Copyright 2007 T. Sheil & A. Sheil All Rights Reserved
The M3 Lee Medium Tank was developed for World War II. It was designed to provide better armor protection and better firepower than Axis weapons. At the time of its development, the M3 held the armor and firepower advantage over the German Panzer III and Panzer IVF1. The tank proved an effective stop-gap weapon throughout 1942.
The US had been working on an M2 Medium Tank prior to World War II. Battles in Europe and North Africa showed that increased armor and firepower were needed. The M2 led to the M3, which added increased armor and weaponry. A 75mm gun was mounted in the hull, similar to the French B1 Bis. The turret featured a 37mm antitank gun. Frontal armor was 50mm to 65mm thick. The M3 was intended an an interim tank. The vehicle was only a temporary place-holder while a better tank was under development.
The M3 has three disadvantages. It had a very high silhouette. Its heaver 75mm gun was placed in the hull, requiring the whole tank to be moved to hit targets to its left. The M3 could not use its 75mm gun in a "hull down" position. Finally, the rivets were prone to snap off when the tank was hit. Later models were welded.
The M3 saw service with British and US forces in North Africa and Sicily until May 1943. It was replaced by the M4 Sherman. The M3 remained in use in small numbers in the Pacific because it retained an armor and firepower advantage over Japanese tanks. Very few were used, and all were taken out of combat service in 1944. By then, its main use was as a training vehicle..
Many M3s were converted to other uses, such as providing chassis for M7 self-propelled guns.
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Frontal View. For model builders who do weathering, this photo offers inspiration. The color of the insignia is a yellowish color.  |
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Uncommon cast hull versions of the M3  |