Description

Little Tanks Deserve Good Tracks, Too

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Contents:

• 144 Track Links

• 160 Male End Connectors (with Integrated Track Pin)

• 160 Female End Connectors

• Assembly Jig

• End connector holder and block

This provides enough links for a complete run on your model plus spares.

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Historical Context

The Stuart Light Tank

The M3 and M5 series of light tanks, collectively known as the Stuart, were the primary US light tanks of WWII. Highly mobile and reliably armored early in the war, they served with the US, British, Free French, and numerous other Allied forces.

T36E6 vs. T16 Track

The original track for the Stuart was the T16 rubber-block track, which provided a smooth ride on roads.

The T36E6 track was a later-war design, typically found on the M5 and M5A1 Stuart and the M8 Howitzer Motor Carriage (HMC), beginning in late 1944.

• Difference: The T36E6 was an all-steel, three-bar cleat design, similar to the T49 track used by Shermans.

• Why it was used: The T36E6 offered superior traction in difficult cross-country conditions like mud, snow, and soft ground. This was a critical improvement, particularly in the muddy terrain of the ETO and on soft ground in the Pacific.

• Who preferred it: While the US Army used both types, the T36E6 track became common on M5-series Stuarts serving in the ETO. This all-steel, high-traction design was also notably used on many Free French Forces M5 and M8 vehicles campaigning in Europe.

Vehicles Using the T36E6 Track

The T36E6 track would be the correct choice for late-production vehicles in the Stuart family:

• M5 Stuart Light Tank (Late production)

• M5A1 Stuart Light Tank (Late production, often referred to as the British Stuart VI)

• M8 Howitzer Motor Carriage (HMC) (The turreted self-propelled howitzer based on the Stuart chassis)

As of December 2025, this unfortunately limits modelers to a somewhat older kit selection, including AFV Club’s M5A1 lineup that has its origins in 2010, and Tamiya’s M5A1 from 1977. MiniArt is currently plowing through early M3 Stuarts, however, and given their usual thorough approach to subjects, I would be surprised if later Stuart variants aren’t on the roadmap. Tamiya could also be a wildcard – they recently dropped a new-tool 1/48 M8 HMC…so who knows.