America's experience in North Africa with the M3 and M5 light tanks demonstrated that greater firepower would be needed against the Germans. A new 75mm gun gave more power than the 37mm in the previous light tanks, and a newly designed suspension, transmission system and wider tracks gave the Chaffee more nimble handling. The tank, named after the first commander of the Armored Force, Maj. Gen. Adna R. Chaffee, went into production in April, 1944 and reached troops in limited quantities in the fall of 1944. It wasn't until the Battle of the Bulge that the tanks were widely used.

The Italeri model is the only game in town for the Chaffee, and it's generally respected as a better-than-average kit. Most complaints are about the tracks, which are a postwar type. However the correct T72E1 steel type tracks are available in resin from DES, and metal T72E2 individual track-links, drive sprockets, and idlers are made by Fruillmodelismo. Royal Model offers a comprehensive resin and photoetch update set. The Italeri kit itself goes in and out of production.

This Chaffee sits in front of the Patton Museum at Fort Knox, Kentucky.