M5A1 Stuart

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The M5A1 Stuart is a light tank available to the American Expeditionary Forces. Armed with a 37mm main gun and .30 caliber LMGs, the M5 is capable of posing a threat to most enemy forces encountered in the early stages of the match.

Overview
The M5A1 is the second light-vehicle available in the basic AEF vehicle roster. Compared to the M8 Greyhound, the M5A1 is superior in practically every aspect outside of straight-line speed and the fact that it is available in Company Command Post (more on that in a second).

As far as its direct performance goes, it is about what could be expected from a cheap light-tank. It is somewhat survivable (at least compared to Armored Cars) due to its decent HP pool, is decently mobile, and has a somewhat versatile main armament. Additionally, the M5 has some situationally useful anti-vehicle abilities that allow it to temporarily cripple larger vehicles if it can get into close-range. As for its role, the M5 exists as a response to early-game light armor due to its ability to beat out most enemy light armor and decent anti-infantry performance.

Overall, the big "flaw" that works against the M5 is that it is a base-roster unit available in the Company Command Post. Due to the nature of the USF tech-structure, the most effective early-game units in the basic roster are concentrated in the Platoon Command Post (refereed to as T1 hereafter), with the units available in the Company Command Post being fewer in number and being far more situational in nature (M1 57mm AT gun and M1 75mm Pack Howitzer).

These reasons make it an ineffective choice to go for the Company Command Post early on since doing so leads to the player either missing out on the amazing power units available in T1 or delaying access to the core armor units in the Battalion Command Post. Although this building-imbalance is not present in specializations (if anything it is partially reversed), the M5A1 simply is not relevant at that point due to the fact that it is only accessible when playing with no specialization.

At the end of the day, the M5A1 Stuart is a unit that is hamstrung not by its poor performance, but rather by the simple fact that it is a liability to get in the stages where it would theoretically be the most useful.

Pros

 * Good offensive power against infantry and light armor
 * Powerful supportive abilities
 * Cheap to produce

Cons

 * Poor armor and survivability
 * Poor means of acquisition

Shell Shock
45 Munitions; The vehicle crew rapidly fires the 37mm gun at the weakpoints of enemy vehicles for several seconds, disabling their main gun and reducing vision for several seconds.



Crippling Shot
45 Munitions; The vehicle crew fires a well-aimed shot into the engine of the enemy vehicle, slowing its movement for roughly five seconds. Ability can be used while moving.

Crew Disembark

Causes the crew to disembark from the vehicle.

Veterancy
 Veterancy One 

870 XP: +10 sight range

Veterancy Two

1740 XP: -20% reload; +20% main gun accuracy.

Veterancy Three

+20% maximum speed; +20% acceleration; +30% sight range