US 752nd and 753rd Tank Battalion camo in Italy

[KRK4m]

Looking for the early (i.e. vertical driver's front plate) M3 Stuart multi-colour camouflage from MTO I have found such an article at War Thunder

https://warthunder.com/en/news/2952--en

featuring the computer renderings of both M3 Light (Stuart) and M3 Medium (Lee) tanks from the US 753rd Tank Battalion in something looking like standard OD with large areas of Earth Sand (or is it British Mud?) superimposed. The Stuart has no hull guns, so this is probably the M3A1. The question is whether are there any photos existing of similarly camouflaged American M3s or M3A1s from MTO (Tunisia or Italy - does not matter)?

In the meantime I have recalled the Star Decals set for the US M4A1 Shermans fighting in Italy  

https://www.star-decals.net/35-983.html

with several vehicles from the 191st Tank Battalion sporting the same camo (StarDecals says "either Earth Sand or mud - do as you like") and even the three-colour (OD+ Earth Sand + Earth Red) M4A1 from another 5th Army unit - the 752nd Tank Battalion.

And again -  are there any documents describing such camo for the 5th army tanks? Was it applicable also for the M3 Light Tank? Do any pictures exist?

Cheers

Michael

 

[Gmat]

The M3 medium tanks were left behind in North Africa. I would be skeptical about any illustrations that they provide. Steven Zaloga has published a number of books about the M3 medium and M3 light tanks (Osprey) as well as US Army WWII  tank camouflage and US vehicles in North Africa, Italy and Southern France. The M3 light and medium tanks would be OD with sometimes mud applied to break up the outline on the M3 medium tanks. M4s in Italy did have multi-colored camouflage schemes. 

I believe that one of the separate tank battalions that used M3 medium tanks in Tunisia added a large number in white or outlined in white on the rear of the turret. 

 

Or here, 751st Tank Battalion.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:M3_Lee_tank;_"ARAB.".jpg

 

The 1st Armored Division started with a white band on the turret and geometric symbols next to the 75mm gun.

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/90/49/9e/90499e438c16e5855fae91917a510a84.jpg

 

Grant

 

[KRK4m]

Thank you, Grant, for your quick answer.

The doubled nomenclature of US tanks (M3 and M3A1 can be either the light one=Stuart, or the  medium one=Lee) made my question slightly unclear.

I know that M3 medium (Lee) was really THE rare sight in Italy. But my interest is concerned in the early (i.e. vertical driver's front plate) M3 light tank sporting the multi-colour camouflage. 

Moreover it does not matter whether it comes from the Torch landing, Tunisia, Sicily or Italy - only the NWE should be excepted from.

And I know that many M3 and M3A1 Stuarts had large areas splashed with mud, nevertheless I still do hope that there were also quite a few of these tanks sporting the Earth Yellow overpaints on the OD surfaces, like those featured by the contemporary M4 Shermans in Italy.

Cheers

Michael