Wartime History
First arrived in New Guinea at Milne Bay, then transported to Buna area and used in the Buna campaign. Seven M3 Stuarts of the 2/6th Armoured Regiment were supporting troops of the 2/9th Infantry Battalion at Cape Endaiadere. This tank supported the 2/10th Battalion of Australian troops. Engine compartment was destroyed by magnetic mine during the advance on December 18, 1942.

Wreckage
Recovered from the Buna battlefield in mid-1973, and was transported to Port Moresby by barge.  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.

References
Thanks to Bruce Hoy and Douglas Hubbard, Jr. for information on this tank. The book, "The Vital Factor: A History Of 2/6th Australian Armoured Regiment 1941-1946" has details on the crew and wartime history of this tank.

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Last Updated
October 1, 2009