Camp Shelby in Forrest County, Mississippi — The American South (East South Central)

M5 Stuart Light Tank

M5 <i>Stuart</i> Light Tank Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, January 3, 2026

1. M5 Stuart Light Tank Marker

Inscription. Derived from the M2A2 of 1936, the MS was the product of a string of modifications and improvements. After the M2A4 came the M3, M3 "Horseshoe" turret, M3E2, M3A1, M3A2, M3A3, and M3A1E1. After these, the army felt that the next model of light tank would be better designated as M5 rather than M4 as the name M4 had already been set aside for the Sherman tank. The M5 saw extensive action on all fronts during the Second World War and was loaned to British, Russian, and French forces. This particular M5 was used by the United States Marine Corps. The M5 often performed as a reconnaissance and infantry assault vehicle whenever attached to infantry formations.

Vehicle Specifications
Armament: 1 x 37 mm M6 gun with 123 rounds, 3 x 30 caliber M1919A4 (AS) machineguns with 6,250 rounds
Fire control type: Ballistic Reticle
Maximum rate of fire: 30 rounds per minute (37 mm)
Crew: 4 (commander, gunner, driver, & bow gunner)
Projectile weight: 1.92 lbs
Weight: 16.6 tons
Speed: 40 mph
Maximum effective weapons range: 1,250 m
Maximum armor thickness: 2.5 in
Production: 2,074 in 8 months
Year entering service: 1942

Captions
(Photo #1) Gunner's station showing M6 anti-tank gun breech

Erected by Mississippi Armed Forces Museum Camp Shelby. (Marker Number 15.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, World II. A significant historical year for this entry is 1936.

Location. 31° 11.852′ N, 89° 13.476′ W. Marker is in Camp Shelby, Mississippi, in Forrest County. It is at the intersection of Forrest Ave W and Museum Street on Forrest Ave W. The marker is located on the grounds of the

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Mississippi Armed Forces Museum at Camp Shelby. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 850 Forrest Ave W, Hattiesburg MS 39401, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Mississippi’s Pine Belt.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

and in the Piney Woods.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: M4A1 Sherman Medium Tank (a few steps from this marker); M19 Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Gun (within shouting distance of this marker); M7 Priest Self-Propelled Gun (within shouting distance of this marker); M26 Pershing Heavy Tank (within shouting distance of this marker); M75 Armored Personnel Carrier (within shouting distance of this marker); OV-1 Mohawk Observational Aircraft (within shouting distance of this marker); MTLB Armored Personnel Carrier (within shouting distance of this marker); M114 (M1) 155 mm Towed Howitzer (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Camp Shelby.

More about this marker. The marker and the Mississippi Armed Forces Museum are located at the historic Camp Shelby, an active Mississippi National Guard military installation. The museum is open to the public, but appropriate identification is required for access.

Photographed by James Hulse, January 3, 2026

2. M5 Stuart Light Tank Marker

The area where the M5 tank was once displayed. It has been removed.

M5 <i>Stuart</i> Light Tank image. Click for full size.

Public Domain - US Army photo - Wikipedia Commons, April 25, 1945

3. M5 Stuart Light Tank

Crews of U.S. M5 Stuart light tanks from Company D, 761st Tank Battalion, stand by awaiting call to clean out scattered Nazi machine gun nests in Coburg, Germany.

Credits. This page was last revised on January 27, 2026. It was originally submitted on January 8, 2026, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 48 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on January 9, 2026, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.