ Peter D - thanks! It wasn't the best suited tank for jungle warfare; the Australians switched to Matildas for the later campaigns :)
@ Brendon - cheers! :)
@ Scooba - thanks! :)
@ Ken - cheers! It is mud, not sh**! :)
@ Paul O'G - thanks! :)
@ Simon - cheers! :)
@ Greg - thanks! :)
@ Alan - cheers! :)
@ Noel - thanks! And *groan* :)
@ Dave D - cheers! :)
@ Nick - thanks! :)
Very nice! This brings back memories of my 1/76 Matchbox one.
ReplyDeleteVery nice, the green is very nicely done.
ReplyDeleteVery cool tank Tamsin.
ReplyDeleteChristopher
Great work on the Stuart Tamsin!
ReplyDelete@ Barks - cheers! :)
ReplyDelete@ JamieM - thanks! :)
@ Christopher - cheers! :)
@ Sander - thanks! :)
Nice work Tamsin. I like the muddy tracks.
ReplyDelete