M3 Lee

The M3 Lee was a medium tank fielded by the United States, the British, and Canadian Army during the Second World War. Developed by Chrysler’s Detroit Tank Arsenal, it entered service in 1941. By the time it was introduced, its layout was rather obsolete compared to the German Panzer III and Panzer IV tank and it was fitted with underpowered guns. However, it was a mechanically reliable armored vehicle and very inexpensive to maintain. Although production of this tank had been stopped by late 1942, it was used until the end of the war.

The M3 Lee first saw combat action at the end of 1941 in North Africa in service with the British Army. Then it would also be used in the Italian Campaign in 1943, and in Normandy in 1944, but in limited numbers. By this time, most of them had already been replaced by the M4 Sherman. When World War II broke out in 1939, the US Army was equipped with the M2, which was an obsolete tank, fitted with a 37mm gun. Thus, the American Army developed the M3 but as a stopgap tank until a more modern and more combat efficient tank were designed and produced.

Technical Characteristics

The M3 Lee layout was radically differently from other tanks’ designs, such as the British Cruiser, the French AMC 35, and the German Panzer III and IV. This American medium tank had a very high profile, which made of it an easy target to spot on the horizon of the battlefield. It was equipped with two guns; a 75mm gun, which was mounted in the sponson on the right side of tank, and a 37mm gun, which was set up in a turret.

The driver sat on the centerline, which gave him a better field of observation, even though he was very exposed to enemy fire. To the left of driver, there were two fixed machine guns. Although the front side of hull (glacis plate) was sloped, the sides of the tank were almost vertical. On top of the 37mm gun turret, there was a rotating cupola that mounted a 7.62mm machine gun.

Specifications

Type: Medium tank

Weight: 27 tons

Length: 5.64 m (18 ft, 6 in)

Width: 2.72 m (8 ft, 11 in)

Height: 3.12 m (10 ft 3 in)

Power Plant: one Wright R975 EC2 400HP gasoline engine.

Maximum Speed: 42 km/h

Weapons: one 75mm gun; one 37mm gun; one 7.62mm machine gun.

Crew: 7

Below, the M3A1 Lee, which was cast in one piece.

Two M3 Lee medium tanks in service with the British Army in 1942