Preserved Military Vehicle Registry Project

Light Tank, M3 A1 • Papua New Guinea National Museum

Type
Light Tank, M3
Version
A1
Location
Papua New Guinea National Museum
Ahuia Street
Port Moresby
Papua New Guinea

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)