German victories in Europe using mobile firepower made the development of light tanks a priority. In early 1942 the GMC Cadillac Division developed the M5 series tanks called the Stuart by the British. By September 1942 the improved M5A1 was developed. Originally equipped with a .30 caliber anti-aircraft machine gun most tank crews upgraded to the .50 caliber machine gun. In Europe the Stuart proved too ineffective against the larger German AFV’s making it an easy target. The M5A1 proved adequate in the Pacific against Japanese armor.
On August 15, 1944 the US 1st Airborne Task Force parachuted onto the Provence Coast of southern France as elements of the US 7th Army made an amphibious landing. This was the beginning of “Operation Anvil” also known as “Operation Dragoon”. The next day a force comprised mostly of the Free French 1st Army landed and was charged with liberating the ports of Marseille and Toulon. The purpose of the operation was to provide ports for Allied troop supplies as well as pushing north to join up with Allied forces from the Normandy landing thereby cutting off any escape route for German forces in western France. The Free French Army was the first to reach the Rhone, the Rhine and the Danube.
Features:
- Authentic Detailing
- Pre-Painted by professionals
- Accurate paint colors
- Markings Tampo (pad) applied
- Fully Assembled
- Die-Cast Model
- True to Scale (1/72)
- Turret turns
- Metal turret and main gun
- Realistic tracks