M3 Lee / Grant

M3 Lee / Grant
M3 Grant
General properties
crew	6 (commander, driver, two gunner, two loader)
length	5.90 m
width	2.75 m
height	3.02 m
Dimensions	28 tons
Armor and armament
Armor	12.7-76.2 mm
Main armament	75mm L / 31 cannon
Secondary armament	37 mm L / 56 cannon, 1 MG
agility
drive	air-cooled Continental Wright 9-cylinder radial engine 400 HP
suspension	Vertical cone suspension
Top speed	40.2 km / h
Power / weight
Range	177 km (road)

M3 Lee, 1942

M3 tanks in North Africa, 1942

M3 Lee in Tunisia, 1943

British M3 Lee on an M19 tank transporter, 1942

The Medium Tank M3 Lee / Grant was an American medium battle tank that was used in World War II . It was also used by the British and Soviet armies. The successor was the much improved M4 Sherman .

history

When the threat of war increased for the US after the surprising collapse of France in June 1940, the US army was rearmed. Since the US Army erroneously assumed that the Panzer IV armed with a 75 mm cannon was the most common German main battle tank (in fact it was the light Panzer II during the western campaign ), the installation of a 75 mm cannon in the US Tanks required. However, the turret of the M2 Medium Tank was too small for this gun. In parallel to the time-consuming development of a new tank, it was decided to build a tank based on the M2 with a 75 mm cannon attached to the side in a casemate as a temporary solution. Because of the limited swivel range of the main weapon, the 37 mm cannon was retained in the turret. The M3 was created within just six months.

The M3 experienced its first frontline deployment with the British 8th Army in North Africa , where it compensated for the superior fire of the enemy tanks. Here he was given the name "Lee" or "Grant", depending on different series versions (namesake were the two generals Robert Edward Lee and Ulysses S. Grant from the American Civil War). The installation of the main armament in the hull proved to be a serious disadvantage in the rapidly changing battle situations in the desert. All in all, however, the M3 was highly valued for its reliability and the superior firepower of the 75mm cannon, which, unlike British tank cannons, could also fire HE shells to combat anti-tank guns.

A larger number were also supplied to the Red Army in the Soviet Union . Here it was called "grave for 6 friends" because it easily caught fire if hit.

Individual M3 Lee / Grant captured on the Eastern Front were used by the Wehrmacht under the designation M 3 747 (a).

Since in 1942 the M4 Sherman had replaced the M3 in mass production as a superior design, the M3 disappeared very quickly from the tank units in early 1943. After the armament and turret had been expanded, it served as the basis for numerous test and special tanks , including clearing mine barriers and as a recovery vehicle .

In total (with all six versions) 6258 Grant were produced.

The M7 Priest self-propelled gun with a 105 mm howitzer was also based on the M3 chassis.

A large number of later converted M3s were used as tractors for heavy artillery - 203 mm cannon and 240 mm howitzer.

Versions

• M3 - 4924 pieces

Riveted hull, was initially equipped with a 75 mm M2 cannon and a 37 mm M5 cannon, later production models then with the 75 mm M3 and 37 mm M6

• M3A1 - 300 pieces

Cast casing, but were no longer produced due to the higher production costs

• M3A2 - 12 pieces

Welded shell, otherwise identical to the M3

• M3A3 - 322 pieces

Welded shell, powered by a General Motors 6046 diesel engine, the rear engine doors have been removed and the rear armor extended. In later versions the side door was left out

• M3A4 - 109 pieces

Powered by a Chrysler A-57 multibank petrol engine, resulting in an extension of the tub at the rear

• M3A5 - 591 pieces

Riveted shell, powered by General Motors 6046 diesel engine

Technical specifications

Panzerkampfwagen M3 Lee / Grant
0 General characteristics
crew	6–7 soldiers Consisting of a commander, driver, gunner for the 75 mm cannon, gunner for the 37 mm cannon, 2 auxiliary shooters (loaders for the two guns) and radio operator. The radio operator was mostly left out, with the M3 Grant the radio is in the back of the tower.
Combat weight	27-29 t
Ground pressure	0.849-1.2 kg / cm 2
length	5.90-6.15 m
width	2.75 m
height	3.02-3.12 m
Ground clearance	43 cm
Chain width	22 cm
0 armament
Main armament	75 mm cannon M2 L / 31 or 75 mm cannon M3 L / 37
Secondary armament	37 mm cannon M5 L / 56 or 37 mm cannon M6 MG .30cal M1919A4 koxial MG .30cal M1919A4 Commander's cupola double MG .30cal M1919A4 hull
Combat load HW	50-75 floors
Combat load MG	37–182 projectiles, 3100–9200 rounds
0 mileage
engine	R-975 Continental Wright 9-cylinder radial engine (used on M3, M3A1, M3A2)
cooling	air
Displacement	15.9 L (975 cubic inches )
Bore / stroke	127/140 mm
maximum rotation	2400 rpm.
PS	400 hp
Motor effectiveness	25.2 hp / l
Power to weight ratio	14.3 hp / t
transmission	5V, 1R (five forward gears, one reverse gear)
Speed ​​limit road	40.2 km / h
Fuel supply	662 l
Range road	177 km
Range terrain
steering	Cletrac
Rollers	6th
suspension	Coil springs
Wading ability	100 cm
Other engines used	General Motors 6046 12 cylinder Net: 375 HP 2100 / min, Gross: 410 HP 2900 / min (used on the M3A3, M3A5) Chrysler A57 30 cylinder Net: 370 HP 2400 / min, Gross: 425 HP 2850 / min (used on the M3A4 ) Diesel engine Guiberson T-1400-2 (was installed in the first 18 M3A1)
0 armor
Tub front	Upper front panel: 50.8 mm 30 ° Middle front panel: 38.1 mm 53 ° Lower front armor: 50.8 mm 0–45 °
Tub side	38.1 mm
Tub rear	38.1 mm
Tub roof	12.7 mm
Tub bottom	12.7-25.4 mm
Tower front	50.8-76.2 mm
Tower side	50.8 mm
Turret stern	50.8 mm
Tower roof	31.8 mm

literature

• Peter Chamberlain: British and American Tanks of World War Two. Weidenfeld Military, 2000, ISBN 0-304-35529-1 .
• Alexander Lüdeke : captured tanks of the Wehrmacht - Great Britain, Italy, Soviet Union and USA 1939–45. Motorbuch Verlag, Stuttgart 2011, ISBN 978-3-613-03359-7 .

Web links

Commons : M3 Lee / Grant  - Collection of Images, Videos, and Audio Files

• The M3 Lee / Grant in World War II Vehicles (English)
• The M3 Lee / Grant as a lend-lease tank in the USSR at www.battlefield.ru (English)

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Lüdeke: captured armor of the Wehrmacht. 2011, pp. 116-118.
2. ↑ Thomas L. Jentz : The German Panzer Force 1943-45. Podzun-Pallas Verlag 1999, ISBN 3-7909-0624-7 , p. 278.