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United States' M3 medium tank¹⁵, Grant, Lee

M3 medium tank at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Maryland: LIFE Magazine (Mark Holloway)	M3 medium tank at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Maryland: LIFE Magazine (Mark Holloway)	M3 medium tank at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Maryland: LIFE Magazine (Mark Holloway)	M3 medium tank at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Maryland: LIFE Magazine (Mark Holloway)
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, Lee:	M3 Medium Tank, Lee:	M3 Medium Tank at Fort Knox, Kentucky: Mark Holloway
M3 Medium Tank at Fort Knox, Kentucky: Mark Holloway	M3 Medium Tank engine installation: Mark Holloway	M3 Medium Tank engines: Mark Holloway

1/72 Scale Armor
Forces of Valor
95211:

Design

Model	US Turret	United Kingdom Turret	Engine Type
M3¹³	Lee I¹⁴	Grant I	Gasoline
M3¹³	Lee IV	Grant IV	Diesel
M3A1¹³	Lee II¹⁴	Grant II	Gasoline
M3A1¹³	Lee V	Grant V	Diesel
M3A2¹³	Lee III	Grant III	Gasoline
M3A2¹³	Lee VI	Grant VI	Diesel
M3A3¹³	Lee IV¹⁴, Lee VII	Grant VII	Diesel
M3A4¹³	Lee VI¹⁴, Lee VIII	Grant VIII	Gasoline
M3A5¹³	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 However, there just wasn't enough space in the turret. 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.¹⁵

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.¹⁵

Weapon	Type of Ammunition	Weight (lb)	Velocity (ft/sec)	Range (yards)	Thickness (mm) of armor penetrated
Weapon	Type of Ammunition	Weight (lb)	Velocity (ft/sec)	Shot	1000 yards
.30 MG			2,800¹²
37 mm	AP¹²	1.9¹²	2,900¹²
	APC¹⁵		2,900¹⁵	12,850¹⁵	1.8"¹⁵
		1.9¹¹	2,550¹¹
75 mm	APC¹⁵		1,920¹⁵	13,090¹⁵	2.9"¹⁵
	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.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 1941.¹⁵ In April 1943, they were classified as Limited Standard and in April 1944 were classified as obsolete.¹⁵

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.¹⁵
M3A4 Medium Tank: Chrysler Multibank engine.^14,15 Riveted hull.¹⁵
M3A5 Medium Tank: Riveted hull.¹⁵ Used twin General Motors 6-71 diesel engines.¹⁵
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.¹⁴ They insisted that the turret had to have a bulge placed on the rear of the turret for a radio.¹⁴

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

	M3 medium tank¹⁵, Lee I	M3, Grant I
Crew	Commander, driver, loaders(2), gunners(2).^4,9 6^{1,2,3,4,5,8,9,10,11,12,14,15}, 7³	Commander, driver, loaders(2), gunners(2).⁴ 6^3,4
Radio	SCR-508¹⁵
Radio - command tank	SCR-506¹⁵
Physical Characteristics
Weight	26.7 tons¹, 28 tons², 27.9 tons³, 30 tons⁸, 31.1 tons¹¹ 60,000 lb^{4,5,9,10,14,15}, 62,280 lb¹² 27,216 kg^1,9, 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 m^1,3, 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 m^1,3, 2.75 m²	8' 11"⁴ 2.75 m³
Ground clearance	17 1/8"^10,12,15 0.43 m^2,3	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 psi^10,15, 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 M2^1,4,9, M1 mount, L/31 75 mm L/31^2,3 75 mm^5,8,14 75 mm QF M2 L/31¹¹ 75 mm M2^12,15	75 mm M2⁴ 75 mm L/31³
OR	75 mm M3^1,4,9,15	75 mm M3⁴
Secondary	37 mm M5^1,4,9,15, M24 mount, L/56 37 mm L/56^2,3 37 mm^5,8,14 37 mm QF M5, L/50¹¹ 37 mm M6, gyrostabilized¹²	37 mm M5⁴ 37 mm L/56³
OR	37 mm M6^1,4,9,15,	37 mm M6⁴
MG	4: 7.62 mm MG¹ 1: MG² 3: MG^3,5 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 MG^9,15
MG - coaxial	1: .30 cal M1919A4^11,12 1: .30 cal Browning M1919A4 MG^9,15
MG - hull	1: .30 cal M1919A4¹¹ 2: .30 cal M1919A4¹² 1: .30 cal Browning M1919A4¹⁵ 2: .30 cal Browning M1919A4 MG⁹
Side arms	.45 cal submachine gun¹⁵ Hand grenades¹²	.45 cal submachine gun Hand grenades
Quantity
Main	41^9,11, 46^1,4,12,14,15, 50^2,3	46⁴, 50³
Secondary	178^{1,3,4,12,14,15}, 179¹¹, 182²	178⁴, 182³
MG	3,100², 8,000¹¹, 9,200^{1,3,4,12,14,15}	3,100³, 9,200⁴
Side arms	.45: 1,200¹⁵ Grenades: 12^12,15
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"¹⁵, 2"@0°¹² 38.1 - 50.8^2,3, 50⁸, 38 - 51@0-45°	38.1-50.8³
Hull Front, Lower	1.5"¹⁵ 38@53° & 51@30°
Hull Sides, Upper	1.5"@0°¹², 1.5"¹⁵ 38@0°, 38.1^2,3	38.1³
Hull Sides, Lower	1.5"¹⁵ 38@0°
Hull Rear	1.5"@0°¹², 1.5"¹⁵ 38@0°, 38.1^2,3	38.1³
Hull Top	0.5"¹⁵ 13@83-90°, 12.7^2,3	12.7³
Hull Bottom	0.5" - 1"¹⁵ 12.7-25.4^2,3, 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"¹⁵ 50.8^2,3, 51@5°	50.8³
Turret Rear	2.25"¹⁵ 50.8^2,3, 51@5°	50.8³
Turret Top	7/8"¹⁵ 31.8², 22.2³, 22@90°	32 31.8³
Engine (Make / Model)	Continental R-975-EC2^1,9,10,15, Continental R-975-E1^1,10, Continental Wright^2,3, Continental R-975⁵, Wright Continental (Whirlwinde) R-975⁸, Wright R-975-EC2¹¹, Continental R975-EC1¹², Guiberson T-1400¹²	Continental Wright³
OR	Continental R-975-EC1¹⁵
Cooling	Air^{2,3,8,9,10,11,12,15}	Air³
Cylinders	9^2,3,5,8,9,10, R-9^11,12,15	9³
Net HP	400@2,400 rpm^2,3,11, 340^5,14, 340@2,400rpm^9,10,15 Continental: 340¹² Guiberson: 345¹²	400@2,400 rpm³
Transmission (Type)	Synchromesh¹¹ 5 forward, 1 reverse^2,3,11,15	Synchromesh 5 forward, 1 reverse³
Steering	Controlled differential¹¹
Starter	Electric or hand¹¹
Electrical system	24 volts^11,15
Ignition	Magneto
Gear - 1st gear	7.56:1¹⁵
- 2nd speed	3.11:1¹⁵
- 3rd speed	1.78:1¹⁵
- 4th speed	1.11:1¹⁵
- 5th speed	0.73:1¹⁵
- Reverse	5.65:1¹⁵
Fuel (Type)	Gasoline^{2,3,9,10,11,15}
Octane	80^10,15, 92^10,15
Capacity	174 gallons¹¹, 175 gallons^10,12,15 662 liters^2,3, 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 way^8,12,15	37 mm: 360°⁴ 75 mm: 15° left, 15° right⁴
Max Speed	22 mph¹¹, 25 mph¹², 26 mph^{1,4,5,8,9,10,14,15} 42 kph^1,9,14, 40.2 kph³	26 mph⁴ 40.2 kph³
Cross Country speed	4-20 mph¹¹, 16 mph^4,9,14 25 kph¹⁴, 26 kph⁹	16 mph⁴
Road radius	120 miles^{1,4,9,10,14,15}, 146 miles¹¹ 177 km², 193 km^1,2,9,14	120 miles⁴ 177 km³
Cross country radius	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 m^2,3	1 m³ 3' 4"⁴
Trench crossing	6.2'¹⁵, 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%¹⁵
Suspension (Type)	Volute Spring^3,15 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"¹⁵
Wheel size - idler	22" x 9"¹⁵
Return rollers each side	3¹¹
Tracks (Type)	Dry pin, double pin per shoe, rubber cleat¹¹ Rubber block¹⁵
Length
Width	16.5"^4,14, 16 9/16"¹⁵ 0.419 m¹⁴, 0.42 m³	16.5"⁴ 420 mm³
Number of Links	79^11,12,15
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

Sources:

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
Panzer Truppen The Complete Guide to the Creation and Combat Employment of Germany's Tank Force 1933-1942, Thomas L. Jentz, 1996
Panzer Truppen The Complete Guide to the Creation and Combat Employment of Germany's Tank Force 1943-1945, Thomas L. Jentz, 1996
British and American Tanks of World War Two, The Complete Illustrated History of British, American, and Commonwealth Tanks 1933-1945, Peter Chamberlain and Chris Ellis, 1969
Tanks of the World, 1915-1945, Peter Chamberlain, Chris Ellis, 1972
The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II, Chris Bishop, 1998
-
Tanks of World War II, Duncan Crow, 1979
Battle Winning Tanks, Aircraft & Warships of World War II, David Miller, 2000
AFV 11: M3 Medium (Lee/Grant), Peter Chamberlain and Chris Ellis
Tank Data, Aberdeen Proving Grounds Series, 1968?
Tank Data 2, Aberdeen Proving Grounds Series, E. J. Hoffschmidt and W. H. Tantum IV, 1969
M3 Lee/Grant Medium Tank 1941-45, Steven J Zaloga, 2005
Airfix Magazine Guide #26 American Tanks of World War 2, Terry Gander and Peter Chamberlain, 1977
The American Arsenal, 1996