M-3 Lee Medium Tank

The M3 Lee Medium Tank, produced during 1941 and 1942, was known as the General Lee to the U.S. Army and the General Grant to the British. The main gun was the hull-mounted 75mm backed up by a 37mm gun in the turret, plus three .30 cal. machine guns. A .45 cal. submachine gun was carried for crew protection. The 400hp Continental R975 EC2 radial engine could move the tank at 21 mph on a sustained basis ofr 24 mph for short bursts.

The hull is made of rolled armor, assembled by riveting, while the turret is cast armor. A number of variants were produced in small numbers. The M3A1 Lee had a cast upper hull, easily distinguished in photos by its rounded shape.

The M3 saw action with the British in North Africa in 1942 and later with American forces. The high profile and limited movement of the main gun were drawbacks that led to the M4 Sherman tank design by late 1942.

Find additional photos and hi-res versions of the M-3 Lee Medium Tank at the Olive-Drab Military Mashup:

Co. B, 741st Tank Bn. M3 Lee tank, Third Army Louisiana Maneuvers, Camp Polk, LA, 12 February 1943. CPL Larry Corletti, San Francisco, CA, PVT Murril Chapman, Lockhaven, PA, and PVT Louis Robles, Brooklyn, NY, abandon the disabled tank during maneuvers.

In training, ifantry advancing behind an M-3 Lee Medium Tank through a smoke screen at Fort Knox, KY, August 1942.

M3 Lee tanks during group maneuvers somewhere in England, circa 1942.

CPL Phillip Margherito from Newark, NJ, of HQ Co 752nd Tank Bn, takes a cooling drink from his canteen, Desert Training Center, Indio, CA, 10 June 1942. M3 Lee tank behind.

M3 Lee medium tank production. Probably Detroit Arsenal Tank Plant, Warren, Michigan, 1941-1942.

British 1st Armor Division Grant tank advancing to support American forces during the battle at Kasserine Pass, Tunisia, 1943. Grant tank is British version of the US M-3 Lee Medium Tank.

M-3 Lee Medium Tank Photo Gallery

A pair of M-3 Lee Medium Tanks.

M-3 Lee Medium Tank in training exercise, Fort Benning, GA 1942.

M-3 Lee Medium Tank at 4th Infantry Division Museum, Ft. Hood, TX, 2 December 2005. Photo: Courtesy of Bob Pettit.

M-3 Lee Medium Tank. Photo: Courtesy of Douglas Greville
M-3 Lee Medium Tank. Photo: Courtesy of Douglas Greville, Heavy Metal.