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Ex-British M3 Light Tanks:
Birma 1942.
During battle of Shwedaung, between 29-30 March Japanese from 215 Infantry Regiment captured by approx. 200 vehicles including 10 M3 Tanks, some Dingo Scout-Cars and many specialist vehicles (as workshop lorry). Many of these vehicles were burned, but some are suitable for repair. Then again Japanese captured by also four Breda guns from 1st Gloucesters (Not clearly stated: 47mm AT Gun whether 20mm AA/AT gun) and two 25pdr.
From these 10 tanks (4 from A Squadron 7th Hussars, 4 from B Squadron, 2 from C Squadron) several M3 Japanese quickly repaired and used by, mainly two weeks later, in the Thadodan area.
7 April near Myaungbintha, 'B' Squadron, 2 RTR fought an action against three enemy thanks, which may have been captured Stuarts, and hit them all. On 11th April, 7th Hussars' patrol sighted a captured Stuart flying a Japanese flag, but unfortunately out of range (British relation).
One M3 Tank (from B Squadron, 2 RTR) captured and used by Japanese II/215 Infantry Regiment (33rd Division) during battle of Thadodan, 12 April 1942. Within hours of running three other captured tanks. 4 M3 Light Tanks used by Japanese 215th Infantry Regiment in Burma during the second phase battle at Thadodan village area.
During night Japanese counterattack 12/13 April at Sonzu village, 2 M3 Tanks used by Japanese improvised unit (two companies from 215 Regiment and HQ this regiment). This two tanks broken by 1st/3rd Gurkhas eliminating 37 soldiers from Gurkha company.
The same day one M3 Light Tank knocked out by sappers and infantrymen from one company I/215 Regiment in Yaume Chaung area. This Stuart hit by with a flame bottle (some another sources tell: Chi-bi AT glass grenade) and was recovered and repaired by Japanese.
17th April one M3 Tank captured by soldiers from Japanese 213 Regiment at Yin Chaung area (battle of Yenangyaung). This tank (from 2nd RTR or from HQ 7th Armoured Brigade) immobilised a mine.
7th Hussars also fought several times against Japanese Stuart tanks captured in the Shwedaung battle: in action near Magwe and had brisk actions at Thadodan and Alebo.
One M3 Light Tank used by the blockade of the road Budalin – Monywa (in ambush). 2nd May 1942 this Japanese Stuart succeeded to stop the British column and burn one M3 Light Tank from 'C' Squadron, 2 RTR.
3rd May II/215 Regiment in Ye-U area used by against British (tanks from 2 RTR and 1st Gloucesters) 6 M3 Tanks mostly captured at Shwedaung. During tanks against tanks fight Japanese lost one tanks, British also one, and other M3 Stuart-Honey tank abandoned by the crew, and captured.
7th Brigade successfully destroying the remaining tanks in 10th May on the Chindwin river bank. The remaining seventy tanks were destroyed with sledgehammers and by having the engine sump and radiator drain plugs were removed while the engines were run at high revs until they seized up.
However, 3 M3 Tanks had been quickly repaired and went into action with Japanese crews.
Birma-India (Imphal) 1944.
14th Tank Regiment had about 14-15 M3 tanks in total (operation at Imphal).
1st Co. - Captain Kitanosono (1 platoon Ha-Go, 1 platoon Chi-Ha, 1 platoon M3)
2nd Co. - Captain Nakamura (1 platoon Ha-Go, 1 platoon Chi-Ha, 1 platoon M3)
3rd Co. - Captain Orio (1 platoon Ha-Go, 1 platoon Chi-Ha, 1 platoon M3)
4th Co. - Captain Tanaka (5 M3 Light Tanks)
Each company is the same (one each platoon of Chi-Ha, Ha-Go and M3).
1st, 2nd and 3rd Tank Company had each M3 platoon in which there were
only (probably) three M3 Tanks in each platoon. Exact numbers of M3 tanks at this three comapnies are unknown.
4th Company is different from other companies. It was former 33rd
Infantry Group Tankette Company and attached to 14th Tank Regiment just
before the battle of Imphal. It was originally equipped with Type 94
Tankettes. But, they were replaced with M3 Light Tanks after the Burma
Campaign 1942.
Of the 66 tanks used in the operation at the end of the Japanese was only 4 tanks. So I think that all M3 Tanks was lost in the Imphal, and probably after this operation, they were not used at India-Birma War Theatre because the IJA has had no tanks of this type in this area...
Ex-American M3 Light Tanks:
Java 1942.
2nd Tank Regiment had one platoon had 5 M3 Tanks landed on Java and used by during attack at Surabaya (the commander is unknown). But some documents indicate that the M3 Tanks platoon was in 4th Tank Regiment (and not 2nd TR).
Philippines 1942-43
Durning action in Corregidor at 5 May, Matsuoka Tank Company used by thre tanks in acton (2 Shinhoto Chi-Ha, and one M3 Tank as command tank in which drove Lt. Itoh. Matsuoka Company it was the first unit of Shinhoto Chi-Ha (had 10 new tanks).
According to several publications 3rd Company/7th Tank Regiment used by over a dozen M3 Tanks. On the well-known images taken in June 3rd 1942, after the parade in which 7th Tank Regiment, see four M3 Light Tanks. Others are Shinhoto Chi-Ha.
Most likely 7Th Tank Regiment did not have so many M3. Probably, these four are all of them.
When 7th Tank Regiment moved to Manchuria at June 1942, to join 2nd Tank Division prepared for the Soviets, his M3 Tanks transferred to 65th Infantry Brigade. At the time provincial tank unit was was formed at 65th Brigade.
When at November 1942 65th Infantry Brigade send to Rabaul M3 Tanks distributed between several local garrison at Luzon.
In the Philippines, 12 M3 Tanks were used by provincial tank unit, occupation unit and units from protect and service airports in Central Luzon and Mindanao. Some from this M3 Light Tanks were used by airfield unit as roller. It is possible that they M3 tanks were used in 16th Division or 10th, 11th, 17th Independent Garrison Units.
Philippines 1944-45.
Tank Unit/100th Division at Mindanao 1945 - was company-size unit, had probably approx. 10 or a dozen tanks. Among these vehicles had four M3 tanks.
30th Recon Regiment had 8 Type 95 Light Tanks. It is they are new type of Type 95, but the exact type is unknown. Two Type 95 landed on Mindanao (Other were left or lost) and one M3 Tank was added to them on Mindanao.
Other sources (less reliable) say that 30th Recon Regiment used by at Mindanao 2 M3 Tanks and some Type 4 Ke-Nu Tanks. But it is possible that these two M3 Tanks maybe received from 100th Tank Unit, who owned several M3 tanks.
During battle of Manila at February-March 1945, Manila Naval Defense Forces commanded by Rear Admiral Iwabuchi Sanji used by some M3 Light Tanks. One destroyed at Padre Faura street at 16th February 1945, by the cavalrymen of I/12 Regiment (1st Cavalry Brigade).
Second M3 Tank captured by kilometer away, around Manila Hotel on February 21, by the 12th Cavalry Regiment (also I. Battalion) .
A few M3 Light Tanks were founded in North Luzon in 1945. Unfortunately, I do not know (yet) in which units.
Summary:
It was called M3 Light Tank in Japanese - M3?戦? (M3 Keisensha). Japanese have qualified M3 Ligt Tank as a medium tank. Stuart Tank it was the only type captured tank formally adopted for service in the Japanese army.
To sum up I estimate that the Japanese have won in good condition or repaired and then used approx. 45-47 American and British M3 Stuart Light Tank among probably 223 tank this type (108 - Provisional Group Tank, 115 – 7th Armoured Brigade) likely used against the Japanese army in Luzon (Philippines) and Birma between December 1941 and May 1942.
Less than fifty of these tanks were used in action at Burma between March 1942 and July 1944 about 16-17 captured M3 tanks.
If you believe the relations with the British tankers fighting in 1942, even more, perhaps over 20 captured tanks (because the soldiers of the mention of the destruction of a total of 5-6 Japanese M3 tanks; but I think these stories are exaggerated).
In the Philippines, IJA and IJN used between 1942-1945 about 25-30 M3 Light Tanks (but of this number only about a dozen active in action). Efficient, or repaired M3 tanks, but with no spare parts could be a few more.
Still during surrender of Bataan on April 9, 1942 Japanese took at least a dozen efficient M3 Light Tanks. At the time two armored companies A and C from 192nd Tank Battalion, who
stationed near Cabaibo Point not destroy any of the owned M3 Light Tanks.
It was the same in HQ Company from 192nd TB. Unfortunately, I do not know how many tanks have the time these troops on April 9. I know that there were two tanks at HQ Company. At the beginning of the campaign, every company had 10 tanks (no permanent
17). Losses were not large, as the Bataan tanks mostly hid in the bushes and guard the coast. Not participated in many fights. I think (but these are only estimates) that in each of the two companies were at 6-7 M3 tanks. If I'm right with the units Japanese captured approx. 15 M3 tanks in good condition. Similarly half-tracks and ex-canadian Universal carriers, 194th TB destroyed all, or all carefully of their vehicles.
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