New: Italian Stuart-T Tesla Tank

November 9, 2018

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Armed with the terrifying Tesla Cannon, the new lend-lease Stuart-T will prove invaluable for the Italian forces.

Italy’s demands for armoured vehicles was both passionate and excessive, but the Allies quickly recognised that if they were to release forces from Italy, they needed to arm the Italians. Numerous M3 Stuarts were available to transfer to Italy, and although no longer first-line tanks, they were reliable, fast and easy to maintain. More importantly, with the reduction in the size of the lighter Rift-technology Tesla cannons, the Italians were able to modify the existing M3A1 turret to house the same light Tesla weapon as fitted to the US M8 Scout.

The hull proved just large enough to house the necessary power and battery units, and the Italians found themselves with a fast, mobile light tank that packed a surprising punch for its size. Although Italy does use conventional Stuart tanks for recce duties, the tanks fitted with Rift technology are more often used to provide close support to infantry units attacking in rough terrain or supporting heavier tanks on the flanks of an assault. Certainly, the Italian crews of these tanks see themselves as front-line combatants rather than reconnaissance units.

The small size of the turret makes housing the weapon cramped, but the crews like the firepower it brings, and the weapon’s weight provides less of a strain on the chassis and tracks, increasing their already proven reliability. Italy has embraced these Rift-tech enhanced tanks, and the larger Shermans they have secured, and are rapidly achieving their ambition of fielding a full Armoured Division to punch through the National Republican Army’s defensive lines and liberate northern Italy.