M3 Grant Tank

SPECIFICATIONS
CREW: 6 - Commander, Driver, 2 Gunners and 2 Loaders
DIMENSIONS: Length 18 ft 6 in / Width 8 ft 11 in / Height 9 ft 11 in
COMBAT WEIGHT: 62,000 lbs
FUEL CAPACITY: 175 gallons
PERFORMANCE: Max road speed 24 mph; Range 120 miles
ARMAMENT: 75mm main gun with 65 rounds carriedĀ 37mm gun with 128 rounds carriedĀ .30 cal machine gun

Built for the U.S., Redesigned for the British
Rushed into production in 1941, the M3 Medium Tank was designed to meet the needsĀ of the U.S. Army. A redesigned M3 was also built for the British army, however, who wereĀ heavy users of U.S. tanks. It had the commander's cupola and machine gun removed fromĀ the turret, which was enlarged to accommodate the radio and provide more room for theĀ crew. Because some U.S. tanks had similar model numbers, the British assigned themĀ names to minimize confusion. The British M3 was thus known as the "Grant" and the U.S.Ā version as the "Lee."
Doing Battle in Libya and Tunisia
Adopted by the British to offset tank losses incurred in North Africa in late 1941, the M3 firstĀ saw action with the British Eighth Army in the spring of 1942 during the Battle of Gazala inĀ Libya. Both British and U.S. forces used M3s in Tunisia in 1943.
A Limited Traverse Created a Tactical Disadvantage
Several of the distinguishing features of the M3 were also its shortcomings. The limitedĀ traverse of the 75mm gun, housed in a sponson on the vehicle's right side, created a tacticalĀ disadvantage on the battlefield. Enemy troops could also spot the tank's high-profile turretĀ before having to reveal themselves.