Difference between revisions of "Grant I"

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{{Specs-Card|code=uk_mk1_grant}}
+
{{Specs-Card
 +
|code=uk_mk1_grant
 +
|market=Cruiser Tank Grant I
 +
}}
 
{{About
 
{{About
 
| about = gift British medium tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
 
| about = gift British medium tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = the version in the American tree
+
| usage = other uses
| link = Grant I
+
| link = M3 (Disambiguation)
 
}}
 
}}
  
Line 48: Line 51:
  
 
=== Mobility ===
 
=== Mobility ===
<!--''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and maneuverability as well as the maximum speed forward and backward.''-->
+
<!-- ''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.'' -->
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
+
 
|-
+
{{tankMobility|abMinHp= 620|rbMinHp= 354}}
! colspan="3" | Mobility characteristic
 
|-
 
! Weight (tons)
 
! colspan="1" | Add-on Armor<br>weight (tons)
 
! colspan="1" | Max speed (km/h)
 
|-
 
| rowspan="2" | 27.9 || colspan="1" rowspan="2" | N/A || colspan="1" | 43 (AB)
 
|-
 
|39 (RB/SB)
 
|-
 
! colspan="3" | Engine power (horsepower)
 
|-
 
! colspan="1" | Mode
 
!Stock
 
!Upgraded
 
|-
 
|''Arcade''
 
|620
 
|763
 
|-
 
|''Realistic/Simulator''
 
|354
 
|400
 
|-
 
! colspan="3" | Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
 
|-
 
! colspan="1" | Mode
 
!Stock
 
!Upgraded
 
|-
 
|''Arcade''
 
|22.22
 
|27.35
 
|-
 
|''Realistic/Simulator''
 
|12.69
 
|14.34
 
|-
 
|}
 
  
 
== Armaments ==
 
== Armaments ==
Line 146: Line 110:
 
! 2000m
 
! 2000m
 
|-
 
|-
| M74B1 || AP || 78 || 76 || 65 || 54 || 44 || 37  
+
| M74B1 || AP || 78 || 76 || 65 || 54 || 45 || 37  
 
|-
 
|-
| M51B1/B2 || APC || 78 || 76 || 65 || 54 || 44 || 37
+
| M51B1/B2 || APC || 87 || 84 || 73 || 60 || 50 || 41
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
Line 192: Line 156:
 
|-
 
|-
 
| '''128''' || 122&nbsp;''(+6)'' || 104&nbsp;''(+24)'' || 86&nbsp;''(+42)'' || 69&nbsp;''(+59)''|| 52&nbsp;''(+76)''|| 35&nbsp;''(+93)'' || 18&nbsp;''(+110)'' || 1&nbsp;''(+127)'' || Yes  
 
| '''128''' || 122&nbsp;''(+6)'' || 104&nbsp;''(+24)'' || 86&nbsp;''(+42)'' || 69&nbsp;''(+59)''|| 52&nbsp;''(+76)''|| 35&nbsp;''(+93)'' || 18&nbsp;''(+110)'' || 1&nbsp;''(+127)'' || Yes  
 +
|-
 +
|}
 +
 +
===== Optics =====
 +
 +
''Explain how the optic's status can affect the tank's gameplay in any unique or meaningful way. A comparison to rival tanks of the rank is welcome.''
 +
 +
''If you are having problems with it, refer to the [[Optics|optics gallery]] page for examples.''
 +
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
 +
! colspan="3" | {{PAGENAME}} [[Optics]]
 +
|-
 +
! Which ones
 +
! Default magnification
 +
! Maximum magnification
 +
|-
 +
! Main Gun optics
 +
| x1.85 || x3.5 <!--Sometimes the actual value may not be known and here it should be referenced if the optic values are an estimate such as with an "X8.3 (estimated)" notation or something else that way the user will then be able to look to the comparable optics section and see a referenced optic which will have actual in-game data to back up the claim.-->
 +
|-
 +
! Comparable optics
 +
| colspan="2;" style="text-align:center;" | [[M3 Lee]]
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
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! 2000m
 
! 2000m
 
|-
 
|-
| M72 shot || AP || 84 || 81 || 72 || 62 || 53 || 45
+
| M72 shot || AP || 84 || 82 || 73 || 62 || 53 || 46
 
|-
 
|-
 
| M48 shell || HE || 10 || 10 || 10 || 10 || 10 || 10  
 
| M48 shell || HE || 10 || 10 || 10 || 10 || 10 || 10  
 
|-
 
|-
| M62 shot || APCBC || 96 || 94 || 83 || 72 || 63 || 55
+
| M62 shot || APCBC || 96 || 94 || 84 || 73 || 63 || 55
 
|-  
 
|-  
 
|}
 
|}
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| M48 shell || HE || 448 || 6.3 || 0.4 || 0.5 || 666 || +0° || 79° || 80° || 81°
 
| M48 shell || HE || 448 || 6.3 || 0.4 || 0.5 || 666 || +0° || 79° || 80° || 81°
 
|-
 
|-
| M62 shot || APCBC || 588 || 6.79 || 1.2 || 20 || 63.7 || +4° || 48° || 63° || 71°
+
| M62 shot || APCBC || 588 || 6.79 || 1.2 || 14 || 63.7 || +4° || 48° || 63° || 71°
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
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Different guns mean different styles of play. You can also play it as a tank destroyer, using its sponson gun to take shots at medium range and its 37mm to cover your flanks and make longer range snipe shots. You can also use it as an assault tank, quickly advancing on points while switching between the powerful 75mm gun and the faster-firing 37mm. In all game modes, you should assign the three gun profiles to different keys, this will allow you to aim using the sights of the three guns separately, allowing you to actually hit things at range with the 75mm gun.
 
Different guns mean different styles of play. You can also play it as a tank destroyer, using its sponson gun to take shots at medium range and its 37mm to cover your flanks and make longer range snipe shots. You can also use it as an assault tank, quickly advancing on points while switching between the powerful 75mm gun and the faster-firing 37mm. In all game modes, you should assign the three gun profiles to different keys, this will allow you to aim using the sights of the three guns separately, allowing you to actually hit things at range with the 75mm gun.
  
Being at BR 2.7, you have a possibility of facing long-barrelled [[Pz.III J1|Pz.Kpfw. III]], and [[Pz.IV F2|Pz.Kpfw. IV]], as well as [[T-34 (1941)|T-34]]s, and (rarely) the [[Chi-Nu II]]. The ZiS-30 is also very deadly. Your 75mm gun can reliable penetrate all of these tanks at short range (save the T-34), whereas your 37mm will require some particular shot placement.  
+
Being at BR 2.7, you have a possibility of facing long-barrelled [[Pz.III J1|Pz.Kpfw. III]], and [[Pz.IV F2|Pz.Kpfw. IV]], as well as [[T-34 (1941)|T-34]]s. The [[ZiS-30]] and [[Na-To]] are also very deadly. Your 75mm gun can reliable penetrate all of these tanks at short range (save the T-34), whereas your 37mm will require some particular shot placement.  
 +
===Modules===
 +
{| class="wikitable"
 +
!Tier
 +
! colspan="2" |Mobility
 +
!Protection
 +
! colspan="2" |Firepower
 +
|-
 +
|I
 +
|Tracks||
 +
|Parts
 +
|Horizontal Drive
 +
|M51B1/B2
 +
|-
 +
|II
 +
|Suspension||Brake System
 +
|FPE
 +
|Adjustment of Fire
 +
|M61 shot
 +
|-
 +
|III
 +
|Filters||
 +
|Crew Replenishment
 +
|Elevation Mechanism
 +
|
 +
|-
 +
|IV
 +
|Transmission||Engine
 +
|Smoke grenade
 +
|Artillery Support
 +
|M89
 +
|-
 +
|}
  
 
=== Pros and cons ===
 
=== Pros and cons ===
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<!--''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 "/ 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><ref></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article.''-->
 
<!--''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 "/ 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><ref></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article.''-->
 
===Development===
 
===Development===
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 up 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 could mount the 75 mm gun. So as development on the turret proceeded, the 75 mm on the M3 would be sponson-mounted. This design was tested on the M2 medium tank as the ''T5E2'', which was approved for the M3 design. The M3 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. The turret cupola also had its own machine gun and there were also two fixed bow machine guns. The use of two gun mounts on a tank was similar to the German [[Nb.Fz.|Neubaufahrzeug]] and Soviet [[T-35]] tanks. The M3's 75 mm gun however presented a huge advantage over contemporary tank armaments, as the 75 mm could fire high-explosive rounds for against infantry and anti-tank guns, yet could also fire a shell with a high enough velocity for anti-tank purposes.  
  
The M3 Lee's faults was the high profile and the sponson mount for its armament. The M3 Lee was 10 ft. 3 in. tall, a feet 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 M3's faults were the high profile and the sponson mount for its main armament. The M3 was 10 ft. 3 in. tall, a feet 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 was also constructed out of rivets (which increased spalling) and had a smooth track design which reduced ground traction. Despite these disadvantages, the British happily accepted them as they were critically low on tanks. German Colonel Hans von Luck said he even considered them superior to the [[Pz.IV E|Panzer IV]]s.
  
The initial batch of M3 Lees were 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 a 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.  
+
The M3 first saw service with the British in the campaign for North Africa beginning in May, 1942. Those that had been made with a British-designed turret were identified as "Grant", whereas an additional quantity that were Lend-Leased to the British later on with the standard U.S turret were named "Lee." The British cast turret on the Grant was considered superior in terms of frontal protection and replaced the American smoke dischargers with a British smoke mortar, but did not have the cupola or cupola MG of the Lee. The Grant also moved the radio into the turret, removing the need for a separate radio operator position in the hull (the Americans would later do this with their M3s as well). Their baptism of fire was the Gazala battles, where 167 Grants were present with 1st and 7th Armoured Divisions. Regiments with Grants were initially organized on a 2:1 Grants-to-Stuarts, or a 2:1 Crusaders-to-Grants basis, but by 2nd Alamein in October, 1942, Shermans had also been added into that mix. Still, over 170 Grants or Lees were in the line for that battle. There were 3 tanks in a Grant/Lee troop. By May, 1943, all British Grants and Lees were replaced with newer tanks, mostly the Sherman.  
  
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 start up 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 [[M3 Lee|''Lee'']] for the Americans ('''Grant''' for the British variant) and the M3 light tank earned the ''Stuart''.  
+
Production on the Lee had begun in August 1941. A majority of these were completed at Baldwin Locomotive Works in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The British would receive more than their original order of 1,250 tanks. Of the total 6,258 M3s built by the US between start up to the end of production in December 1942, 2,855 units (over 1,600 Grants, and over 1,200 Lees) went to the British and 1,386 Lees went to the Soviet Union, were they served until 1943 before being replaced. A mix of Grants ahd Lees were also used by the Australians and Indians in the India-Burma theater, beginning in December, 1943, serving there until the end of the war with Japan. The M3 risked causing confusion in British service as the same "M3" designation was given to the [[M3 Stuart|M3 Light Tank]]. This set off their tradition of naming American-made tanks after generals, where the M3 medium tank earned the name [[M3 Lee|''Lee'']] for the American-turret variant ('''Grant''' for the British variant) and the M3 light tank was called the ''Stuart''. Americans did not use these names themselves, only starting to name their tanks after the war.  
  
 
===Combat usage===
 
===Combat usage===
Line 386: Line 403:
 
{{Britain medium tanks}}
 
{{Britain medium tanks}}
 
{{Britain premium ground vehicles}}
 
{{Britain premium ground vehicles}}
 +
<references />

Revision as of 17:31, 8 May 2020

Grant I
uk_mk1_grant.png
Grant I
AB RB SB
2.3 2.7 2.7
Show in game
MARKET
This page is about the gift British medium tank Grant I. For other uses, see M3 (Disambiguation).

Description


The Grant I is a gift Rank II British medium tank with a battle rating of 2.3 (AB) and 2.7 (RB/SB). It was introduced during Update 1.61 "Road to Glory" in the Operation S.U.M.M.E.R. event of 2016. The Grant Mk I has only been available in Operation S.U.M.M.E.R. of 2016 that lasted from 22 July to 22 August. It was unlocked after obtaining 18 tanker Marks of Distinction. It is identical to the American Grant I, which itself is nearly identical to the M3 Lee with the difference being in the different turret design.

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 (if you are inside it) carriers the main 75mm gun; note that with 2 crew, it is the operational gun. The 37mm 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. You can play it as a brawler combining the agile 37mm gun with the high damage of the 75mm 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. You can also play it as a tank destroyer using it from the second line. Note that you can assign a key to use only one of the two guns, with this method you can select as a primary weapon the 75mm gun, allowing you to aim directly from it (and not from the point of view of the 37mm gun) and use the bullet drop indicator in arcade battles.

The multiple cannons allow for different combinations of attack. The 75mm gun possesses armour penetration on about the level of the 37mm gun; however, the damage upon penetration is extremely high provided that you use the M61 APCBC shell with 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.

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

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 27.9 620 763 22.22 27.35
Realistic 39 6 354 400 12.69 14.34

Armaments

Main armament

Main article: M5 (37 mm)
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 17.14 23.72 __.__ __.__ 33.88
Realistic 10.71 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 @ 0° Angle of Attack
10m 100m 500m 1000m 1500m 2000m
M74B1 AP 78 76 65 54 45 37
M51B1/B2 APC 87 84 73 60 50 41
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
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
8th
rack empty
Visual
discrepancy
128 122 (+6) 104 (+24) 86 (+42) 69 (+59) 52 (+76) 35 (+93) 18 (+110) (+127) Yes
Optics

Explain how the optic's status can affect the tank's gameplay in any unique or meaningful way. A comparison to rival tanks of the rank is welcome.

If you are having problems with it, refer to the optics gallery page for examples.

Grant I Optics
Which ones Default magnification Maximum magnification
Main Gun optics x1.85 x3.5
Comparable optics M3 Lee

Additional armament

Main article: M2 (75 mm)
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 @ 0° Angle of Attack
10m 100m 500m 1000m 1500m 2000m
M72 shot AP 84 82 73 62 53 46
M48 shell HE 10 10 10 10 10 10
M62 shot APCBC 96 94 84 73 63 55
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 6.79 1.2 14 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 (+64) Yes

Machine guns

Main article: M1919A4 (7.62 mm)
7.62 mm M1919A4
Coaxial mount
Capacity (Belt capacity) Fire rate
(shots/minute)
Vertical
guidance
Horizontal
guidance
4,000 (250) 500 N/A N/A

Usage in battles

Different guns mean different styles of play. You can also play it as a tank destroyer, using its sponson gun to take shots at medium range and its 37mm to cover your flanks and make longer range snipe shots. You can also use it as an assault tank, quickly advancing on points while switching between the powerful 75mm gun and the faster-firing 37mm. In all game modes, you should assign the three gun profiles to different keys, this will allow you to aim using the sights of the three guns separately, allowing you to actually hit things at range with the 75mm gun.

Being at BR 2.7, you have a possibility of facing long-barrelled Pz.Kpfw. III, and Pz.Kpfw. IV, as well as T-34s. The ZiS-30 and Na-To are also very deadly. Your 75mm gun can reliable penetrate all of these tanks at short range (save the T-34), whereas your 37mm will require some particular shot placement.

Modules

Tier Mobility Protection Firepower
I Tracks Parts Horizontal Drive M51B1/B2
II Suspension Brake System FPE Adjustment of Fire M61 shot
III Filters Crew Replenishment Elevation Mechanism
IV Transmission Engine Smoke grenade Artillery Support M89

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Ability to use two guns: a 37mm and a 75mm - which is very powerful at this rank.
  • Fine frontal armour.
  • Side mounted 75mm 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 it's height.

Cons:

  • Tall profile, big target.
  • Side mounted gun - as much it is advantage, it is 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 up 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 could mount the 75 mm gun. So as development on the turret proceeded, the 75 mm on the M3 would be sponson-mounted. This design was tested on the M2 medium tank as the T5E2, which was approved for the M3 design. The M3 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. The turret cupola also had its own machine gun and there were also two fixed bow machine guns. The use of two gun mounts on a tank was similar to the German Neubaufahrzeug and Soviet T-35 tanks. The M3's 75 mm gun however presented a huge advantage over contemporary tank armaments, as the 75 mm could fire high-explosive rounds for against infantry and anti-tank guns, yet could also fire a shell with a high enough velocity for anti-tank purposes.

The M3's faults were the high profile and the sponson mount for its main armament. The M3 was 10 ft. 3 in. tall, a feet 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 was also constructed out of rivets (which increased spalling) and had a smooth track design which reduced ground traction. Despite these disadvantages, the British happily accepted them as they were critically low on tanks. German Colonel Hans von Luck said he even considered them superior to the Panzer IVs.

The M3 first saw service with the British in the campaign for North Africa beginning in May, 1942. Those that had been made with a British-designed turret were identified as "Grant", whereas an additional quantity that were Lend-Leased to the British later on with the standard U.S turret were named "Lee." The British cast turret on the Grant was considered superior in terms of frontal protection and replaced the American smoke dischargers with a British smoke mortar, but did not have the cupola or cupola MG of the Lee. The Grant also moved the radio into the turret, removing the need for a separate radio operator position in the hull (the Americans would later do this with their M3s as well). Their baptism of fire was the Gazala battles, where 167 Grants were present with 1st and 7th Armoured Divisions. Regiments with Grants were initially organized on a 2:1 Grants-to-Stuarts, or a 2:1 Crusaders-to-Grants basis, but by 2nd Alamein in October, 1942, Shermans had also been added into that mix. Still, over 170 Grants or Lees were in the line for that battle. There were 3 tanks in a Grant/Lee troop. By May, 1943, all British Grants and Lees were replaced with newer tanks, mostly the Sherman.

Production on the Lee had begun in August 1941. A majority of these were completed at Baldwin Locomotive Works in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The British would receive more than their original order of 1,250 tanks. Of the total 6,258 M3s built by the US between start up to the end of production in December 1942, 2,855 units (over 1,600 Grants, and over 1,200 Lees) went to the British and 1,386 Lees went to the Soviet Union, were they served until 1943 before being replaced. A mix of Grants ahd Lees were also used by the Australians and Indians in the India-Burma theater, beginning in December, 1943, serving there until the end of the war with Japan. The M3 risked causing confusion in British service as the same "M3" designation was given to the M3 Light Tank. This set off their tradition of naming American-made tanks after generals, where the M3 medium tank earned the name Lee for the American-turret variant (Grant for the British variant) and the M3 light tank was called the Stuart. Americans did not use these names themselves, only starting to name their tanks after the war.

Combat usage

Combat experience with the M3 Lee was complicated, but favorable. 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 favorable, 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 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 the Far East, where it remained superior to Japanese tanks [1] and was ideal as infantry support, for which it had been designed. Approximately 1700 were transferred as soon as they were replaced in North Africa[2]. It also continued in use after modifications such as tractor and recovery vehicles. 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 round 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[3]

Media

The M3 Lee → and M3 Grant in the North Africa Theater.

See also

  • M3 Lee - Standard American variant with the smaller turret.
  • Grant I - The Grant I in the American tech tree.
  • M3 Medium (USSR) - The M3 Lee in the USSR tech tree.

External links

Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:

  • topic on the official game forum;
  • encyclopedia page on tank;
  • other literature.


Britain medium tanks
Valentine  Valentine I · Valentine IX · Valentine XI
Cromwell  Cromwell I · Cromwell V · Cromwell V (RP-3)
Cromwell derivatives  Challenger · Avenger · Comet I · Comet I "Iron Duke IV" · Charioteer Mk VII
Centurion  Centurion Mk 1 · Centurion Mk.2 · Centurion Mk 3 · Centurion Mk.5 AVRE · Centurion Mk 10 · Centurion Action X · FV4202
Vickers MBT  Vickers Mk.1 · Vickers Mk.3 · Vickers Mk.7
Chieftain  Chieftain Mk 3 · Chieftain Mk 5 · Chieftain Mk 10
Challenger 1  Challenger Mk.2 · Challenger Mk.3 · Challenger DS
Challenger 2  Challenger 2 · Challenger 2 (2F) · Challenger 2 TES · Challenger 2 OES · Challenger 2E · Challenger 2 Black Night
Challenger 3  Challenger 3 TD
Australia  A.C.I · A.C.IV · Centurion Mk.5/1
South Africa  Olifant Mk.1A · Olifant Mk.2 · TTD
India  Vijayanta · Bhishma TWMP
Israel  ▄Sho't Kal Dalet
Jordan  Khalid
Sweden  ▄Strv 81 (RB 52)
USA  Grant I · Sherman II · Sherman Firefly · Sherman IC "Trzyniec"

Britain premium ground vehicles
Light tanks  A13 Mk I (3rd R.T.R.) · A13 Mk II 1939 · AEC Mk II · Crusader "The Saint" · Rooikat 105
Medium tanks  A.C.I · Grant I · Cromwell V (RP-3) · Sherman IC "Trzyniec" · A.C.IV · Comet I "Iron Duke IV"
  Centurion Mk.2 · ▄Strv 81 (RB 52) · Centurion Mk.5 AVRE · Centurion Mk.5/1 · ▄Sho't Kal Dalet · Centurion Action X
  Vijayanta · Khalid · Challenger DS · Challenger 2 OES
Heavy tanks  Independent · Matilda Hedgehog · Excelsior · TOG II · Churchill Crocodile · Black Prince
Tank destroyers  Alecto I · Achilles (65 Rg.) · QF 3.7 Ram

  1. Burma Grants in Burma theater
  2. Transfers to Indian and Australian armies
  3. 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