United States' M3 medium tank, Grant, Lee

Photos

M3 Medium Tank in North Africa: U.S. Army in World War II - Pictorial Record, 1951, pg 49	M3 Medium Tank in North Africa: U.S. Army in World War II - Pictorial Record, 1951, pg 49	M3 Medium Tank in Tunisia: U.S. Army in World War II - Pictorial Record, 1951, pg 40	M3 Medium Tank: Aberdeen Tank Museum
M3 Medium Tank:	M3 Medium Tank production at Detroit Tank Arsenal in late 1941.	M3 Medium Tank at the Virginia Museum of Military Vehicles.	M3 Medium Tank: U.S. Ordnance Dept.
M3 Medium Tank, Lee:	M3 Medium Tank engine installation: Mark Holloway	M3 Medium Tank engines: Mark Holloway	M3 Medium Tank at Fort Knox, Kentucky: Mark Holloway
M3 Medium Tank at Fort Knox, Kentucky: Mark Holloway
1/72 Scale Armor
Forces of Valor
95211:

Design

Model	US Turret	British Turret	Engine Type
M3	Lee I6,14	Grant I6	Gasoline
	Lee IV	Grant IV	Diesel
M3A1	Lee II14	Grant II6	Gasoline
	Lee V	Grant V	Diesel
M3A2	Lee III	Grant III	Gasoline
	Lee VI	Grant VI	Diesel
M3A3	Lee IV6,14, Lee VII	Grant VII	Diesel6
M3A4	Lee V6, Lee VI14, Lee VIII	Grant VIII	Gasoline
M3A5	Lee IX	Grant IX	Diesel

By the time 1,000 M2A1 Medium tanks were ordered in mid-1940, they were shown to have inadequate armor and armament by the events unfolding in Europe.¹ To match the newest German tanks that had 75 mm guns, the Ordnance Department wanted to fit a 75 mm into a M2A1.^1,6 However, there just wasn't enough space in the turret.⁶ Based on experiments with the T5E2 a 75 mm M2 was installed on the right side of a modified M2A1.¹

A wooden mock-up for the M3 design was completed in August 1940. The Board had the remaining MG sponsons removed and the turret lowered.¹

The chairman of General Motors (also member of National Defense Advisory Committee) convinced the US government that the auto industry should be used for massed tank production as the governments factory at Rock Island wouldn't be able to keep up with demand.¹ The Government built a factory in Detroit that was run by Chrysler.^1,8

M3 Lend-Lease	United Kingdom	USSR	Brazil	Total
1941-42	2,64313	1,38613	7513	4,10413
1943	21213		2113	23313
Total	2,85513	1,38613	9613	4,33713
Notes	M3A3: 4913 M3A5: 18513	410 sunk in transit13

The M3 was ordered straight from the drawing board (July 1940⁹) and Baldwin and the American Locomotive Company each made pilot models by April 1941⁹.⁸ Production began in August 1941 and ended in December 1942.^8,9 A total of 6,258 were produced.⁹

It was intended only as a stopgap tank before the M4 Shermans arrived.

Chrysler leased a 113 acre site for a new factory in Warren, Michigan.

Crew

At the left front sat the driver with the gearbox beside him.⁸ The driver also operated the twin MGs in the hull.⁸

Engine

The engine was in the rear with the fuel tanks on each side of the engine compartment.⁸

Main Armament

The turret could be rotated by hydraulics or by hand. The cupola normally rotated with the turret but could be rotated by hand.⁷

The driver and radio operator occupied the front of the hull. The 75 mm gunner sat on the left of the gun. The 37 mm gunner, gun loader and commander were in the turret. Both guns had gyrostabilizers⁸ and periscopic sights. The driver's door and the pistol ports had protectoscopes for indirect vision.

An auxiliary generator provided electricity when needed.⁷

Weapon	Type of Ammunition	Weight (lb)	Velocity (ft/sec)	Range (yards)	Thickness (mm) of armor penetrated
				Shot	1000 yards
.30 MG			2,80012
37 mm	AP12	1.912	2,90012
	APC7		2,9007	12,8507	1.8"7
		1.911	2,55011
75 mm	APC7		1,9207	13,0907	2.9"7
	AP12	14.412	1,29012
		14.411	1,85011

The M2 75 mm gun was shorter and didn't have stabilizers installed unless it had a counterweight on the end.¹⁴ The M3 75 mm gun was longer and could use the stabilizers without a counterweight.¹⁴

Prototype

The M3 was ordered straight from the drawing board.¹⁴

Production

See M3 Medium Tank's production page.

Production was initially slow as the Detroit manufacturing facility was tooled to produce the M2 Medium Tank.^6,14

Design work was finished in March 1941 and M3s started coming off the production line in April 1941.¹⁴

When the M4 started production the M3 was designated Substitute Standard in October 1941.⁷ In April 1943, they were classified as Limited Standard and in April 1944 were classified as obsolete.⁷

Variants

• M3 Medium Tank, Lee I: Initial production type. Production of this model ceased August 1942. With riveted hull, cast turret, and side doors.¹⁴ All riveted construction.^8,15
• M3 Medium Tank: Diesel version. Had Guiberson diesel engine.⁸
• M3A1 Medium Tank, Lee II: Cast hull.^14,15
• M3A2 Medium Tank: Welded hull.^14,15
• M3A3 Medium Tank: Two General Electric diesel engines.^14,15 Welded hull.⁷
• M3A4 Medium Tank: Chrysler Multibank engine.^14,15 Riveted hull.⁷
• M3A5 Medium Tank: Riveted hull.⁷ Used twin General Motors 6-71 diesel engines.⁷
• M7 Priest: Had turret removed and box structure installed with 105 mm howitzer.
• 155mm Gun Motor Carriage T6 (M12): Used M3 Chassis.¹⁴ Engine placed in front of hull.¹⁴ 100 produced.¹⁴
• Cargo Carrier M30: The same as the M12 but no gun.¹⁴
• Tank Recovery Vehicle M31: Guns replaced by dummies.¹⁴ Boom and a winch added.¹⁴ Conversion of the M3.¹⁴
• Tank Recovery Vehicle M31B1: Used M3A3 chassis.¹⁴
• Tank Recovery Vehicle M31B2: Used the M3A5 chassis.¹⁴
• Full Track Prime Mover M33: Towed 155 mm guns.¹⁴ M31s converted by removing turret and booms.¹⁴ 0.5" MG was placed where turret had been.¹⁴
• Mine Exploder T1: Two rollers pushed in front and one pulled in back.¹⁴
• 3" Gun Motor Carriage T4:
• Shop Tractor T10 (Canal Defense Light): Was intended to illuminate areas during night actions.¹ The turret was replaced by an armored searchlight.¹ Had British CDL turret.¹⁴ 355 produced, but not used in combat.¹⁴
• Cargo Carrier T14:
• Heavy Tractor T16: Heavy gun tractor.¹⁴ Not sucessful.¹⁴
• 3" Gun Motor Carriage T24: 3" gun.¹⁴ Turret and sponson was removed.¹⁴ Was considered to complex and high.¹⁴
• 105 mm Howitzer Gun Motor Carriage T25:
• 75 mm Gun Motor Carriage T26:
• 40 mm Gun Motor Carriage T36:
• 3" Gun Motor Carriage T40 (M9): Mounted a 40 mm Bofors antiaircraft gun.¹⁴
• 25 pdr Gun Motor Carriage T51:
• Flamethrower Vehicles: Used E5E2-M3 flamethrowers.¹⁴ Some trials were done with the E3 flame gun.¹⁴

Usage

The M3s were first used in the Philippines.¹ They were then used in North Africa, including Kasserine Pass.¹ In the Pacific they were used at Makin Island by the Marines.¹

Supplied to Britain and Russia (1,400¹) as Lend-Lease. 750 were sent to Australia.¹

Britain's Use

A British Tank Mission came to the United States in June 1940 looking to acquire tanks to replace their losses in France.^6,14 They insisted that the turret had to have a bulge placed on the rear of the turret for a radio.^6,14

Used at the Battle of Gazala on May 27, 1942.^6,9,14 Many were used at the Battle of Alamein that took place from October 23 to November 4, 1942.⁹

Specifications

	M3 medium tank7, Lee I	M3, Grant I
Crew	Commander, driver, loaders(2), gunners(2).4,9 61,2,3,4,5,8,9,10,11,12,14,15, 73	Commander, driver, loaders(2), gunners(2).4 63,4
Radio	SCR-5087
Radio - command tank	SCR-5067
Physical Characteristics
Weight	26.7 tons1, 28 tons2, 27.9 tons3, 30 tons8, 31.1 tons11 60,000 lb4,5,9,10,14,15, 62,280 lb12 27,216 kg1,9, 27,240 kg14, 27,900 kg	28 tons3
Length w/gun	18.6'11, 18' 6"1,4,5,8,9,10,12,14,15 5.6 m9, 5.639 m14, 5.64 m1, 5.9 m2 5.64-6.12 m, 5.63 m3	18' 6"4 5.9 m3
Length w/o gun	5.64 m
Height	10' 3"1,4,5,8,10,12,14,15, 10.3'9,11 3.02 m2, 3.1 m9, 3.12 m1,3, 3.124 m14	9' 4"4, 10' 3"4 3.02 m3
Width	8.9'9,11, 8' 11"1,4,5,8,10,12,14,15 2.7 m9, 2.718 m14, 2.72 m1,3, 2.75 m2	8' 11"4 2.75 m3
Ground clearance	17 1/8"10,12,15 0.43 m2,3	0.43 m3
Ground contact length	147"10,11,12,15	147"
Ground pressure	12.6 psi, 12.9 psi, 13.2 psi11, 13.36 psi10,15, 13.4 psi9 0.9 (kg/cm2)9, 1.2 (kg/cm2)2,3	1.2 (kg/cm2)3
Turret ring diameter	57"10,15
Armament
Main	75 mm M21,4,9, M1 mount, L/31 75 mm L/312,3 75 mm5,8,14 75 mm QF M2 L/3111 75 mm M212,15	75 mm M24 75 mm L/313
OR	75 mm M31,4,9,15	75 mm M34
Secondary	37 mm M51,4,9,15, M24 mount, L/56 37 mm L/562,3 37 mm5,8,14 37 mm QF M5, L/5011 37 mm M6, gyrostabilized12	37 mm M54 37 mm L/563
OR	37 mm M61,4,9,15,	37 mm M64
MG	4: 7.62 mm MG1 1: MG2 3: MG3,5 3-4: .30 cal Browning MGs4 3 or 4: .30" MG14	MG3 3-4: .30 cal Browning MGs4
MG - cupola	1: .30 cal MG8 1: .30 cal M1919A412 1: .30 cal Browning M1919A4 MG9,15
MG - coaxial	1: .30 cal M1919A411,12 1: .30 cal Browning M1919A4 MG9,15
MG - hull	1: .30 cal M1919A411 2: .30 cal M1919A412 1: .30 cal Browning M1919A47 2: .30 cal Browning M1919A4 MG9
Side arms	.45 cal submachine gun7 Hand grenades12	.45 cal submachine gun Hand grenades
Quantity
Main	419,11, 461,4,12,14,15, 502,3	464, 503
Secondary	1781,3,4,12,14,15, 17911, 1822	1784, 1823
MG	3,1002, 8,00011, 9,2001,3,4,12,14,15	3,1003, 9,2004
Side arms	.45: 1,2007 Grenades: 1212,15
Armor Thickness (mm)	12 - 379, 124, 374, 1.5" - 2"5 Front: 2"11,14, 5114 Side: 1.5"11,14, 3814 Rear: 1.514, 3814	124, 374, 12 - 506
Hull Front, Upper	2"7, 2"@0°12 38.1 - 50.82,3, 508, 38 - 51@0-45°	38.1-50.83
Hull Front, Lower	1.5"7 38@53° & 51@30°
Hull Sides, Upper	1.5"@0°12, 1.5"7 38@0°, 38.12,3	38.13
Hull Sides, Lower	1.5"7 38@0°
Hull Rear	1.5"@0°12, 1.5"7 38@0°, 38.12,3	38.13
Hull Top	0.5"7 13@83-90°, 12.72,3	12.73
Hull Bottom	0.5" - 1"7 12.7-25.42,3, 13@90° rear, 25@90° front	12.7-25.43
Turret Front	2"11, 2.25"@0°12, 2.25"14,15 51@47°, mantlet 89@0° 50.8-76.22, 508, 50.83, 5714, 76	50.8-76.23
Turret Sides	2.25"@0°12, 2.25"7 50.82,3, 51@5°	50.83
Turret Rear	2.25"7 50.82,3, 51@5°	50.83
Turret Top	7/8"7 31.82, 22.23, 22@90°	32 31.83
Engine (Make / Model)	Continental R-975-EC21,9,10,15, Continental R-975-E11,10, Continental Wright2,3, Continental R-9755, Wright Continental (Whirlwinde) R-9758, Wright R-975-EC211, Continental R975-EC112, Guiberson T-140012	Continental Wright3
OR	Continental R-975-EC17
Cooling	Air2,3,8,9,10,11,12,15	Air3
Cylinders	92,3,5,8,9,10, R-911,12,15	93
Net HP	400@2,400 rpm2,3,11, 3405,14, 340@2,400rpm9,10,15 Continental: 34012 Guiberson: 34512	400@2,400 rpm3
Transmission (Type)	Synchromesh11 5 forward, 1 reverse2,3,11,15	Synchromesh 5 forward, 1 reverse3
Steering	Controlled differential11
Starter	Electric or hand11
Electrical system	24 volts11,15
Ignition	Magneto
Gear - 1st gear	7.56:17
- 2nd speed	3.11:17
- 3rd speed	1.78:17
- 4th speed	1.11:17
- 5th speed	0.73:17
- Reverse	5.65:17
Fuel (Type)	Gasoline2,3,9,10,11,15
Octane	8010,15, 9210,15
Capacity	174 gallons11, 175 gallons10,12,15 662 liters2,3, 796 liters	662 liters3 175 gallons
Fuel consumption - Road	0.837 mpg11
Fuel consumption - Cross country
Power to Weight Ratio	12.7 hp/ton9
Performance
Traverse	37 mm: 360°4,12,15, 18°/sec, hydraulic & hand11, power or manual12 75 mm: 15° each way8,12,15	37 mm: 360°4 75 mm: 15° left, 15° right4
Speed - Road	22 mph11, 25 mph12, 26 mph1,4,5,8,9,10,14,15 42 kph1,9,14, 40.2 kph3	26 mph4 40.2 kph3
Speed - Cross Country	4-20 mph11, 16 mph4,9,14 25 kph14, 26 kph9	16 mph4
Range - Road	120 miles1,4,9,10,14,15, 146 miles11 177 km2, 193 km1,2,9,14	120 miles4 177 km3
Range - Cross Country	120 miles11
Turning Radius	37'10,15 18.9 m, 19 m3, 21 m2	21 m3
Elevation Limits	75 mm: -9° to +20°4,12,15 37 mm: -7° to +60°4,12,15	75 mm: -9° to +20°4 37 mm: -7° to +60°4
Fording depth	3' 4"4,10,11,12,15 1 m2,3	1 m3 3' 4"4
Trench crossing	6.2'7, 6' 2"10,12, 6' 3"4, 6.3'9, 7.5'11 1.9 m9, 2.3 m	6' 3"4
Vertical Obstacle	2'4,10,11,12,15	2'4
Climbing ability	30° slope12, 31° (60%) slope11, 60%7
Suspension (Type)	Volute Spring3,15 3: Vertical Volute bogies8 Vertical volute spring, 3 bogies of 2 wheels each11	Volute Spring3 3: Vertical Volute bogies8
Wheels each side	62	63
Wheel size	20" x 9"7
Wheel size - idler	22" x 9"7
Return rollers each side	311
Tracks (Type)	Dry pin, double pin per shoe, rubber cleat11 Rubber block7
Length
Width	16.5"4,14, 16 9/16"7 0.419 m14, 0.42 m3	16.5"4 420 mm3
Number of Links	7911,12,15
Pitch	6"11,12,15
Tire Tread	Rubber3	Rubber3
Track centers/tread	6' 9"12, 6' 11"4,10,14,15, 7'11 2.108 m14	6' 11"4