Editing M3 Stuart (section)

==Light-tank doctrine==

Light tanks were issued to tank battalions (one of the four companies was a light tank company), light tank battalions and cavalry reconnaissance squadrons. The original role of the light tank in these formations was similar to medium tanks and they were expected to engage enemy armor with AP rounds and enemy positions with HE rounds. As a result, tank gunnery training for light and medium tankers was common.<ref>[https://ia800303.us.archive.org/25/items/Fm17-12/Fm17-12.pdf Armored Force Field Manual FM 17-12], Tank Gunnery, 22 April 1943 p. 18-19</ref>

US Army Field Manuals written before 1944 clearly show that light tanks were to be part of an armored assault on enemy positions, and examples of fire on enemy armor were in these manuals.<ref>[https://archive.org/download/FM17-301942/FM17-301942.pdf Armored Force Field Manual FM 17-30], Tank Platoon, 22 October 1942, p 44</ref> When pursuing an enemy, light tank battalions were expected to move parallel with enemy columns and, together with accompanying infantry and engineer units, seize "critical terrain that will block hostile retreat".<ref>[https://archive.org/download/Fm17-33/Fm17-33.pdf Armored Force Field Manual FM 17-33] The Armored Battalion – Light and Medium, 18 September 1942, p 112</ref> Despite the fact that light tank platoons were not expected to function as a reconnaissance unit, they could be used for reconnaissance purposes.<ref>Armored Force Field Manual FM 17-30 Tank Platoon, 22 October 1942, p 55-56</ref> In this role, they were expected to remain behind the main reconnaissance force as the support element and augment the firepower whenever enemy contact was made.<ref>[https://archive.org/download/Fm2-301944/Fm2-301944.pdf Cavalry Field Manual FM 2-30], Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, Mechanized,  28 August 1944, p. 2</ref>