3 man medium tank. 8 were acquired in 1942 through the Lend-Lease program after Cuba declared war on Germany. At least 5 were still operational In January 1959 when Castro defeated Batista and took control of Cuba. These tanks were used for training and eventually scrapped after Soviet aid began in the 1960's. Cuban army officers considered these vehicles poorly made, the same feelings as US army officers had. |
24 were acquired in 1942/43 through the Lend-Lease program after Cuba declared war on Germany. 18 were still operational in January 1959 when Castro defeated Batista and took control of Cuba. These tanks were used for training and eventually scrapped after Soviet aid began in the 1960's. |
7 were acquired in 1957 as Batista began to battle Castro (and are only included here because this model was manufactured prior to 1947). 7 were still operational in January 1959 when Castro defeated Batista and took control of Cuba. Only one tank survives as an exhibit in Cuba today. |
(no photo) Roughly 15 of these 1944 tanks were acquired in 1958. |
The Stewart armored ambulance was one of a batch of vehicles added to the Cuban inventory in 1946-47, some of it left by the US forces there, some confiscated from the "Caribbean Legion", who were about to launch an invasion of the Dominican Republic from Cuba. |
There were 24 units in inventory when Castro took power in 1959. |
Cuba received some under MDAP (Mutual Agreement Defense Plan) in 1956 along with M1 rifles, M1 carbines, MN20 bazookas, 8 Lockheed T-33A trainers, Douglas B-26C bombers and four Grummam TBMs for their tiny naval air arm. There were 20 units in inventory when Castro took power in 1959. |
One home made armored car was used by the Cuban army as early as 1930. Described as a tall, slab sided structure, of mild steel mounted on the chassis of a "Liberty" truck. The observation slits were rather large. An interview with Lieutenant Colonel FMN, who was a young lieutenant of at the time of the Cuban Revolution of 1933 - Forest Hills, NY, September 20, 1965."Cuban Revolution of 1933- It was called "The Revolution of the Sergeants", led by a A staff sergeant called Fulgencio Batista. The old officer corps, scions of the traditional families in Cuba opposed the "coup", a group of them took shelter in the roof of the Hotel "Nacional", in Havana, and armed with Springfield and Kragg rifles. The rebels brought out a few 75mm field guns, which they could not operate, and some machine guns. But, from the top of the building they dominated the surrounding area, inflicting casualties. We had no tanks in those days, but an improvised armored car on the chassis Liberty truck. However, as soon as the armored truck got within range of the hotel, the anti-Batista officers fired on the truck. They were fair shots and a number of the bullets went through the vision slits (they were really more like ventilation slits, due to the climate) and after several of the crew were hit, the truck was withdrawn to a safe distance". - Dr. Georg V. Rauch Historian Dr. Georg V. Rauch adds : "At the time this seemed rather an unlikely, story but while in the newspapaer annex of the New York Public Library, l came across a rather fuzzy newspaper photo (too poor even to Xerox) of this truck and I could see that the slits were at least 8-10 inches wide." |
An unknown number were obtained under "Lend Lease" in 1942. In July 1941, after British experience in North Africa, the Ordnance Committee gave design specifications for medium and heavy armored cars. Ford (T17) developed a 6 wheel pilot model and Chevrolet (T17E1) a 4 wheel model in September 1941. On October 15, 1942 a committee was formed of Armored Force, Cavalry, Tank Destroyer, and Ordnance personnel to consider the armored cars in design or production. The T17 was considered too large and production was reduced to 250. Hence, the T17 never received a "M" designator. The T17 Ford "Staghound" was to be sent to British but instead were used by Military Police in USA with guns removed. The complicated twin engines each had it's own clutch and 4 speed transmission. A single lever shifted gears and either engine could be put into neutral. Chevrolet built the T17E1 for the British. An order for 2,000 was placed in January 1942. First vehicles were produced in October 1942. 157 were finished by January 1943. Originally was to be used by US Army but order was cancelled after Special Armored Vehicle Board decided that US didn't need armored cars in this weight and size. British liked it and all production was sent to Britain. It was designed to be a long distance reconnaissance vehicle and convoy escort. The Cubian "Staghound" arrived via a unusual route. In 1956, Israel captured large quantities of equipment from the Egyptians, they kept what was usable and sold 45 units to Anastasio Somoza of Nicaragua who had helped them get arms back in 1948. In 1958 Nicaragua sold some of these (about 20) to Fulgencio Batista. There were 30 units in inventory when Castro took power in 1959. There was not enough and/or proficient trained crews for Shermans, nor parts, thus heavy reliance was placed on the T17E1 "Staghound" armored cars during the campaign against the Castro guerrillas. In the guerrilla accounts of this war, these armored cars were simply referred to as "Las tanquetas" ( "The tankettes"). |
People who helped to make this page possible |
| Ruben Urribarres author of Cuban Aviation |
 Dr. Georg V. Rauch |
 Dr. André Louis Maurois |
| Kees Huyser |
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Last Update: Thursday, February 13, 2003 |
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