M3 Grant Medium Tank -Britsh designation, M3 Lee American designation.
The M3 Lee was an American medium tank used during World War II, primarily in the early stages of the conflict. It was notable for its unconventional design, featuring a combination of a 75mm M2 howitzer mounted in a sponson on the side of the hull, and a smaller 37mm M6 gun in a fully rotating turret. This arrangement was a compromise, as the 75mm gun was too large for a fully turreted mount but provided significant firepower for infantry support and against lighter armored targets.
The M3 Lee was powered by a 400-horsepower twin gasoline engine, giving it a top speed of around 40 km/h (25 mph) and a range of 160 km (99 miles). Its armor thickness ranged from 25mm to 51mm, offering decent protection against small arms and light anti-tank weapons but vulnerable to more powerful guns.
Weighing around 27 tons, the M3 Lee had a crew of six and was designed for both infantry support and tank-on-tank combat. While its performance was eventually overshadowed by more modern tanks like the M4 Sherman, it was a significant step forward for the U.S. Army and was used extensively in the North African Campaign. Around 6,300 units were produced from 1941 to 1943, and it played a key role in the early victories of the Allies.
