Difference between revisions of "Grant I (USA)"
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{{Specs-Card|code=us_mk1_grant}} | {{Specs-Card|code=us_mk1_grant}} | ||
| − | {{ | + | {{About |
| + | | about = American medium tank '''{{PAGENAME}}''' | ||
| + | | usage = the version in the British tree | ||
| + | | link = Grant I (Great Britain) (Family) | ||
| + | }} | ||
== Description == | == Description == | ||
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[[File:GarageImage_GrantI.jpg|420px|thumb|left]] | [[File:GarageImage_GrantI.jpg|420px|thumb|left]] | ||
{{Break}} | {{Break}} | ||
| − | The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a gift | + | The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a gift rank {{Specs|rank}} American medium tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.45 "Steel Generals"]] in the initial batch of US vehicles available at launch. It is a modified version of the [[M3 Lee|M3 Lee]] in the American medium tree line with a redesigned turret made for the British Army. It is currently not available for purchase. |
The Grant is most well recognized for its tall profile and two cannons. The suspension resembles that of the [[M4|M4 Sherman]], the only notable difference being the return rollers' positions. The hull front is also stepped into two plates, where the upper is closer to vertical. The large sponson on the right side carries the main 75 mm gun; note that with 2 crew, it is the operational gun. The 37 mm gun is in a turret, mounted with a leftward offset. Its main notable difference from the M3 Lee is a redesigned turret. | The Grant is most well recognized for its tall profile and two cannons. The suspension resembles that of the [[M4|M4 Sherman]], the only notable difference being the return rollers' positions. The hull front is also stepped into two plates, where the upper is closer to vertical. The large sponson on the right side carries the main 75 mm gun; note that with 2 crew, it is the operational gun. The 37 mm gun is in a turret, mounted with a leftward offset. Its main notable difference from the M3 Lee is a redesigned turret. | ||
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=== Machine guns === | === Machine guns === | ||
| − | <!--''Offensive and anti-aircraft machine guns not only allow you to fight some aircraft | + | <!--''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|Browning (7.62 mm)}} | {{main|Browning (7.62 mm)}} | ||
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== Usage in the battles == | == Usage in the 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 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).''--> | <!--''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).''--> | ||
| − | The multiple cannons allow for different combinations of attack. The 75 mm gun possesses armour penetration on about the level of the 37mm gun; however, the damage upon penetration is extremely high with the M61 APCBC shell due to the HE filler. On the other hand, the 37mm gun allows for close quarters and longer-range fighting, where its high-velocity and effective shell make for good long range targeting while it is also the only cannon on the Grant that has a full 360 degree traverse. | + | The multiple cannons allow for different combinations of attack. The 75 mm gun possesses armour penetration on about the level of the 37mm gun; however, the damage upon penetration is extremely high with the M61 APCBC shell due to the HE filler. On the other hand, the 37mm gun allows for close quarters and longer-range fighting, where its high-velocity and effective shell make for good long range targeting while it is also the only cannon on the Grant that has a full 360-degree traverse. |
Different guns mean different styles of play. The Grant can be played as a tank destroyer, using its sponson gun to take shots at medium range and its 37mm to cover the flanks and make longer range snipe shots. The Grant can also be used as an assault tank, quickly advancing on points while switching between the powerful 75mm gun and the faster-firing 37mm. In all game modes, the two gun profiles should be assigned to different keys, this will allow players to aim using the sights of the three guns separately, allowing the usage of the individual optics to actually hit things at range. | Different guns mean different styles of play. The Grant can be played as a tank destroyer, using its sponson gun to take shots at medium range and its 37mm to cover the flanks and make longer range snipe shots. The Grant can also be used as an assault tank, quickly advancing on points while switching between the powerful 75mm gun and the faster-firing 37mm. In all game modes, the two gun profiles should be assigned to different keys, this will allow players to aim using the sights of the three guns separately, allowing the usage of the individual optics to actually hit things at range. | ||
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'''Pros:''' | '''Pros:''' | ||
| − | * Ability to use two guns: a | + | * Ability to use two guns: a 37 mm and a 75 mm - which is very powerful at this rank. |
* Fine frontal armour. | * Fine frontal armour. | ||
| − | * Side mounted | + | * Side mounted 75 mm gives the ability for some unique tactics. |
| − | * Despite the tall profile, the "wedding cake" design of the turret has thick sloped armour, providing extra protection to make up for | + | * Despite the tall profile, the "wedding cake" design of the turret has thick sloped armour, providing extra protection to make up for its height. |
'''Cons:''' | '''Cons:''' | ||
| − | * Tall profile, big target | + | * Tall profile, big target |
| − | * Side mounted gun - as much it is advantage, it is disadvantage too | + | * Side mounted gun - as much it is an advantage, it is a disadvantage too <!-- why is it also a disadvantage--> |
* Slow traverse speeds make it easy for a light or a particularly speedy medium tank to sneak around the sides. | * Slow traverse speeds make it easy for a light or a particularly speedy medium tank to sneak around the sides. | ||
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After the development of the [[M2|M2 medium tank]], the Battle of France showed that such a tank was not going to be capable to go against the German [[Pz.III F|Panzer IIIs]] and [[Pz.IV F1|Panzer IVs]]. 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. | After the development of the [[M2|M2 medium tank]], the Battle of France showed that such a tank was not going to be capable to go against the German [[Pz.III F|Panzer IIIs]] and [[Pz.IV F1|Panzer IVs]]. 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. | ||
| − | The [[M3 Lee|'''M3 Lee''']] tank started from the basis of the M2 Medium Tank, using the chassis and the VVSS suspension system. It was to mount the 75 mm cannon, however it was discovered that the United States does not have a turret design that can mount the 75 mm gun. So as development on the turret proceeded, the 75 mm on the M3 Lee would be a sponson mounted. This design was tested on the M2 medium tank as the ''T5E2'', which was approved for the M3 Lee design. The M3 Lee featured a medium tank with two guns, 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 use of two gun mounts on a tank was similar to the German [[Nb.Fz.|Neubaufahrzeug]] and Soviet [[T-35]] tanks. The M3 Lee's 75 mm gun however presented a huge advantage over contemporary tank armaments, the 75 mm could fire high-explosive rounds for against infantry, yet could fire a shell with a high enough velocity for anti-tank purposes. | + | The [[M3 Lee|'''M3 Lee''']] tank started from the basis of the M2 Medium Tank, using the chassis and the VVSS suspension system. It was to mount the 75 mm cannon, however, it was discovered that the United States does not have a turret design that can mount the 75 mm gun. So as development on the turret proceeded, the 75 mm on the M3 Lee would be a sponson mounted. This design was tested on the M2 medium tank as the ''T5E2'', which was approved for the M3 Lee design. The M3 Lee featured a medium tank with two guns, 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 use of two gun mounts on a tank was similar to the German [[Nb.Fz.|Neubaufahrzeug]] and Soviet [[T-35]] tanks. The M3 Lee's 75 mm gun, however, presented a huge advantage over contemporary tank armaments, the 75 mm could fire high-explosive rounds for against infantry, yet could fire a shell with a high enough velocity for anti-tank purposes. |
| − | The M3 Lee's faults | + | The M3 Lee's faults were the high profile and the sponson mount for its armament. The M3 Lee 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 Lee 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. |
| − | The initial batch of M3 Lees | + | The initial batch of M3 Lees was given to the British for their campaign at North Africa. The British experience with the M3 Lee pointed out most of the M3 Lee's flaws, but they were concerned with the lack of radio in the turret and a lacking in armour, with which they modified the M3 Lee to accommodate. The new design had a new cast turret with room for radio, the hull had thicker armour, and the turret cupola's machine gun was removed for a simple hatch. The modified M3 Lee 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. |
| − | On August 1941, production started on the M3 Lee, 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 | + | On August 1941, production started on the M3 Lee, 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 Lee were the Australians and Indians in the Pacific Theater. The M3 Lee arriving in British arsenal caused confusion as the same "M3" designation was given to the [[M3 Stuart|M3 Light Tank]]. This set off the tradition of naming American tanks after generals, where the M3 medium tank earned the ''Lee'' for the Americans ('''Grant''' for the British variant) and the M3 light tank earned the ''Stuart''. |
===Combat usage=== | ===Combat usage=== | ||
| − | Combat experience with the M3 Lee was complicated | + | 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 KwK 38 L/42 gun and 75 mm KwK 37 L/24 howitzer armament on the Panzer IIIs and Panzer IVs. The M3 Lee proved reliable and adequate in armour protection. The Soviet's experience with the M3 Lee was less favourable, as their [[T-34 (1941)|T-34 tanks]] were much better in combat performance. The Soviets euphemistically called it a "grave for six men" and the Lee tanks were relegated to the secondary fronts or repurposed as armoured personnel carriers. In the Pacific, the M3 Lees were lent to the Australians and Indians, which proved vastly superior to the Japanese tanks in service. The only American use of the M3 Lee at the Pacific Theater was during the Battle of Makin Island. |
| − | The M3 Lee 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 Lee 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 | + | The M3 Lee 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 Lee 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 [[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 WW2 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]]. |
===An anecdote=== | ===An anecdote=== | ||
| − | ::"The 75 (mm gun) is firing. The 37 (mm gun) is firing, but it is traversed | + | ::"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></ref> |
| + | |||
| + | === In-game description === | ||
| + | The bitter taste left in the mouth of British builders after battles in Greece and France forced them to take a hard look at the future of their armor. They did not have a single powerful artillery system of their own, though the US at the time had just begun producing their new M3 Lee and its sponson-mounted 75 mm cannon. | ||
| + | |||
| + | After evaluating the American-made M3, the British decided that it would primarily be used in North Africa. A major invasion was planned for 1941, and so the Americans were asked to develop a new and elongated cast turret with a bustle at the back for a British Wireless Set No. 19. Periscopes were added on each side closer to the back in addition to slots from which to fire personal weapons. The cupola was unneeded and removed, being replaced by a short addition with a folding hatch in front of an antenna output. In total, the turret became 30 mm shorter, reducing the tank's profile. The M3 modification for the British was designated the Grant Mk I. | ||
| + | |||
| + | The first contracts with Baldwin, Lima, and Pullman were signed at the end of 1940, with deliveries totaling 1,685 units beginning six months later. | ||
| + | |||
| + | The Grant Mk I saw action in North Africa from 1942 to 1943 with varying success. Crew members reported that the German Pz.II and Pz.III tanks shot their armor-piercing shells from a distance of 1,100 meters. The Mk I was not as maneuverable as its German counterparts, and its side armor could not sustain hits from 50 mm tank cannons. Further, 88 mm anti-tank guns easily pierced its armor, while the high silhouette made long-range targeting easier. | ||
| + | |||
| + | The British Grant Mk Is saw limited action in the 1943 invasion of Sicily. | ||
== Media == | == Media == | ||
Revision as of 16:47, 23 May 2019
Contents
| This page is about the American medium tank Grant I (USA). For the version in the British tree, see Grant I (Great Britain) (Family). |
Description
The ▃Grant I is a gift rank II American medium tank
with a battle rating of 2.3 (AB) and 2.7 (RB/SB). It was introduced in Update 1.45 "Steel Generals" in the initial batch of US vehicles available at launch. It is a modified version of the M3 Lee in the American medium tree line with a redesigned turret made for the British Army. It is currently not available for purchase.
The Grant is most well recognized for its tall profile and two cannons. The suspension resembles that of the M4 Sherman, the only notable difference being the return rollers' positions. The hull front is also stepped into two plates, where the upper is closer to vertical. The large sponson on the right side carries the main 75 mm gun; note that with 2 crew, it is the operational gun. The 37 mm gun is in a turret, mounted with a leftward offset. Its main notable difference from the M3 Lee is a redesigned turret.
Due to the presence of two cannons, this tank is an excellent multi-role vehicle. The Grant can be played it as a brawler combining the agile 37 mm gun with the high damage of the 75 mm gun, but don't get too close, in fact, the turreted gun has a bad depression and, combined with the high profile, tends to make close tanks difficult to hit. Note that the different guns can be assigned different keys to be separately used, so it is possible to select the 75 mm as a primary weapon, allowing the optics to accommodate the 75 mm shells (and not from the point of view of the 37mm gun) and use the bullet drop indicator in arcade battles.
General info
Survivability and armour
Armour type:
- Rolled homogeneous armour (Hull, Turret roof)
- Cast homogeneous armour (Turret, Transmission area)
| Armour | Front (Slope angle) | Sides | Rear | Roof |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hull | 38.1 mm (54°) Front Glacis 50.8 mm (15-55°) Transmission area 50.8 mm (30°) 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 | 76.2 mm (1-57°) Turret front 38.1 mm (1-69°) Gun mantlet |
50.8 mm (7-45°) | 50.8 mm (1-35°) | 38.1 mm |
| Armour | Sides | Roof | ||
| Cupola | 50.8 mm | 38.1 mm |
Notes:
- Suspension wheels are 15 mm thick, bogies are 10 mm thick, and tracks are 20 mm thick.
- Hull doors and vision ports are 38.1 mm thick.
- Turret ring is 50.8 mm thick.
Mobility
| Mobility characteristic | ||
|---|---|---|
| Weight (tons) | Add-on Armor weight (tons) |
Max speed (km/h) |
| 27.9 | N/A | 43 (AB) |
| 39 (RB/SB) | ||
| Engine power (horsepower) | ||
| Mode | Stock | Upgraded |
| Arcade | 620 | 763 |
| Realistic/Simulator | 354 | 400 |
| Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton) | ||
| Mode | Stock | Upgraded |
| Arcade | 22.22 | 27.35 |
| Realistic/Simulator | 12.69 | 14.34 |
Armaments
Main armament
| 37 mm M5 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | Vertical guidance |
Horizontal guidance |
Stabilizer | ||
| 128 | -7°/+60° | ±180° | Vertical | ||
| Turret rotation speed (°/s) | |||||
| Mode | Stock | Upgraded | Prior + Full crew | Prior + Expert qualif. | Prior + Ace qualif. |
| Arcade | 10.70 | 14.80 | 18.00 | 19.90 | 21.20 |
| Realistic | 10.70 | 12.60 | 15.30 | 16.92 | 18.0 |
| Reloading rate (seconds) | |||||
| Stock | Prior + Full crew | Prior + Expert qualif. | Prior + Ace qualif. | ||
| 3.77 | 3.33 | 3.07 | 2.90 | ||
Ammunition
| Penetration statistics | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ammunition | Type of warhead |
Penetration in mm @ 90° | |||||
| 10m | 100m | 500m | 1000m | 1500m | 2000m | ||
| M74B1 | AP | 78 | 76 | 65 | 54 | 44 | 37 |
| M51B1/B2 | APC | 78 | 76 | 65 | 54 | 44 | 37 |
| Shell details | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ammunition | Type of warhead |
Velocity in m/s |
Projectile Mass in kg |
Fuse delay
in m: |
Fuse sensitivity
in mm: |
Explosive Mass in g (TNT equivalent): |
Normalization At 30° from horizontal: |
Ricochet: | ||
| 0% | 50% | 100% | ||||||||
| M74B1 | AP | 883 | 0.87 | N/A | N/A | N/A | -1° | 47° | 60° | 65° |
| M51B1/B2 | APC | 883 | 0.87 | N/A | N/A | N/A | +4° | 48° | 63° | 71° |
Ammo racks
| Full ammo |
1st rack empty |
2nd rack empty |
3rd rack empty |
4th rack empty |
5th rack empty |
6th rack empty |
7th rack empty |
8th rack empty |
Visual discrepancy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 128 | 122 (+6) | 104 (+24) | 86 (+42) | 69 (+59) | 52 (+76) | 35 (+93) | 18 (+110) | 1 (+127) | Yes |
Additional armament
| 75 mm M2 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hull mount | |||||
| Capacity | Vertical guidance |
Horizontal guidance |
Stabilizer | ||
| 65 | -9°/+20° | ±15° | Vertical | ||
| Reloading rate (seconds) | |||||
| Stock | Prior + Full crew | Prior + Expert Qualif. | Prior + Ace Qualif. | ||
| 6.50 | 5.75 | 5.30 | 5.00 | ||
Ammunition
| Penetration statistics | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ammunition | Type of warhead |
Penetration in mm @ 90° | |||||
| 10m | 100m | 500m | 1000m | 1500m | 2000m | ||
| M72 shot | AP | 96 | 95 | 81 | 66 | 54 | 45 |
| M48 shell | HE | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| M62 shot | APCBC | 79 | 78 | 72 | 65 | 58 | 52 |
| Shell details | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ammunition | Type of warhead |
Velocity in m/s |
Projectile Mass in kg |
Fuse delay
in m: |
Fuse sensitivity
in mm: |
Explosive Mass in g (TNT equivalent): |
Normalization At 30° from horizontal: |
Ricochet: | ||
| 0% | 50% | 100% | ||||||||
| M72 shot | AP | 588 | 6.3 | N/A | N/A | N/A | -1° | 47° | 60° | 65° |
| M48 shell | HE | 448 | 6.3 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 666 | +0° | 79° | 80° | 81° |
| M62 shot | APCBC | 588 | 6.8 | 1.2 | 20 | 63.7 | +4° | 48° | 63° | 71° |
| Smoke characteristic | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ammunition | Velocity in m/s |
Projectile Mass in kg |
Screen radius in m |
Screen time in s |
Screen hold time in s: |
Explosive Mass in g (TNT equivalent): |
| M89 | 259 | 3 | 13 | 5 | 20 | 50 |
Ammo racks
| Full ammo |
1st rack empty |
2nd rack empty |
Visual discrepancy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 65 | XX | 1 (+64) | Yes |
Machine guns
| 7.62 mm M1919A4 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3,000 (250) | 500 | -10°/+60° | ±180° | |||
| Coaxial mount | ||||||
| Capacity (Belt capacity) | Fire rate (shots/minute) |
Vertical guidance |
Horizontal guidance | |||
| 4,000 (250) | 500 | N/A | N/A | |||
Usage in the battles
The multiple cannons allow for different combinations of attack. The 75 mm gun possesses armour penetration on about the level of the 37mm gun; however, the damage upon penetration is extremely high with the M61 APCBC shell due to the HE filler. On the other hand, the 37mm gun allows for close quarters and longer-range fighting, where its high-velocity and effective shell make for good long range targeting while it is also the only cannon on the Grant that has a full 360-degree traverse.
Different guns mean different styles of play. The Grant can be played as a tank destroyer, using its sponson gun to take shots at medium range and its 37mm to cover the flanks and make longer range snipe shots. The Grant can also be used as an assault tank, quickly advancing on points while switching between the powerful 75mm gun and the faster-firing 37mm. In all game modes, the two gun profiles should be assigned to different keys, this will allow players to aim using the sights of the three guns separately, allowing the usage of the individual optics to actually hit things at range.
Being at BR 2.7, the Grant I has the possibility of facing long-barrelled Pz.Kpfw. III, and Pz.Kpfw. IV, as well as T-34s, and (rarely) the Chi-Nu II. The ZiS-30 is also very deadly, as its gun is competitive even at 5.7. 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.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Ability to use two guns: a 37 mm and a 75 mm - which is very powerful at this rank.
- Fine frontal armour.
- Side mounted 75 mm gives the ability for some unique tactics.
- Despite the tall profile, the "wedding cake" design of the turret has thick sloped armour, providing extra protection to make up for its height.
Cons:
- Tall profile, big target
- Side mounted gun - as much it is an advantage, it is a disadvantage too
- Slow traverse speeds make it easy for a light or a particularly speedy medium tank to sneak around the sides.
History
Development
After the development of the M2 medium tank, the Battle of France showed that such a tank was not going to be capable to go against the German Panzer IIIs and Panzer IVs. 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.
The M3 Lee tank started from the basis of the M2 Medium Tank, using the chassis and the VVSS suspension system. It was to mount the 75 mm cannon, however, it was discovered that the United States does not have a turret design that can mount the 75 mm gun. So as development on the turret proceeded, the 75 mm on the M3 Lee would be a sponson mounted. This design was tested on the M2 medium tank as the T5E2, which was approved for the M3 Lee design. The M3 Lee featured a medium tank with two guns, 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 use of two gun mounts on a tank was similar to the German Neubaufahrzeug and Soviet T-35 tanks. The M3 Lee's 75 mm gun, however, presented a huge advantage over contemporary tank armaments, the 75 mm could fire high-explosive rounds for against infantry, yet could fire a shell with a high enough velocity for anti-tank purposes.
The M3 Lee's faults were the high profile and the sponson mount for its armament. The M3 Lee 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 Lee 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.
The initial batch of M3 Lees was given to the British for their campaign at North Africa. The British experience with the M3 Lee pointed out most of the M3 Lee's flaws, but they were concerned with the lack of radio in the turret and a lacking in armour, with which they modified the M3 Lee to accommodate. The new design had a new cast turret with room for radio, the hull had thicker armour, and the turret cupola's machine gun was removed for a simple hatch. The modified M3 Lee 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.
On August 1941, production started on the M3 Lee, 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 Lee were the Australians and Indians in the Pacific Theater. The M3 Lee arriving in British arsenal caused confusion as the same "M3" designation was given to the M3 Light Tank. This set off the tradition of naming American tanks after generals, where the M3 medium tank earned the Lee for the Americans (Grant for the British variant) and the M3 light tank earned the Stuart.
Combat usage
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 KwK 38 L/42 gun and 75 mm KwK 37 L/24 howitzer armament on the Panzer IIIs and Panzer IVs. The M3 Lee proved reliable and adequate in armour protection. The Soviet's experience with the M3 Lee 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 the Lee tanks were relegated to the secondary fronts or repurposed as armoured personnel carriers. In the Pacific, the M3 Lees were lent to the Australians and Indians, which proved vastly superior to the Japanese tanks in service. The only American use of the M3 Lee at the Pacific Theater was during the Battle of Makin Island.
The M3 Lee 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 Lee 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 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 WW2 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.
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[1]
In-game description
The bitter taste left in the mouth of British builders after battles in Greece and France forced them to take a hard look at the future of their armor. They did not have a single powerful artillery system of their own, though the US at the time had just begun producing their new M3 Lee and its sponson-mounted 75 mm cannon.
After evaluating the American-made M3, the British decided that it would primarily be used in North Africa. A major invasion was planned for 1941, and so the Americans were asked to develop a new and elongated cast turret with a bustle at the back for a British Wireless Set No. 19. Periscopes were added on each side closer to the back in addition to slots from which to fire personal weapons. The cupola was unneeded and removed, being replaced by a short addition with a folding hatch in front of an antenna output. In total, the turret became 30 mm shorter, reducing the tank's profile. The M3 modification for the British was designated the Grant Mk I.
The first contracts with Baldwin, Lima, and Pullman were signed at the end of 1940, with deliveries totaling 1,685 units beginning six months later.
The Grant Mk I saw action in North Africa from 1942 to 1943 with varying success. Crew members reported that the German Pz.II and Pz.III tanks shot their armor-piercing shells from a distance of 1,100 meters. The Mk I was not as maneuverable as its German counterparts, and its side armor could not sustain hits from 50 mm tank cannons. Further, 88 mm anti-tank guns easily pierced its armor, while the high silhouette made long-range targeting easier.
The British Grant Mk Is saw limited action in the 1943 invasion of Sicily.
Media
References
- ↑ 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>
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| 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 |
| USA premium ground vehicles | |
|---|---|
| Light tanks | LVT(A)(4) · M2A4 (1st Arm.Div.) · M3A1 (USMC) · ▃Stuart VI (5th CAD) · M8 LAC · M8A1 GMC |
| M18 "Black Cat" · Super Hellcat · T18E2 · M551(76) · T114 · M1128 Wolfpack | |
| Medium tanks | ▃Grant I · M4A5 · Calliope · T20 · M26 T99 · M26E1 · M46 "Tiger" · T54E1 · T54E2 · ▃Magach 3 (ERA) · M728 CEV |
| XM1 (GM) · XM1 (Chrysler) · M1 KVT · M1A1 Click-Bait | |
| Heavy tanks | T14 · Cobra King · M6A2E1 · T29 · T30 |
| Tank destroyers | T28 · T55E1 |
