Difference between revisions of "M3 Lee"

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m (Added a paragraph about the key figures involved in the development of the M3 Lee, also mentioning the problems they had. Information Sourced from Nevington War Museum.)
 
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{{Specs-Card|code=us_m3_lee}}
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{{About
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| about = American medium tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
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|other
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|usage-1 = other versions
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|link-1 = M3 Medium (Family)
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|usage-2 = other uses
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|link-2 = M3 (Disambiguation)
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}}
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{{Specs-Card
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|code=us_m3_lee
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|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|ArtImage_{{PAGENAME}}.png}}
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}}
  
 
== Description ==
 
== Description ==
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''In the description, the first part needs to be about the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the ground vehicle in the game. Insert the screenshot of the vehicle. If the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, they will immediately understand what kind of vehicle it is talking about.''
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<!-- ''In the description, the first part should be about the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the ground vehicle in the game. Insert a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' -->
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The '''M3 Lee''', formally Medium Tank, M3, is a World War II U.S. Army version of the M3 medium tank. The turret was built in two versions, one for US requirements and one for British requirements. Prior to the introduction of the M3, the [[M2]] medium tank was the primary medium tank of the U.S. Army. However, the accomplishments of the German Panzer IIIs and Panzer IVs in the French campaign during World War II prompted the U.S. Army to immediately request a new medium tank armed with a 75 mm gun in a turret in response to the new threats. The design began in July 1940, and the M3 medium tank commenced production in late 1940, in response to the United Kingdom's pressing demand for 3,650 medium tanks. The concept was a desperate attempt to get medium tanks built as soon as possible. The M3 medium was designed from the start to be an interim design with a 75 mm gun; hence, it was withdrawn from action in most theatres as soon as the [[M4 Sherman (Family)|M4 Sherman tanks]] became available in substantial numbers.
 +
 
 +
Introduced in [[Update 1.45 "Steel Generals"]], the M3 Lee had significant firepower and good armour compared to the previous M2 medium tank, but it had serious drawbacks in its overall design, including a high silhouette, an outdated sponson mounting of the main 75 mm gun resulting in a limited firing arc, riveted construction, and poor off-road performance. Overall, it is a very unusual tank for most players and will require certain coordination to be used effectively.
  
 
== General info ==
 
== General info ==
 
=== Survivability and armour ===
 
=== Survivability and armour ===
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''Describe armour protection. Note the most well protected and key weak areas. Appreciate the layout of modules as well as the number and location of crew members. Is the level of armour protection sufficient, is the placement of modules helpfull for survival in combat?''
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{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}
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<!-- ''Describe armour protection. Note the most well protected and key weak areas. Appreciate the layout of modules as well as the number and location of crew members. Is the level of armour protection sufficient, is the placement of modules helpful for survival in combat? If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.'' -->
 +
 
 +
'''Armour type:'''
 +
 
 +
* Rolled homogeneous armour (Hull, turret roof)
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* Cast homogeneous armour (Turret, MG cupola, transmission area, view ports)
 +
 
 +
{| class="wikitable"
 +
|-
 +
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
 +
|-
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| Hull || 38.1 mm (54°) ''Front Glacis'' <br> 50.8 mm (15-55°) ''Transmission area'' <br> 50.8 mm (29°) ''Driver port'' <br> 38.1 mm (0-57°) ''Hull gun mount'' || 38.1 mm (0-22°) ''Top'' <br> 38.1 mm ''Bottom'' || 38.1 mm (1-14°) ''Top'' <br> 38.1 mm (15-53°) ''Bottom'' || 12.7 mm
 +
|-
 +
| Turret || 50.8 mm (11-65°) ''Turret front'' <br> 38.1 mm (1-82°) ''Gun mantlet'' || 50.8 mm (0-66°) || 50.8 mm (1-54°) || 22.2 mm
 +
|-
 +
| Cupola || 50.8 mm (25°) || colspan="2" style="text-align:center" | 50.8 mm (cylindrical) || 50.8 mm
 +
|-
 +
|}
 +
'''Notes:'''
 +
 
 +
* Suspension wheels are 15 mm thick, bogies are 10 mm thick, and tracks are 17 mm thick.
 +
* Hull doors and vision ports are 38.1 mm thick.
 +
 
 +
The front glacis is separated in two plates with different angles and thicknesses, increasing the chance to bounce a shell off. The crew sits tightly in a limited compartment so any penetrating shot will likely knock out several crew members. The high crew count (6) compensates this aspect.
  
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''If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.''
 
  
 
=== Mobility ===
 
=== Mobility ===
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''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and maneuverability as well as the maximum speed forward and backward.''
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{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}
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<!-- ''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.'' -->
  
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== Weaponry ==
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{{tankMobility|abMinHp= 620|rbMinHp= 354}}
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=== Main weaponry ===
 
−
''Give the reader information about the characteristics of the main gun. Assess its effectiveness in a battle based on the reloading speed, ballistics and the power of shells. Do not forget about the flexibilty of the fire, that is how quickly the cannon can be aimed at the target, open fire on it and aim at another enemy. Add a link to the main article on the gun: <code><nowiki>{{main|Name of the weapon}}</nowiki></code>. Describe in general terms the ammunition available for the main gun. Give advice on how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage.''
 
  
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=== Additional weaponry ===
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The suspension inherited from the [[M2]] gives it the Lee good all-terrain performance. It has a good acceleration, a reasonable top speed and the reverse speed is enough to back out of a dangerous situation.
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''Some tanks are armed with several guns in one or more turrets. Evaluate the additional weaponry and give advice on its use. Describe the ammunition available for additional weaponry. Give advice on how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage. If there is no additional weaponry remove this subsection.''
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 +
=== Modifications and economy ===
 +
{{Specs-Economy}}
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 +
== Armaments ==
 +
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}
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=== Main armament ===
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{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}}
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<!-- ''Give the reader information about the characteristics of the main gun. Assess its effectiveness in a battle based on the reloading speed, ballistics and the power of shells. Do not forget about the flexibility of the fire, that is how quickly the cannon can be aimed at the target, open fire on it and aim at another enemy. Add a link to the main article on the gun: <code><nowiki>{{main|Name of the weapon}}</nowiki></code>. Describe in general terms the ammunition available for the main gun. Give advice on how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage.'' -->
 +
{{main|M5 (37 mm)}}
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The 37 mm gun is located in the rotating turret, mounted with a leftward offset, and has a small MG cupola on top which can rotate independently.
 +
 
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
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|-
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! colspan="5" | [[M5 (37 mm)|37 mm M5]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
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|-
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! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer
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! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
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! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
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|-
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! ''Arcade''
 +
| rowspan="2" | 179 || rowspan="2" | -7°/+60° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | {{Annotation|Vertical|up to 16 km/h}} || 17.1 || 23.7 || 28.8 || 31.8 || 33.9 || rowspan="2" | 3.77 || rowspan="2" | 3.33 || rowspan="2" | 3.07 || rowspan="2" | 2.90
 +
|-
 +
! ''Realistic''
 +
| 10.7 || 12.6 || 15.3 || 16.9 || 18.0
 +
|-
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
==== Ammunition ====
 +
{{:M5 (37 mm)/Ammunition|M74B1, M51B1_Lee}}
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==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
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[[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.png|right|thumb|400px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]
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<!-- '''Last updated: 2.15.1.70''' -->
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{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 +
|-
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! Full<br>ammo
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! 1st<br>rack empty
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! 2nd<br>rack empty
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! 3rd<br>rack empty
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! 4th<br>rack empty
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! 5th<br>rack empty
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! 6th<br>rack empty
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! 7th<br>rack empty
 +
|-
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| '''179''' || 176&nbsp;''(+3)'' || 172&nbsp;''(+7)'' || 168&nbsp;''(+11)'' || 160&nbsp;''(+19)''|| 153&nbsp;''(+26)''|| 148&nbsp;''(+31)'' || 140&nbsp;''(+39)''
 +
|-
 +
! 8th<br>rack empty
 +
! 9th<br>rack empty
 +
! 10th<br>rack empty
 +
! 11th<br>rack empty
 +
! 12th<br>rack empty
 +
! 13th<br>rack empty
 +
! 14th<br>rack empty
 +
! Visual<br>discrepancy
 +
|-
 +
| 133&nbsp;''(+46)'' || 129&nbsp;''(+50)'' || 116&nbsp;''(+63)'' || 105&nbsp;''(+74)'' || 63&nbsp;''(+116)'' || 21&nbsp;''(+158)'' || 1&nbsp;''(+178)''|| No
 +
|-
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
=== Additional armament ===
 +
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}
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<!-- ''Some tanks are armed with several guns in one or more turrets. Evaluate the additional weaponry and give advice on its use. Describe the ammunition available for additional weaponry. Give advice on about how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage. If there is no additional weaponry remove this subsection.'' -->
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{{main|M2 (75 mm)}}
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The large sponson on the starboard side of the tank carries the 75 mm gun. While it is the secondary armament, take note that with only 2 crew members left, it will be the operational gun.
 +
The 75 is fired through the "secondary armament" setting: Controls > Ground Vehicles > Weaponry > Fire from secondary guns. When you aim with the 37 mm gun sight, remember that the gun is offset almost a meter to the right and 50 cm closer to the ground. It also drops faster than the 37 mm shell. If you want to aim precisely, you can use the secondary sight: Controls > Ground Vehicles > Weaponry > Select secondary weapon. You'll also need to configure the "Reset weapon selection" setting for it to work properly.
 +
 
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
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|-
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! colspan="5" | [[M2 (75 mm)|75 mm M2]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
 +
|-
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! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer
 +
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
 +
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
 +
|-
 +
! ''Arcade''
 +
| rowspan="2" | 50 || rowspan="2" | -9°/+20° || rowspan="2" | ±15° || rowspan="2" | {{Annotation|Vertical|up to 16 km/h}} || 11 || 15 || 19 || 21 || 22 || rowspan="2" | 6.2 || rowspan="2" | 5.5 || rowspan="2" | 5.0 || rowspan="2" | 4.8
 +
|-
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! ''Realistic''
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| 7 || 8 || 10 || 11 || 12
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|-
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|}
 +
 
 +
==== Ammunition ====
 +
{{:M2 (75 mm)/Ammunition|M48 shell, M72 shot, M61 shot, M89}}
 +
 
 +
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
 +
[[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.png|right|thumb|400px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]
 +
<!-- '''Last updated: 2.15.1.70''' -->
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 +
|-
 +
! Full<br>ammo
 +
! 1st<br>rack empty
 +
! 2nd<br>rack empty
 +
! Visual<br>discrepancy
 +
|-
 +
| '''50''' || 10&nbsp;''(+40)'' || 1&nbsp;''(+49)'' || No
 +
|-
 +
|}
  
 
=== Machine guns ===
 
=== Machine guns ===
−
''Offensive and anti-aircraft machine guns not only allow you to fight some aircraft, but also are effective against lightly armoured vehicles. Evaluate machine guns and give recommendations on its use.''
+
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|3}}
 +
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|4}}
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<!-- ''Offensive and anti-aircraft machine guns not only allow you to fight some aircraft but also are effective against lightly armoured vehicles. Evaluate machine guns and give recommendations on its use.'' -->
 +
{{main|M1919A4 (7.62 mm)}}
 +
 
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="5" | [[M1919A4 (7.62 mm)|7.62 mm M1919A4]]
 +
|-
 +
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
 +
|-
 +
| Commander cupola || 3,000 (250) || 500 || -10°/+60° || ±180°
 +
|-
 +
| Coaxial with 37 mm || 3,000 (250) || 500 || N/A || N/A
 +
|-
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
The small calibre of the M1919A4 machine gun makes them largely ineffective against all armoured vehicles but the ones with an open compartment. They still can be used to ping targets as a rangefinding help.
 +
 
 +
== Usage in battles ==
 +
<!-- ''Describe the tactics of playing in the vehicle, the features of using vehicles in the team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view but instead give the reader food for thought. Describe the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).'' -->
 +
 
 +
The multiple cannons allow for different combinations of attack. The 37 mm gun on the full 360° traverse turret allows for a diverse role on the M3, with its high-velocity and effective round for long-range fighting, but with a fast reload for close-quarter encounters. The 75 mm on the sponson mount has the same penetration level as the 37 mm, but with a very high post-penetration damage with the right ammo at the cost of lower velocity, and thus a shorter battle range. The limited traverse on the 75 mm mount also means it is not as flexible as the turreted 37 mm. With these two cannons, the M3 Lee can focus on close-range combat with the two cannons fighting a single tank or engage two separate tanks at a longer range. Closer range combat is supported by the M3's adequate sloped frontal armour, able to withstand most enemy fire at its battle rating. It is recommended to set the keys to allow separate firing of the cannons for maximum effectiveness.
 +
 
 +
Still, different guns mean different styles of play. The M3 can also play as a tank destroyer, using its sponson gun to take shots at medium range and it's 37 mm to cover the flanks and make longer range snipe shots. The M3 Lee can also be used as an assault tank, quickly advancing on points while switching between the powerful 75 mm gun and the faster-firing 37 mm. It is also possible to completely ignore the 37 mm and focus solely on the 75 mm as it is a far more effective gun with its HE filler in its APCBC, as well as being easier to manage for newer players. In all game modes, the weapons should be assigned to different keys, this will allow the tank to aim using the sights of the three guns separately, allowing more accurate targeting at ranges, especially for the 75 mm gun. Since the 75 mm is in a side sponson, it is also possible to approach cover to where only the 37 mm is showing, allowing the tank to fire with most of the tank's profile hidden.
 +
 
 +
At its BR, the M3 Lee has a possibility of facing long-barrelled [[Pz.III L|Pz.Kpfw. III]], and [[Pz.IV F2|Pz.Kpfw. IV]], as well as [[T-34 (1941)|T-34]]s and [[Sd.Kfz.234/2]]. The ZiS-30 is also very deadly, with its long gun that can penetrate even a Tiger 1. The 75 mm gun can reliable penetrate all of these tanks at short range (save the T-34), whereas the 37 mm will require some particular shot placement. Another particular enemy worth noting is the Sd.Kfz.234/2 "Puma". This light tank mounts a 50 mm KwK39/1 cannon which can easily penetrate your armour all around. You should try to angle the tank in a way that the shells will just slide harmlessly off. Another tactic is to only expose your turret, that way, you can minimize the amount of damage dealt to you.
  
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== Usage in the battles ==
+
When combating the M3 Lee, avoid its 75 mm gun by flanking the vehicle, then get in close and hug the sides or rear of the vehicle to prevent them from turning and going under the 37 mm's depression range. Aim for the large superstructure, a solid penetration will knock out all 6 crew members or make the ammunition combust. Note that firing through the side hatch will usually destroy the tank in a single shot, owing to the lack of sloping and ammunition storage.
−
''Describe the tactics of playing in the vehicle, the features of using vehicles in the team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view but give the reader food for thought. Describe the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).''
 
  
 
=== Pros and cons ===
 
=== Pros and cons ===
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''Summarize and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in a bulleted list. Do not use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - they have a substitution in the form of softer "inadequate", "effective".''
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<!-- ''Summarise and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in a bulleted list. Try not to use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".'' -->
  
 
'''Pros:'''
 
'''Pros:'''
−
*
+
 
 +
* Has two guns: a 37 mm and a 75 mm
 +
* 75 mm gun is powerful, sporting good penetration and post-penetration explosive damage
 +
* Side mounted 75 mm gives the ability for some unique tactics, such as only exposing the right side of the tank to fire
 +
* Above average frontal armour
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* Despite the tall profile, the "wedding cake" design of the turret has thick sloped armour, providing extra protection to make up for its height
 +
* 6 crew members means it typically can take multiple shots before it is fully destroyed
 +
* Very effective when using weapon selection as the two different turrets can cover each other while reloading
  
 
'''Cons:'''
 
'''Cons:'''
−
*
 
  
−
== Historical part ==
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* Tall profile and a big target
−
''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the ground vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too big, take it to a separate article, taking a link to an article about the vehicle and adding a block "/historical reference" (example: https://wiki.warthunder.com/Name-vehicles/historical reference) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to include links to sources at the end of the article.''
+
* Losing crew members means losing functionality of one of the turrets
 +
* Very awkward to use for new players, especially if the controls for the separate turrets are not properly set
 +
* 75 mm sponson, though powerful, is situational due to its awkward position
 +
** Cannot be used for hull-down combat
 +
** Only accurate when completely stationary
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* Tall position of turret restricts gun depression
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* Slow traverse speeds make it easy for fast tank to sneak around the sides
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* Weak side armour
 +
* Driver's vision port is a weak spot
 +
 
 +
== History ==
 +
<!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' -->
 +
 
 +
===Development===
 +
The current main tank in US inventory in 1940 was the [[M2|M2 medium tank]], but the Battle of France showed that such a tank was not going to be capable to go up against the German [[Pz.III F|Panzer IIIs]] and [[Pz.IV F1|Panzer IVs]] and their Panzer Divisions. With the Western Allies now embroiled in the North African campaign against the Germans and Italians, the Allies needed a good tank capable of going against the Panzer tanks, and they needed it quickly.<ref name="ZalogaM3Med">Zaloga Steven. ''M3 Lee/Grant Medium Tank 1941-45'' Great Britain: Osprey Publishing Ltd., 2005</ref>
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 +
The new tank design took elements from the M2 Medium, using the chassis and its VVSS suspension system. Part of the requirement for the new tank was to mount the more powerful 75 mm cannon. However, it was discovered that the United States does not have a turret design that could mount the 75 mm gun. Turret development would take time, and a new tank capable of fighting the Germans was needed by the British, which the Americans were building tanks for even though the United States was not yet at war. Taking elements from French designs such as the Char B1, with its two cannon mounts, the American designers decided that the 75 mm, if it couldn't yet be mounted on a turret, should be mounted on a sponson design on the hull. This design was tested on the M2 medium tank as the ''T5E2''. It was always considered a stopgap, using the same chassis as the future M4 Sherman to minimize issues with transition when the new design was ready. Ordnance approved it as combat-capable and the design was approved as the '''M3 Medium'''. The M3 Medium design had two cannons, the 75 mm on the hull sponson mount, and a 37 mm with a coaxial machine gun on a turret, a cupola on the turret had its own machine gun. The M3 Lee's 75 mm gun, however, presented a huge advantage over contemporary tank armaments as the 75 mm could fire high-explosive rounds for fortifications and artillery pieces, yet could fire a shell with a high enough velocity for anti-tank purposes.
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 +
The development of the M3 Medium Tank faced numerous challenges, particularly in mounting the powerful 75mm gun. American engineers, including key figures like John Christie, Joseph Colby, Jacob Yeates and Canadian Charles Tanut, grappled with the fact that no existing turret design could accommodate the 75mm cannon. This limitation necessitated a more creative approach, leading to the decision to mount the gun on a sponson in the hull—a solution that, while not ideal, allowed for rapid production. This approach helped meet the urgent need for a tank capable of standing up to German armor in North Africa, even as other design challenges, such as the tank's high profile and limited gun traverse, remained.[[File:M3-Lee-Chrysler-Arsenal.jpg|x400px|right|thumb|none|Two M3 Lee being assembled at the Chrysler Arsenal, their guns still missing.]]
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 +
The M3 design's faults were the high profile and the sponson mount for its armament. The M3 was 10 ft. 3 in. tall, a foot taller than the M2 medium tank. The 75 mm on a sponson mount meant that the main armament of the tank had a limited traverse compared to a rotatable turret and forced the tank to reveal much of its body in order to aim the gun at the enemy. The M3 Medium was also constructed out of rivets (which increased spalling) and had a smooth track design which reduced ground traction. Despite these disadvantages, the Allies happily accepted them as they were critically low on tanks, and German Colonel Hans von Luck considered them superior to the [[Pz.IV E|Panzer IV]]s from his experience in Africa.
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 +
The initial batch of M3s were given to the British for their campaign for North Africa. The original British M3s had a radio in the turret, a new cast turret with room for radio, and the turret cupola and cupola machine gun was replaced with a simple hatch. The modified M3 also required one less crew member due to the radio now being in the turret for the commander rather than for a radio operator. The British ordered 1,250 of these modified M3 medium tanks, which they called the Grant. Additional tanks built and sent to the UK later with the original US model turret were called the Lee.
 +
 
 +
On August 1941, production officially started on the M3 Mediums, though the armour was thicker than initials batches of the tank due to its combat experiences. A majority of these were completed at Baldwin Locomotive Works in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Of the total 6,258 M3s built between startup to the end of production in December 1942, 2,855 units went to the British and 1,386 went to the Soviet Union. Other users of the M3 were the Australians and Indians in the India-Burma Theater. The M3 Mediums arriving in British arsenal caused confusion as the same "M3" designation was given to the [[M3 Stuart|M3 Light Tank]], plus there were two different design types of the M3 Mediums. This set off the tradition of naming American tanks after generals, where the M3 medium tank earned the ''Lee'' for the initial Americans design, [[Grant I|''Grant'']] for the British redesign, and the M3 light tank and its [[M5A1|successors]] earned the ''Stuart''.
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 +
Only 1,400 M3s were kept by the US. Three US crews, sent to help the British with training on the new tanks, had fought in British M3s at the battle of Gazala in June, 1942, with the 1st Royal Tank Regiment. In the US North Africa landings and Tunisia campaign later that year, two battalions of the US 13th Armored Regiment (1st Armored Division) also used M3s, until replaced with Shermans. By the end of the Tunisia campaign in May 1943, all M3s had been taken out of US service in Europe (though it would still see some use in the Pacific theater against Japan).
 +
 
 +
===Combat usage===
 +
[[File:M3Lee (309576)_NorthAfrica_NA-COO-42-217.jpg|x300px|left|thumb|none|A M3 Lee crew holding the shells of the M3 Lee in Tunisia.]]
 +
Combat experience with the M3 Lee was complicated but favourable. In Africa, the Lees and Grants in British and American service surprised the German forces when they could withstand the [[KwK38 (50 mm)|50 mm KwK38 L/42 gun]] and [[KwK37 (75 mm)|75 mm KwK37 L/24 howitzer]] armament on the Panzer IIIs and Panzer IVs. The M3 proved reliable and adequate in armour protection in British and American service. The Soviet's experience with the M3 was less favourable, as their T-34 tanks were much better in combat performance. The Soviets euphemistically called it a "grave for six men" and their Lee tanks were relegated to the secondary fronts or repurposed as armoured personnel carriers. In the Pacific, the M3s were lent to the Australians and Indians, which proved vastly superior to the Japanese tanks in service. The high gun elevation on its 37 mm turret and machine guns proved effective in knocking Japanese snipers off from trees. The only American use of the M3 Lee at the Pacific Theater was during the Battle of Makin Island by the 193rd Tank Battalion in November, 1943.
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The M3 served fine as a stop-gap solution for the American tank development. They performed very well on the combat field and proved very reliable. However, once a 75 mm turret was finally designed, the M3 was redesigned to use it, and the resulting tank was the [[M4|M4 Sherman]], which will go on to replace the M3 tanks in the Allies as they are withdrawn from service. Even if it wasn't, the M3 was becoming obsolete due to newer German tanks being deployed, such as the [[Panther D|Panther]], [[Tiger H1|Tiger I]], or improvement of old chassis like the [[Pz.IV G|Panzer IV Ausf. G]] and [[StuG III F|StuG III Ausf. F]]. Its obsolescence was a consequence of its own rather unique development and anachronistic design, limiting this medium tank's service life to a mere two years in Allied hands. However, it lived on until the end of World War II in some modifications such as tractor and recovery vehicle. The chassis and running gear were adapted by the Canadians to develop their [[M4A5|''Ram'' medium tank]].<ref name="ZalogaM3Med" />
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===An anecdote===
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::"The 75 (mm gun) is firing. The 37 (mm gun) is firing, but it is traversed around the wrong way. The Browning (machine gun) is jammed. I am saying 'Driver advance' on the A set and the driver, who can't hear me, is reversing. And as I look over the top of the turret and see twelve enemy tanks fifty yards away, someone hands me a cheese sandwich." —''British Lieutenant Ken Giles, tank commander of a M3 Grant''<ref name="GrantAnecdote">Bell, Chris. "Fury: All You Need to Know about Life in a Tank." The Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group, 24 Oct. 2014. Web. 12 Jan. 2017. [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/film-news/11167575/Fury-all-you-need-to-know-about-life-in-a-tank.html Website]</ref>
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{{break}}
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{{Navigation-Start|{{Annotation|Archive of the in-game description|An archive of the historical description of the vehicle that was presented in-game prior to Update 1.55 'Royal Armour'}}}}
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{{Navigation-First-Simple-Line}}
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The M3 was created based on the M2 medium tank, using almost all its components and powertrain assemblies in addition to its transmission and running gear. The tank offered a multi-tiered armament configuration and, as the first American tank armed with a 75 mm cannon, represented an important step forward in the development of tank design in the US.
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 +
In 1940 the Ordnance Department brought up requirements for a new medium tank, primary among them being a 75 mm weapon. The 2,134 mm long T7 75 mm cannon met the requirement as a modified version of the T6 cannon, which was designed for standard ammunition from 1897. The modernized weapon was designated the M2, and installing it had a positive impact on the tank's firepower. On the other hand, mounting it in a side sponson greatly limited its arc of fire. The gun could only be moved horizontally by hand and was limited to 15° in either direction.
 +
 
 +
The next weapon modification was the M3 cannon. Its barrel length was extended to 2,810 mm, which both boosted initial shell velocity from 564 m/s to 610 m/s and eliminated the need for a counterweight.
 +
 
 +
The M3 used a riveted hull, while its configuration featured a forward-sitting transmission, battle compartment in the middle, and engine bay in the back. The tank's outline was quite exotic as a result of trying to combine comfort for the crew and high firepower.
 +
 
 +
The first modification was under full-scale production from April 1941 to August 1942, with five companies building a total of 4,924 units.
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The M3 Lee launched its combat career in North Africa in 1942. Deliveries were also made to the USSR via Lend-Lease for use on the Eastern Front from 1942 to 1943.
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{{Navigation-End}}
  
 
== Media ==
 
== Media ==
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* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=us_m3_lee Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]
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;Videos
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{{Youtube-gallery|ly9JS6errQQ|'''Best secondary armaments''' discusses the {{PAGENAME}} at 5:41 - ''War Thunder Official Channel''|RyA5KcS2hAw|'''Multi-turreted Tanks'''  discusses the {{PAGENAME}} at 2:31  - ''War Thunder Official Channel''|tiyrrgXGIc4|'''You said tank? it's more like a mobile fortress - M3 Lee''' - ''HowToPlay1337''|oy_Bs1tbsQ4|'''M3 Lee, American Tier-1 / Rank-1, Medium Tank''' - ''Angry Nerd Gaming''}}
  
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== Read also ==
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== See also ==
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''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example,''
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<!-- ''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''
 
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''
 
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''
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* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''
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* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.'' -->
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''ETC.''
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;Related development
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* [[M3 Medium (Family)]]
  
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== Sources ==
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== External links ==
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* ''topic on the official game forum;''
 
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* ''other literature.''
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* [[wt:en/news/2658/current/|[Historical] Steel Generals: M3 Lee]]
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* [[wt:en/devblog/current/712/|[Devblog] Developers about M3 Lee]]
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=== References ===
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<references />
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{{TankManufacturer Ordnance Department}}
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{{USA medium tanks}}

Latest revision as of 23:42, 8 August 2024

Rank 7 USA
F-5C Pack
This page is about the American medium tank M3 Lee. For other versions, see M3 Medium (Family). For other uses, see M3 (Disambiguation).
M3 Lee
us_m3_lee.png
GarageImage M3 Lee.jpg
ArtImage M3 Lee.png
M3 Lee
USA flag.png USA
II Rank
Battle rating:
AB RB SB
2.3 2.7 2.7
Class:
Research:7 900 Specs-Card-Exp.png
Purchase:10 000 Specs-Card-Lion.png
Show in game

Description

The M3 Lee, formally Medium Tank, M3, is a World War II U.S. Army version of the M3 medium tank. The turret was built in two versions, one for US requirements and one for British requirements. Prior to the introduction of the M3, the M2 medium tank was the primary medium tank of the U.S. Army. However, the accomplishments of the German Panzer IIIs and Panzer IVs in the French campaign during World War II prompted the U.S. Army to immediately request a new medium tank armed with a 75 mm gun in a turret in response to the new threats. The design began in July 1940, and the M3 medium tank commenced production in late 1940, in response to the United Kingdom's pressing demand for 3,650 medium tanks. The concept was a desperate attempt to get medium tanks built as soon as possible. The M3 medium was designed from the start to be an interim design with a 75 mm gun; hence, it was withdrawn from action in most theatres as soon as the M4 Sherman tanks became available in substantial numbers.

Introduced in Update 1.45 "Steel Generals", the M3 Lee had significant firepower and good armour compared to the previous M2 medium tank, but it had serious drawbacks in its overall design, including a high silhouette, an outdated sponson mounting of the main 75 mm gun resulting in a limited firing arc, riveted construction, and poor off-road performance. Overall, it is a very unusual tank for most players and will require certain coordination to be used effectively.

General info

Survivability and armour

Armourfront / side / back
Hull51 / 38 / 38
Turret50 / 50 / 50
Crew7 people
Visibility139 %

Armour type:

  • Rolled homogeneous armour (Hull, turret roof)
  • Cast homogeneous armour (Turret, MG cupola, transmission area, view ports)
Armour Front (Slope angle) Sides Rear Roof
Hull 38.1 mm (54°) Front Glacis
50.8 mm (15-55°) Transmission area
50.8 mm (29°) Driver port
38.1 mm (0-57°) Hull gun mount 		38.1 mm (0-22°) Top
38.1 mm Bottom 		38.1 mm (1-14°) Top
38.1 mm (15-53°) Bottom 		12.7 mm
Turret 50.8 mm (11-65°) Turret front
38.1 mm (1-82°) Gun mantlet 		50.8 mm (0-66°) 50.8 mm (1-54°) 22.2 mm
Cupola 50.8 mm (25°) 50.8 mm (cylindrical) 50.8 mm

Notes:

  • Suspension wheels are 15 mm thick, bogies are 10 mm thick, and tracks are 17 mm thick.
  • Hull doors and vision ports are 38.1 mm thick.

The front glacis is separated in two plates with different angles and thicknesses, increasing the chance to bounce a shell off. The crew sits tightly in a limited compartment so any penetrating shot will likely knock out several crew members. The high crew count (6) compensates this aspect.


Mobility

Speedforward / back
AB43 / 6 km/h
RB and SB39 / 6 km/h
Number of gears5 forward
1 back
Weight27.7 t
Engine power
AB763 hp
RB and SB400 hp
Power-to-weight ratio
AB27.5 hp/t
RB and SB14.4 hp/t
Game Mode Max Speed (km/h) Weight (tons) Engine power (horsepower) Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
Forward Reverse Stock Upgraded Stock Upgraded
Arcade 43 6 27.7 620 763 22.38 27.55
Realistic 39 6 354 400 12.78 14.44

The suspension inherited from the M2 gives it the Lee good all-terrain performance. It has a good acceleration, a reasonable top speed and the reverse speed is enough to back out of a dangerous situation.

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference
AB417 → 536 Sl icon.png
RB455 → 585 Sl icon.png
SB547 → 703 Sl icon.png
Total cost of modifications6 930 Rp icon.png
6 740 Sl icon.png
Talisman cost530 Ge icon.png
Crew training3 000 Sl icon.png
Experts10 000 Sl icon.png
Aces115 Ge icon.png
Research Aces160 000 Rp icon.png
Reward for battleAB / RB / SB
30 / 40 / 40 % Sl icon.png
112 / 112 / 112 % Rp icon.png
Modifications
Mobility Protection Firepower
Mods new tank traks.png
Tracks
Research:
350 Rp icon.png
Cost:
340 Sl icon.png
70 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank suspension.png
Suspension
Research:
310 Rp icon.png
Cost:
300 Sl icon.png
60 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank break.png
Brake System
Research:
310 Rp icon.png
Cost:
300 Sl icon.png
60 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank filter.png
Filters
Research:
580 Rp icon.png
Cost:
560 Sl icon.png
115 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank transmission.png
Transmission
Research:
560 Rp icon.png
Cost:
550 Sl icon.png
110 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank engine.png
Engine
Research:
560 Rp icon.png
Cost:
550 Sl icon.png
110 Ge icon.png
Mods tank tool kit.png
Improved Parts
Research:
350 Rp icon.png
Cost:
340 Sl icon.png
70 Ge icon.png
Mods extinguisher.png
Improved FPE
Research:
310 Rp icon.png
Cost:
300 Sl icon.png
60 Ge icon.png
Mods tank reinforcement us.png
Crew Replenishment
Research:
580 Rp icon.png
Cost:
560 Sl icon.png
115 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank horizontal aiming.png
Horizontal Drive
Research:
350 Rp icon.png
Cost:
340 Sl icon.png
70 Ge icon.png
Mods tank ammo.png
37mm_usa_m3_APC_ammo_pack
Research:
350 Rp icon.png
Cost:
340 Sl icon.png
70 Ge icon.png
Mods tank cannon.png
Adjustment of Fire
Research:
310 Rp icon.png
Cost:
300 Sl icon.png
60 Ge icon.png
Mods tank ammo.png
75mm_usa_APCBC_ammo_pack
Research:
310 Rp icon.png
Cost:
300 Sl icon.png
60 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank vertical aiming.png
Elevation Mechanism
Research:
580 Rp icon.png
Cost:
560 Sl icon.png
115 Ge icon.png
Mods art support.png
Artillery Support
Research:
560 Rp icon.png
Cost:
550 Sl icon.png
110 Ge icon.png
Mods tank ammo.png
75mm_us_M89_Smoke_ammo_pack
Research:
560 Rp icon.png
Cost:
550 Sl icon.png
110 Ge icon.png

Armaments

Main armament

37 mm M5 cannon
Vertical stabilizer
Reduces the swing of the gun in one plane while moving
Ammunition179 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
3.7 → 2.9 s
Vertical guidance-7° / 60°
Main article: M5 (37 mm)

The 37 mm gun is located in the rotating turret, mounted with a leftward offset, and has a small MG cupola on top which can rotate independently.

37 mm M5 Turret rotation speed (°/s) Reloading rate (seconds)
Mode Capacity Vertical Horizontal Stabilizer Stock Upgraded Full Expert Aced Stock Full Expert Aced
Arcade 179 -7°/+60° ±180° Vertical 17.1 23.7 28.8 31.8 33.9 3.77 3.33 3.07 2.90
Realistic 10.7 12.6 15.3 16.9 18.0

Ammunition

Penetration statistics
Ammunition Type of
warhead 		Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
10 m 100 m 500 m 1,000 m 1,500 m 2,000 m
M74B1 AP 79 76 65 54 45 37
M51B1 APCBC 87 84 73 60 50 41
Shell details
Ammunition Type of
warhead 		Velocity
(m/s) 		Projectile
mass (kg) 		Fuse delay Fuse sensitivity
(mm) 		Explosive mass
(TNT equivalent) (g) 		Ricochet
0% 50% 100%
M74B1 AP 883 0.87 - - - 47° 60° 65°
M51B1 APCBC 883 0.87 - - - 48° 63° 71°

Ammo racks

Ammo racks of the M3 Lee
Full
ammo 		1st
rack empty 		2nd
rack empty 		3rd
rack empty 		4th
rack empty 		5th
rack empty 		6th
rack empty 		7th
rack empty
179 176 (+3) 172 (+7) 168 (+11) 160 (+19) 153 (+26) 148 (+31) 140 (+39)
8th
rack empty 		9th
rack empty 		10th
rack empty 		11th
rack empty 		12th
rack empty 		13th
rack empty 		14th
rack empty 		Visual
discrepancy
133 (+46) 129 (+50) 116 (+63) 105 (+74) 63 (+116) 21 (+158) 1 (+178) No

Additional armament

75 mm M2 cannon
Vertical stabilizer
Reduces the swing of the gun in one plane while moving
Ammunition50 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
6.2 → 4.8 s
Vertical guidance-9° / 20°
Horizontal guidance-15° / 15°
Main article: M2 (75 mm)

The large sponson on the starboard side of the tank carries the 75 mm gun. While it is the secondary armament, take note that with only 2 crew members left, it will be the operational gun. The 75 is fired through the "secondary armament" setting: Controls > Ground Vehicles > Weaponry > Fire from secondary guns. When you aim with the 37 mm gun sight, remember that the gun is offset almost a meter to the right and 50 cm closer to the ground. It also drops faster than the 37 mm shell. If you want to aim precisely, you can use the secondary sight: Controls > Ground Vehicles > Weaponry > Select secondary weapon. You'll also need to configure the "Reset weapon selection" setting for it to work properly.

75 mm M2 Turret rotation speed (°/s) Reloading rate (seconds)
Mode Capacity Vertical Horizontal Stabilizer Stock Upgraded Full Expert Aced Stock Full Expert Aced
Arcade 50 -9°/+20° ±15° Vertical 11 15 19 21 22 6.2 5.5 5.0 4.8
Realistic 7 8 10 11 12

Ammunition

Penetration statistics
Ammunition Type of
warhead 		Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
10 m 100 m 500 m 1,000 m 1,500 m 2,000 m
M48 shell HE 10 10 10 10 10 10
M72 shot AP 84 82 73 62 53 46
M61 shot APCBC 97 95 87 78 70 63
Shell details
Ammunition Type of
warhead 		Velocity
(m/s) 		Projectile
mass (kg) 		Fuse delay
(m) 		Fuse sensitivity
(mm) 		Explosive mass
(TNT equivalent) (g) 		Ricochet
0% 50% 100%
M48 shell HE 448 6.3 0.2 0.1 666 79° 80° 81°
M72 shot AP 588 6.3 - - - 47° 60° 65°
M61 shot APCBC 588 6.79 1.2 14 63.7 48° 63° 71°
Smoke shell characteristics
Ammunition Velocity
(m/s) 		Projectile
mass (kg) 		Screen radius
(m) 		Screen deploy
time (s) 		Screen hold
time (s) 		Explosive mass
(TNT equivalent) (g)
M89 259 3 9 5 20 50

Ammo racks

Ammo racks of the M3 Lee
Full
ammo 		1st
rack empty 		2nd
rack empty 		Visual
discrepancy
50 10 (+40) 1 (+49) No

Machine guns

7.62 mm M1919A4 machine gun (coaxial)
Ammunition3 000 rounds
Belt capacity250 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
10.4 → 8.0 s
Fire rate500 shots/min
7.62 mm M1919A4 machine gun
Ammunition3 000 rounds
Belt capacity250 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
10.4 → 8.0 s
Fire rate500 shots/min
Main article: M1919A4 (7.62 mm)
7.62 mm M1919A4
Mount Capacity (Belt) Fire rate Vertical Horizontal
Commander cupola 3,000 (250) 500 -10°/+60° ±180°
Coaxial with 37 mm 3,000 (250) 500 N/A N/A

The small calibre of the M1919A4 machine gun makes them largely ineffective against all armoured vehicles but the ones with an open compartment. They still can be used to ping targets as a rangefinding help.

Usage in battles

The multiple cannons allow for different combinations of attack. The 37 mm gun on the full 360° traverse turret allows for a diverse role on the M3, with its high-velocity and effective round for long-range fighting, but with a fast reload for close-quarter encounters. The 75 mm on the sponson mount has the same penetration level as the 37 mm, but with a very high post-penetration damage with the right ammo at the cost of lower velocity, and thus a shorter battle range. The limited traverse on the 75 mm mount also means it is not as flexible as the turreted 37 mm. With these two cannons, the M3 Lee can focus on close-range combat with the two cannons fighting a single tank or engage two separate tanks at a longer range. Closer range combat is supported by the M3's adequate sloped frontal armour, able to withstand most enemy fire at its battle rating. It is recommended to set the keys to allow separate firing of the cannons for maximum effectiveness.

Still, different guns mean different styles of play. The M3 can also play as a tank destroyer, using its sponson gun to take shots at medium range and it's 37 mm to cover the flanks and make longer range snipe shots. The M3 Lee can also be used as an assault tank, quickly advancing on points while switching between the powerful 75 mm gun and the faster-firing 37 mm. It is also possible to completely ignore the 37 mm and focus solely on the 75 mm as it is a far more effective gun with its HE filler in its APCBC, as well as being easier to manage for newer players. In all game modes, the weapons should be assigned to different keys, this will allow the tank to aim using the sights of the three guns separately, allowing more accurate targeting at ranges, especially for the 75 mm gun. Since the 75 mm is in a side sponson, it is also possible to approach cover to where only the 37 mm is showing, allowing the tank to fire with most of the tank's profile hidden.

At its BR, the M3 Lee has a possibility of facing long-barrelled Pz.Kpfw. III, and Pz.Kpfw. IV, as well as T-34s and Sd.Kfz.234/2. The ZiS-30 is also very deadly, with its long gun that can penetrate even a Tiger 1. The 75 mm gun can reliable penetrate all of these tanks at short range (save the T-34), whereas the 37 mm will require some particular shot placement. Another particular enemy worth noting is the Sd.Kfz.234/2 "Puma". This light tank mounts a 50 mm KwK39/1 cannon which can easily penetrate your armour all around. You should try to angle the tank in a way that the shells will just slide harmlessly off. Another tactic is to only expose your turret, that way, you can minimize the amount of damage dealt to you.

When combating the M3 Lee, avoid its 75 mm gun by flanking the vehicle, then get in close and hug the sides or rear of the vehicle to prevent them from turning and going under the 37 mm's depression range. Aim for the large superstructure, a solid penetration will knock out all 6 crew members or make the ammunition combust. Note that firing through the side hatch will usually destroy the tank in a single shot, owing to the lack of sloping and ammunition storage.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Has two guns: a 37 mm and a 75 mm
  • 75 mm gun is powerful, sporting good penetration and post-penetration explosive damage
  • Side mounted 75 mm gives the ability for some unique tactics, such as only exposing the right side of the tank to fire
  • Above average frontal armour
  • Despite the tall profile, the "wedding cake" design of the turret has thick sloped armour, providing extra protection to make up for its height
  • 6 crew members means it typically can take multiple shots before it is fully destroyed
  • Very effective when using weapon selection as the two different turrets can cover each other while reloading

Cons:

  • Tall profile and a big target
  • Losing crew members means losing functionality of one of the turrets
  • Very awkward to use for new players, especially if the controls for the separate turrets are not properly set
  • 75 mm sponson, though powerful, is situational due to its awkward position
    • Cannot be used for hull-down combat
    • Only accurate when completely stationary
  • Tall position of turret restricts gun depression
  • Slow traverse speeds make it easy for fast tank to sneak around the sides
  • Weak side armour
  • Driver's vision port is a weak spot

History

Development

The current main tank in US inventory in 1940 was the M2 medium tank, but the Battle of France showed that such a tank was not going to be capable to go up against the German Panzer IIIs and Panzer IVs and their Panzer Divisions. With the Western Allies now embroiled in the North African campaign against the Germans and Italians, the Allies needed a good tank capable of going against the Panzer tanks, and they needed it quickly.[1]

The new tank design took elements from the M2 Medium, using the chassis and its VVSS suspension system. Part of the requirement for the new tank was to mount the more powerful 75 mm cannon. However, it was discovered that the United States does not have a turret design that could mount the 75 mm gun. Turret development would take time, and a new tank capable of fighting the Germans was needed by the British, which the Americans were building tanks for even though the United States was not yet at war. Taking elements from French designs such as the Char B1, with its two cannon mounts, the American designers decided that the 75 mm, if it couldn't yet be mounted on a turret, should be mounted on a sponson design on the hull. This design was tested on the M2 medium tank as the T5E2. It was always considered a stopgap, using the same chassis as the future M4 Sherman to minimize issues with transition when the new design was ready. Ordnance approved it as combat-capable and the design was approved as the M3 Medium. The M3 Medium design had two cannons, the 75 mm on the hull sponson mount, and a 37 mm with a coaxial machine gun on a turret, a cupola on the turret had its own machine gun. The M3 Lee's 75 mm gun, however, presented a huge advantage over contemporary tank armaments as the 75 mm could fire high-explosive rounds for fortifications and artillery pieces, yet could fire a shell with a high enough velocity for anti-tank purposes.

The development of the M3 Medium Tank faced numerous challenges, particularly in mounting the powerful 75mm gun. American engineers, including key figures like John Christie, Joseph Colby, Jacob Yeates and Canadian Charles Tanut, grappled with the fact that no existing turret design could accommodate the 75mm cannon. This limitation necessitated a more creative approach, leading to the decision to mount the gun on a sponson in the hull—a solution that, while not ideal, allowed for rapid production. This approach helped meet the urgent need for a tank capable of standing up to German armor in North Africa, even as other design challenges, such as the tank's high profile and limited gun traverse, remained.
Two M3 Lee being assembled at the Chrysler Arsenal, their guns still missing.

The M3 design's faults were the high profile and the sponson mount for its armament. The M3 was 10 ft. 3 in. tall, a foot taller than the M2 medium tank. The 75 mm on a sponson mount meant that the main armament of the tank had a limited traverse compared to a rotatable turret and forced the tank to reveal much of its body in order to aim the gun at the enemy. The M3 Medium was also constructed out of rivets (which increased spalling) and had a smooth track design which reduced ground traction. Despite these disadvantages, the Allies happily accepted them as they were critically low on tanks, and German Colonel Hans von Luck considered them superior to the Panzer IVs from his experience in Africa.

The initial batch of M3s were given to the British for their campaign for North Africa. The original British M3s had a radio in the turret, a new cast turret with room for radio, and the turret cupola and cupola machine gun was replaced with a simple hatch. The modified M3 also required one less crew member due to the radio now being in the turret for the commander rather than for a radio operator. The British ordered 1,250 of these modified M3 medium tanks, which they called the Grant. Additional tanks built and sent to the UK later with the original US model turret were called the Lee.

On August 1941, production officially started on the M3 Mediums, though the armour was thicker than initials batches of the tank due to its combat experiences. A majority of these were completed at Baldwin Locomotive Works in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Of the total 6,258 M3s built between startup to the end of production in December 1942, 2,855 units went to the British and 1,386 went to the Soviet Union. Other users of the M3 were the Australians and Indians in the India-Burma Theater. The M3 Mediums arriving in British arsenal caused confusion as the same "M3" designation was given to the M3 Light Tank, plus there were two different design types of the M3 Mediums. This set off the tradition of naming American tanks after generals, where the M3 medium tank earned the Lee for the initial Americans design, Grant for the British redesign, and the M3 light tank and its successors earned the Stuart.

Only 1,400 M3s were kept by the US. Three US crews, sent to help the British with training on the new tanks, had fought in British M3s at the battle of Gazala in June, 1942, with the 1st Royal Tank Regiment. In the US North Africa landings and Tunisia campaign later that year, two battalions of the US 13th Armored Regiment (1st Armored Division) also used M3s, until replaced with Shermans. By the end of the Tunisia campaign in May 1943, all M3s had been taken out of US service in Europe (though it would still see some use in the Pacific theater against Japan).

Combat usage

A M3 Lee crew holding the shells of the M3 Lee in Tunisia.

Combat experience with the M3 Lee was complicated but favourable. In Africa, the Lees and Grants in British and American service surprised the German forces when they could withstand the 50 mm KwK38 L/42 gun and 75 mm KwK37 L/24 howitzer armament on the Panzer IIIs and Panzer IVs. The M3 proved reliable and adequate in armour protection in British and American service. The Soviet's experience with the M3 was less favourable, as their T-34 tanks were much better in combat performance. The Soviets euphemistically called it a "grave for six men" and their Lee tanks were relegated to the secondary fronts or repurposed as armoured personnel carriers. In the Pacific, the M3s were lent to the Australians and Indians, which proved vastly superior to the Japanese tanks in service. The high gun elevation on its 37 mm turret and machine guns proved effective in knocking Japanese snipers off from trees. The only American use of the M3 Lee at the Pacific Theater was during the Battle of Makin Island by the 193rd Tank Battalion in November, 1943.

The M3 served fine as a stop-gap solution for the American tank development. They performed very well on the combat field and proved very reliable. However, once a 75 mm turret was finally designed, the M3 was redesigned to use it, and the resulting tank was the M4 Sherman, which will go on to replace the M3 tanks in the Allies as they are withdrawn from service. Even if it wasn't, the M3 was becoming obsolete due to newer German tanks being deployed, such as the Panther, Tiger I, or improvement of old chassis like the Panzer IV Ausf. G and StuG III Ausf. F. Its obsolescence was a consequence of its own rather unique development and anachronistic design, limiting this medium tank's service life to a mere two years in Allied hands. However, it lived on until the end of World War II in some modifications such as tractor and recovery vehicle. The chassis and running gear were adapted by the Canadians to develop their Ram medium tank.[1]

An anecdote

"The 75 (mm gun) is firing. The 37 (mm gun) is firing, but it is traversed around the wrong way. The Browning (machine gun) is jammed. I am saying 'Driver advance' on the A set and the driver, who can't hear me, is reversing. And as I look over the top of the turret and see twelve enemy tanks fifty yards away, someone hands me a cheese sandwich." —British Lieutenant Ken Giles, tank commander of a M3 Grant[2]


Archive of the in-game description

The M3 was created based on the M2 medium tank, using almost all its components and powertrain assemblies in addition to its transmission and running gear. The tank offered a multi-tiered armament configuration and, as the first American tank armed with a 75 mm cannon, represented an important step forward in the development of tank design in the US.

In 1940 the Ordnance Department brought up requirements for a new medium tank, primary among them being a 75 mm weapon. The 2,134 mm long T7 75 mm cannon met the requirement as a modified version of the T6 cannon, which was designed for standard ammunition from 1897. The modernized weapon was designated the M2, and installing it had a positive impact on the tank's firepower. On the other hand, mounting it in a side sponson greatly limited its arc of fire. The gun could only be moved horizontally by hand and was limited to 15° in either direction.

The next weapon modification was the M3 cannon. Its barrel length was extended to 2,810 mm, which both boosted initial shell velocity from 564 m/s to 610 m/s and eliminated the need for a counterweight.

The M3 used a riveted hull, while its configuration featured a forward-sitting transmission, battle compartment in the middle, and engine bay in the back. The tank's outline was quite exotic as a result of trying to combine comfort for the crew and high firepower.

The first modification was under full-scale production from April 1941 to August 1942, with five companies building a total of 4,924 units.

The M3 Lee launched its combat career in North Africa in 1942. Deliveries were also made to the USSR via Lend-Lease for use on the Eastern Front from 1942 to 1943.


Media

Skins
Videos
Best secondary armaments discusses the M3 Lee at 5:41 - War Thunder Official Channel
Multi-turreted Tanks discusses the M3 Lee at 2:31 - War Thunder Official Channel
You said tank? it's more like a mobile fortress - M3 Lee - HowToPlay1337
M3 Lee, American Tier-1 / Rank-1, Medium Tank - Angry Nerd Gaming

See also

Related development

External links

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Zaloga Steven. M3 Lee/Grant Medium Tank 1941-45 Great Britain: Osprey Publishing Ltd., 2005
  2. ↑ Bell, Chris. "Fury: All You Need to Know about Life in a Tank." The Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group, 24 Oct. 2014. Web. 12 Jan. 2017. Website


U.S. Army Ordnance Department/Corps*
Light tanks  T18E2 · M24 (Designed in collaboration with Cadillac)
M3 Stuart  M3 · M3A1 Stuart · M3A1 (USMC)
M5 Stuart  M5A1
Medium tanks  M3 Lee
M4 Sherman  M4 · M4A1 · M4A2 · M4A3 (105) · Calliope
  M4A1 (76) W · M4A2 (76) W · M4A3 (76) W
M26 Pershing  T20 · T25 · M26 · M26E1 · M26 T99
Patton Series  M46 · M46 "Tiger" · M47
Prototypes  T54E1 · T95E1
Heavy tanks  M103
M4 Jumbo  M4A3E2 · Cobra King · M4A3E2 (76) W
M6 Heavy  M6A1 · M6A2E1 · T1E1
M26 Pershing  T26E1-1 · T26E5
Prototypes  T14
T29  T29 · T30 · T34
T-32  T32 · T32E1
Tank destroyers  M3 GMC · M10 GMC · M56
M8 GMC  M8 HMC · M8A1 GMC
M36 GMC  M36 GMC · M36B2
Prototypes  T28 · T95
SPAAGs 
Production  M19 MGMC · M42
Export/Captured  ␗M8 HMC · SU-57
Stuart  Stuart I · Stuart III · ␗M3A3 Stuart · ␗M3A3 (1st PTG) · ▄M3A3 · ▄M3A3 Stuart · ▃Stuart VI (5th CAD) · ␗M5A1
Lee/Grant  ▂M3 Medium · ▃Grant I · Grant I
M4 Sherman  Sherman II · ▄M4A1 · ␗M4A1 (75) W · ▀M4 748 (a) · ▂M4A2 · ▄M4A3 (105) · ▅M4A3 (76) W · ▄M4A3E2
  ␗M4A4 · ␗M4A4 (1st PTG) · ▄Sherman V · ▄M4A4 · ▄Sherman I Composito
M26 Pershing  M26 "D.C.Ariete" · M26A1
M47 Patton  mKPz M47 G · ▅M47
M10 GMC  ␗M10 GMC · ▄M10 GMC
M36 GMC  ␗M36 GMC · M36B1 · ▅M36 · ▄M36B2
M19 MGMC  ▅M19A1
M42 MGMC  ▅M42 · ␗M42
  *The Ordnance Department was renamed to the Ordnance Corps after the Army Reorganization Act of 1950.

USA medium tanks
M2  M2
M3  M3 Lee · ▃Grant I
M4  M4 · Calliope · M4A1 · M4A1 (76) W · M4A2 · M4A2 (76) W · M4A3 (105) · M4A3 (76) W · M4/T26
M26 Pershing  T20 · T25 · M26 · M26 T99 · M26E1
M46/47/48 Patton  M46 · M46 "Tiger" · M47 · M48A1 · T54E1 · T54E2
M60  M60 · M60A1 (AOS) · M60A1 RISE (P) · M60A2 · M60A3 TTS · M728 CEV · 120S
MBT-70  MBT-70 · XM803
M1 Abrams  XM1 (Chrysler) · XM1 (GM)
  M1 Abrams · M1 KVT · IPM1
  M1A1 · M1A1 HC · M1A1 Click-Bait
  M1A2 Abrams · M1A2 SEP · M1A2 SEP V2
Other  T95E1
Australia  M1A1 AIM
Canada  M4A5
Israel  ▃Magach 3 (ERA) · ▃Merkava Mk.1 · ▃Merkava Mk.2B · ▃Merkava Mk.3D
Turkey  M60 AMBT

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