{"product_id":"10315","title":"M5A1 Stuart ;  3rd Battalion, 33rd Armored Regiment, 3rd Armored Division  (Unimax Forces of Valor, 1\/32)","description":"\u003cp\u003eBack in June 1944, the 3rd Armored Division was pushing through the difficult terrain of Normandy, France, and right in the mix was a specific M5A1 Stuart light tank known as \"CAROL.\" Assigned to the 3rd Battalion of the 33rd Armored Regiment, this tank, marked as C-34 with registration number 3051254S, was part of the critical breakout operations following D-Day. The crew operating \"CAROL\" faced the unique challenge of the French bocage, a landscape of dense hedgerows that provided cover for defenders and hindered allied movement, requiring the unit to adapt quickly to keep the momentum going against entrenched German forces.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eMechanically, this M5A1 was a significant departure from the earlier M3 Stuart, utilizing twin Cadillac V8 engines and a Hydramatic transmission that offered high reliability and speed. While its 37mm main gun was becoming less effective against heavy German armor, the tank's agility remained a key asset. A distinctive feature of this specific vehicle was the addition of the \"Cullen Hedgerow Cutter,\" a set of steel prongs welded to the front hull; this field modification allowed \"CAROL\" to burst directly through the thick vegetation of the countryside rather than climbing over it and exposing the vulnerable underbelly to enemy fire.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"WW2 Bunker","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44838275940454,"sku":"91000 (Asst. 91000)","price":69.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0679\/4926\/4998\/files\/4Pri62UzSLGW2fshVBMl8qTZ-pqmkE2UwJsVpBa4SFc.jpg?v=1772923048","url":"https:\/\/ww2bunker.com\/products\/10315","provider":"WW2 Bunker","version":"1.0","type":"link"}