NEW LIGHT TANKS

Camp News, Volume 3, Issue 131, 17 July 1942, Page 3

NEW LIGHT TANKS

General Stuarts Now In New Zealand ;. I ' FOR L.A.F.V. REGIMENTS Large numbers of light American tanks, usually called General Stuart, have arrived for distribution to New Zealand light armoured fighting vehicle regiments. Very fast, of about 111 tons, and with rubber tracks, they are of a type which has already "been supplied ,to Allied forces in various theatres of war. In addition to a shell gun, they are armed with a number of machineguns and an anti-aircraft piece. Some of the tanks are now at the New Zealand Armoured Fighting Vehicle, School, where tank experts are putting them through their paces belore they become a general issue to the light armoured fighting vehicle regi-

ments, formerly the mounted rifles regiments. Others are, being used by . the Army Tank Brigade. The arrival of the General Stuarts will enable the release of a large number of Bren gun-carriers from the light armoured fighting vehicle regiments to infantry battalions, many of which are already well equipped with them. Other carriers may be used as tank tenders and as reconnaissance vehicles by the light armoured fighting vehicle regimeiits and other mechanized units. Like the American General Grant and General Lee types, the General Stuart tanks are named after a general who played a prominent part in the Civil War. Major-General J. E. B. Stuart rose in the Confederates’ army to the command of its cavalry corps, one of the United States forerunners of its present armoured divisions.