M3 Lee

M3 Lee. The M3 Lee was an American medium tank used during World War II, developed as an urgent stopgap solution before the arrival of the superior M4 Sherman. Characterized by its unusual multi-tiered armament—a hull-mounted 75 mm gun and a smaller turreted 37 mm gun—it provided crucial firepower to Allied forces in the early war years. Although quickly rendered obsolete by newer designs, the M3 played a significant role in the North African Campaign and with the Red Army on the Eastern Front.

Development and design

The rapid fall of France in 1940 exposed the United States Army's lack of a modern medium tank armed with a potent anti-tank and high-explosive weapon. With the M4 Sherman's design still in progress, the U.S. Army Ordnance Department authorized the development of an interim vehicle based on the existing M2 Medium Tank chassis. The primary challenge was mounting a 75 mm gun; a suitable turret and turret ring were not yet available, leading to the unconventional solution of placing the main gun in a limited-traverse sponson on the right side of the hull. A smaller turret, inherited from the M2 Light Tank and armed with a 37 mm gun, was placed on top. This design, finalized at the Rock Island Arsenal, resulted in a tall profile that made the tank a conspicuous target. The vehicle utilized the reliable Vertical Volute Spring Suspension and was powered by either a Continental Motors radial gasoline engine or, in the M3A3 and M3A5 variants, a twin-diesel General Motors powerplant. Armor protection, up to 51mm, was considered adequate for 1941. The British Tank Mission, evaluating American designs under the Lend-Lease Act, accepted the type but requested a modified turret configuration, leading to the M3 Grant variant.

Service history

The M3 first saw major combat in the summer of 1942 with the British Eighth Army during the Battle of Gazala in the Western Desert Campaign. Its 75 mm gun, which could fire both armor-piercing and high-explosive rounds, proved effective against German tanks like the Panzer III and Panzer IV at ranges where British tanks, such as the Crusader, were outgunned. However, its high silhouette, complicated seven-man crew, and hull-mounted main gun were significant tactical disadvantages. The United States Army used the M3 in its first major armored action at the Battle of Kasserine Pass, where it performed poorly against more experienced Afrika Korps formations. Under the Lend-Lease program, over 1,300 M3s were shipped to the Soviet Union, where they were generally disliked by Red Army crews for their vulnerability and design quirks, though they saw action during the Battle of the Caucasus and the Battle of Stalingrad. The tank was largely phased out of front-line service in most theaters by mid-1943, replaced by the superior M4 Sherman.

Variants

The basic M3 design spawned several principal variants distinguished by hull construction and engine type. The initial M3 featured a riveted hull and a Continental R975 engine. The M3A1 introduced a cast hull, while the M3A2 had a welded hull. The M3A3 used a welded hull and paired General Motors diesel engines. The M3A4, produced by Chrysler, had a longer hull to accommodate a unique Chrysler A57 Multibank engine. The M3A5 was a diesel-engined version of the riveted hull model. The most significant variant was the M3 Grant, produced for the British Army, which featured a lower-profile, redesigned turret without a commander's cupola, eliminating the hull-mounted machine gunner position. Specialized derivatives included the M31 Tank Recovery Vehicle and the M7 Priest, a self-propelled gun which replaced the tank's superstructure with a 105 mm howitzer in an open-topped mount, seeing extensive service.

Operators

The primary operator was the United States Army, which used the tank in its early armored divisions. The British Commonwealth was a major recipient through Lend-Lease, fielding it in the Western Desert Campaign and the Burma Campaign. The Soviet Union received a significant number, though they were not favored. Smaller numbers were supplied to the Australian Army, which used them in the South West Pacific, and the Canadian Army, which used them primarily for training. After the war, some vehicles were passed to other nations, including Brazil, which reportedly used them into the 1950s.

Surviving examples

Several dozen M3 Lee and Grant tanks survive in museums and private collections worldwide, a testament to its high production numbers. Notable examples include a Grant Mk I displayed at the The Tank Museum in Bovington, United Kingdom. In the United States, a Lee is part of the collection at the National Armor and Cavalry Museum at Fort Benning. The Australian Armour and Artillery Museum in Cairns displays a running example. Other survivors can be found at the Musée des Blindés in Saumur, France, and the Kubinka Tank Museum near Moscow. Several also remain as rusting wrecks on Pacific islands, such as Guadalcanal and New Georgia, where they were employed by Allied forces.