Lee and Grant Medium Tanks

Diecast 1/72 Armor
Forces of Valor
85011:

The British Tank Commission came to the US in June 1940 to purchase American tanks or have British tanks produced by American companies as there was a grave shortage of tanks in the British Army.³ The National Defense Advisory Committee refused to allow British designs to be produced in US factories as it was felt that the British would be defeated soon.

In Oct. 1940 orders were placed with Baldwin, Lima, and Pullman. A new cast turret with the radio equipment in turret^1,3, instead of in hull, were specially ordered by the British, and were named the Grant. These were sent to Africa. The MG cupola was also removed.³

Model	US Turret	United Kingdom Turret	Engine Type
M34	Lee I3,4	Grant I3,4	Gasoline4
	Lee IV4	Grant IV4	Diesel4
M3A14	Lee II3,4	Grant II4	Gasoline4
	Lee V4	Grant V4	Diesel4
M3A24	Lee III3,4	Grant III4	Gasoline4
	Lee VI4	Grant VI4	Diesel4
M3A34	Lee IV3, Lee VII4	Grant VII4	Diesel4
M3A44	Lee VIII4	Grant VIII4	Gasoline4
M3A54	Lee IX4	Grant II3, Grant IX4	Diesel4

Standard M3s that were sold to Britain and were designated the Lee.

North Africa

200 Grants were delivered to the 8th Army in the Western Desert in early 1942. 4th Armored Brigade had 167 Grants at the Gazala battle^1,3 on May 27, 1942. It gave a boost to morale as it could out-range the panzers.

250 Lees were sent to the 8th Army in June 1942. By the Battle of Alamein in October 1942 almost 600 M3 tanks had been delivered.

Typically the regiments in the Western Desert also had a squadron of Stuarts and two squadrons of Crusaders in a Lee Regiment.³

The Pacific

When the M4 replaced these tanks in the desert the M3s were shipped to Burma. A few went to Australia and Canada though weren't used in action.³

Five regiments, including the 146 Regiment RAC, were equipped with the Lees in Burma.³ They helped at Arakan from January 945 to April 1945.³ The other regiments that had them were the 149th and 150th Regiments RAC, 25th Dragoons, and the Carabiniers.³

In December 1943 the Carabiniers arrived at Imphal and first fought in March 1944.³ They arrived in Rangoon on May 28, 1945, after traveling 1,100 miles.³ During this journey they fought at Kennedy Peak, which was 9,000 feet up.³ This was the highest elevation fought by tanks.³

The only time an attack had a complete regiment of Lees was at Magwe on April 19, 1945 by the 150th Regiment RAC.³

Where United Kingdom Deployed M3s	6/30/424	4/434
Australia4	1044	7774
Burma4	1144
India4	2124	8964
Iraq4	574
Middle East4	9904	7324
United Kingdom4	674	2164

Grant I:

Royal Armored Corps Tank Museum

Had no cupola. Fought in battle of Gazala on May 27, 1942.

Grant II:

Had US turret.

Lee III:

None delivered to Britain.

Lee IV:

M3A3 with Continental engine.³

Lee V:

M3A3 with diesel engine.³

Lee VI:

M3A4.³

Grant ARV:

Royal Armored Corps Tank Museum

Grant Command:

Some had turret gun replaced with dummy gun. Extra communications equipment was added.

Grant Scorpion III:

75mm gun removed. Anti-mine device added.

Grant Scorpion IV:

Same as Scorpion III but with 2nd Bedford engine added.

Grant CDL:

Royal Armored Corps Tank Museum

Turret replaced by spotlight.¹ Some used to illuminate night crossings of Rhine and Elbe in 1945. Some sent to Far East but never used.

	Canal Defense Light
Crew	52
Physical Characteristics
Weight	26 tons2
Length w/gun	18' 5"2 5.61 m2
Length w/o gun
Height	8' 3"2 2.51 m2
Width	8' 6"2 2.59 m2
Ground clearance
Ground contact length
Ground pressure
Turret ring diameter
Armament
Main
Secondary
MG	7.92 mm (.312") Besa MG2
Side arms
Quantity
Main
Secondary
MG
Side arms
Armor Thickness (mm)
Hull Front, Upper
Hull Front, Lower
Hull Sides, Upper
Hull Sides, Lower
Hull Rear
Hull Top
Hull Bottom
Turret Front
Turret Sides
Turret Rear
Turret Top
Engine (Make / Model)	2: Leyland E148/E1492
Cylinders
Net HP	95 each2
Transmission
Fuel type	Diesel2
Octane
Capacity
Performance
Traverse
Max Speed	15 mph2 24 kph2
Cross Country
Road radius	160 miles2 257 km2
Turning Radius
Elevation Limits
Fording depth
Trench crossing
Vertical Obstacle
Suspension (Type)
Wheels each side
Return rollers each side
Track length
Tires
Track width
Track centers/tread
Production

Sources:

1. The Encyclopedia of Tanks and Armored Fighting Vehicles - The Comprehensive Guide to Over 900 Armored Fighting Vehicles From 1915 to the Present Day, General Editor: Christopher F. Foss, 2002
2. The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II, Chris Bishop, 1998
3. Tanks of World War II, Duncan Crow, 1979
4. M3 Lee/Grant Medium Tank 1941-45, Steven J Zaloga, 2005

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Other United Kingdom Lee and Grant Links
Lee and Grant Main Page Lee and Grant Photos
Other United States M3 Links:
M3 Main Page M3 Photos M3 Production M3A1 History & Specs, Photos M3A2 History & Specs M3A3 History & Specs, Photos M3A4 History & Specs M3A5 History & Specs M31 History & Specs M3 Series Production

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