Paraguay’s army still uses World War 2 US M3 Stuart and M4 Sherman tanks for training.

Gabriel Porfilio reports in InfoDefensa that the Paraguayan Army has a modest tank force consisting of 15 M3 Stuart light tanks and 3 M4 Sherman medium tanks, all of them initially used by the U.S. Army in World War 2. The Stuarts were received in 1970, donated by Brazil, while the latter were donated by Argentina in 1980.
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M3A1 Stuarts of the Paraguayan army lined up for a military parade (Picture source: Fatos Militares)

These units were active in Cavalry regiments until 1996. At that time, they were put into reserve after a threat of a military coup d'état. Even then, considered completely obsolete, these tanks were kept in reserve until 2014 when a remotorization process began for five M3s and an equal number of M3A1s, which also included changing the vehicle commander's machine gun from a .30 to a .50 caliber.

The Ecuadorian army also still operates WW2 M3A1 Stuart tanks (Picture source: Fatos Militares)

Paraguay received 3 M4A4 Shermans in 1971 from Argentina, which they would return in 1988 in exchange for three Repotenciados (re-powered, or re-engined). The Shermans that Paraguay received were two M4A4s and one Composite Sherman. Their registration numbers were 030-01,02,03 with the Composite Sherman being 030-02. The three M4 Shermans were reactivated, belonging to the upgraded version in Argentina. Their main armament consists of a 105mm FTR L44/57 cannon and their original 9-cylinder Continental C4 gasoline engine has been replaced with a diesel engine.

A Paraguayan general wanted to use the Repotenciados during his coup in February 1989, but when the government was overthrown on 3rd February 1989, the tanks did not leave their barracks because all the crews were on vacation. The Paraguayan Sherman Repotenciados were retired from service in 2018.

The current situation of these vehicles and the remaining five M3s is very difficult to know, beyond whether they are still active, their use is limited to maintaining tank doctrine and crew training; their combat capabilities are absolutely null.

The low operability of the Paraguayan armored vehicles is a constant, and these units, the oldest in the fleet, do not escape the situation.

Paraguayan re-engined M4A4 Sherman 'Repotenciados' of the Presidential Escort Regiment, Reg. 030-02, in Asuncion, May 2016. In the background is another World War 2 'veteran': a White M3 half-track without its front winch (Picture source: tanks-encyclopedia.com)

Defense News November 2023