Bernardini X1A (Stuart)

Bernardini X1A (Stuart) History

During the post-World War II military withdrawal, the Brazilian government purchased a fleet of American-made three-man M3A3 and M3A5 Stuart light tanks. With around 25,000 M3s and their related M5s in production, its availability was natural in the postwar years, acquired from as many as 40 countries.

The government procured about 350 vehicles that will remain in service for as long as possible before their age and battlefield capabilities force the Army to reassess the effectiveness of the Stuart in the future.

In the 1970s, at the request of the Army, the local concern agency Bernardini made a series of upgrades, hoping that modifications to the existing platform would breathe new life into the Stuart series. This spawned the "X1A" program, which resulted in three notable design forms - although only two saw notable production.

The original model was the X1A, based on the M3A1 Stewart production brand. Released in 1973, the car featured a 280-horsepower Saab Scania diesel engine, and its upper fuselage section was redesigned to provide better interior working space, while the suspension proved to be completely new. The modern Fire Control System (FCS) supports the new French-made 90mm DEFA CM90 Mk 3 gun in a new turret. The main battery fired HEAT ("High Explosive, Anti-Tank"), HESH ("High Explosive, Head of Squad") and APFSDS ("Armor Piercing, Stabilize, Discard Shells") projectiles.

The tank standard of 80 samples was modified and serviced.

The next X1A model became the X1A1, an improved proposal that never reached the production stage. The suspension system was slightly revised and an extra bogie unit was added when the track idlers moved slightly.

Development work on this product, although not officially used for the service, paved the way for the subsequent X1A2 form.

Compared to the original American Stewart design, the X1A2 is largely based on the improved X1A1 and is more or less an entirely new armor system. The landing gear also has three bogies, as do the front drive sprockets and rear track idlers. The total weight reaches 19 tons (short). The hull is of a new design and propulsion comes from a 300 hp Saab Scania diesel engine. A French 90mm main gun is again installed in the modern turret.

About 30 of these standards were produced between 1979 and 1983.

The XIA series were used for as long as possible before their 1940s roots took full advantage of them. Over the next few decades, they were eventually abandoned in favor of more modern solutions.

The Avibras X-40 tracked self-propelled rocket launcher uses the chassis of the X1A1 light tank. The vehicle is described elsewhere on this website.

Specification

Basic

Roles

Dimensions

Performance

Performance

Armor

Not available.

Changes