M5 Stuart Platoon

M5 Stuart Platoon

This versatile new plastic kit can be assembled as either an M5 Stuart, M5A1 Stuart or an E7-7 Mechanised Flamethrower and is suitable for many Bolt Action armies, including US, British, Soviet and Chinese. In this platoon set, you get three of these tanks, which you can assemble as you wish, whether you want to field a three-vehicle platoon of a single variant or add one of each variant to your army at a discounted price compared to buying three vehicles individually.

The Americans favoured light tanks over armoured cars for reconnaissance, and the M5 light tanks were developed for this role. The main difference from the earlier vehicle was the Cadillac engine. This required a redesign of the armour, and the opportunity was taken to improve the armour arrangement and distribution. In the M5A1 version, the lower hull casting was now up to 64 mm thick in places. Other improvements included wider entry hatches, more interior space for the crew and ammunition storage for 147 37 mm shells. Production was limited as the introduction of the M24 light tank was imminent.

Although it counts as a light tank (damage value 8+) in Bolt Action, it benefits from the "Reinforced Armour" special rule; for shots hitting the front of the vehicle, its armour value is instead treated as 9+.

Main period of use: 1943-45. Number built: 6,810.

The box contains:
- Three 1:56 scale plastic M5 Stuart light tanks with options to build the M5A1 and E7-7 mechanized flamethrower versions
- Bolt Action Stat Cards
- Full-colour waterslide decal sheet
- Damage Markers

Models supplied unassembled and unpainted.