So earlier I showed you guys the M3A1 that was in the main building. Well, the museum also has an M5A1, the successor of the M3A1 and the final evolution of the Stuart light tank family.

Introduced sometime around mid-1942, the M5 was essentially a further development of the M3 light tank, featuring a number of changes such as switching from radial engines to using twin Cadillac V8s, a new transmission system, and a redesigned hull with sloped armor. Despite complaints regarding insufficient firepower however, the 37mm gun was still kept. I'm not really sure if it would've been possible to try and squeeze a bigger gun into the tank anyway, at least one designed to knock out tanks that is.

As far as service history goes, the M5 and M5A1 tanks pretty much replaced the M3 light tanks once they were available in sufficient quantities. With the exception of the Eastern Front, these tanks pretty much saw action on every major front of the war, most notably in the Western and Mediterranean fronts. Besides the US and the Commonwealth, one of the other noteworthy operators of the M5 and M5A1s were the French, who received a substantial number through lend-lease. Even with the arrival of the Chaffee (which was meant to replace the Stuarts), these tanks continued to see service up till the end of the war. Even in the postwar era there were a few instances where these tanks saw some use, such as during the first Indochina War for example. On the whole, the M5 had a fairly successful career, despite the shortcomings it had.

Pretty nice looking example too, in my opinion anyhow.