Comparing: M5A1 Stuart vs. AMX 40

The first tanks of the M5 series were produced in April 1942, and a new modification, the M5A1, was preferred over other variants. After the M24 Chaffee was developed, the M5A1 tanks were deemed obsolete and were exported to other countries, including China. A total of 100 tanks of this type were supplied to the Kuomintang. During the Civil War (1946–1949), many of these vehicles were captured by the PLA.

Development was started in March 1940. Initially, the vehicle was to have a wheeled caterpillar propulsion system. The blueprint of the vehicle was created but in July 1940 work was discontinued.