There was a need for an up-gunned fast light tank with increased protection to meet the needs of an armored reconnaissance unit. The M3 and M5 Stuart series of US built light tanks were neither properly armed or armored for survival on the post-1941 battlefield. Although late in the game (just in time for the Battle of the Bulge, winter 1944), the Chaffee was so successful, being efficient, simple, reliable and rugged, that that it was largely exported after the war and stayed in service with many armies until the 1980s and beyond, encompassing most of the Cold War. It had modern torsion bar suspensions, completely revised welded steel armor, improved protection and, more importantly, a much more potent lightweight 75 mm (2.95 in) main gun. The M24 Chaffee, the replacement for the M3/ M5 Stuarts, was a leap forward in light tank design, improving the concept in all directions.
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