Comparing: Pz.Kpfw. I Ausf. C vs. M3 Light vs. T-46

The initial order for this tank was placed in 1939. It was originally conceived as a high-speed reconaissance tank for airborne units. Mass production started at the beginning of 1942. In early 1943 two vehicles were deployed with the 1st Tank Division. Another 38 vehicles were deployed with the 58th Reserve Tank Corps in the summer of 1944.

The most famous light tank of World War II, with a total of 13,859 vehicles manufactured from 1941 through September 1943. 1,576 tanks (mostly of the M3A1 version) were supplied to the U.S.S.R. under Lend-Lease, and many more to the British.

Developed under the program for improving the maneuverability of the T-26 light tank through redesigning its chassis to a wheeled caterpillar type. The prototype was built in 1935. The vehicle saw service on February 29, 1936 after a series of modifications. At least four vehicles from the experimental batch underwent trials in 1937, but the production was discontinued due to transmission faults and high cost. The manufactured vehicles were used during the Winter War and World War II.