Light Tank, M3 A1 • Papua New Guinea National Museum

Current Condition

Poor

Vehicle History

First arrived at Milne Bay, then transported to Buna. One of seven M3 Stuarts of the 2/6th Armoured Regiment including this tank were supporting troops of the 2/9th Infantry Battalion at Cape Endaiadere.
On December 18, 1942, this tank was supported the Australian Army 2/10th Battalion advance. A Japanese magnetic mine destroyed the engine compartment.
Recovered from the Buna battlefield in mid-1973, and transported by barge to Port Moresby. Salvager Vince Sanders stored it for a number of years at his premises in Boroko before it went to the PNG Museum around 1979-80, where it is displayed to this day, and ocassionally repainted every few years.
(from http://www.pacificwrecks.com/tank/stuart/2300.html)