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T-28 (1938)

2022-08-25T01:19:44Z

U45449751: See also improvments

{{About
| about = Soviet medium tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = other versions
| link = T-28 (Family)
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=ussr_t_28_1938
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|T-28 Production (1).jpg}}
}}

== Description ==

[[File:T-28 Production (7).jpg|left|thumb|A T-28 supporting infantry]]
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} Soviet medium tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update "Ixwa Strike"]]. This production T-28, unlike its following variants ([[T-28]] and [[T-28E]]), is equipped with a KT-28 howitzer and is primarily used as an infantry support tank. It won't be the spearhead of an armoured assault but will suffice in close quarters combat.

{{Break}}

== General info ==
=== Survivability and armour ===
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}

As for most early war tanks, the armour isn't much to write home about. Most if not all other cannons will punch through the thickest armour of 30 mm or put a shell through the thin 20 mm sides. The only reason this tank will survive longer than other early war tanks is the amount of crew sitting around, especially the MG turret crew.

[[File:T-28 Production (6).jpg|thumb|T-28 following a tank assault under artillery barrage]]
'''Armour type:''' 


{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
|-
| Hull || 30 mm || 20 mm ''Top'' 20+10 mm ''Bottom'' || 20 mm || 10-15 mm
|-
| Turret || 20 mm ''Turret front'' 20mm ''Gun mantlet'' || 20 mm || 20 mm || 10-15 mm
|-
| Cupola || 10 mm || 10 mm || 10 mm || 10 mm
|-
|}

'''Notes:'''

The suspensions are protected by a 10 mm side skirt.

=== Mobility ===
{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}

[[File:T-28 Production (2).jpg|thumb|T-28 maintaining speed on the road]]

{{tankMobility|abMinHp=775|rbMinHp=442}}

Like all the others T-28, the T-28 (1938) has relatively good mobility, with good acceleration and a top speed of 40 km/h (44 in arcade). Its 500 horsepower engine (954 in Arcade) will allow it to exploit holes in the enemy lines.
{{Break}}

=== Modifications and economy ===
{{Specs-Economy}}
Best way to go through the modification is by starting with FPE and Parts and then go along the line with increasing the Firepower modules increasing the Turret slew rating and increase the gun accuracy, after that would most likely best to advance down the Engine modules to increase the acceleration and HP on the T-28 (1938) engine. Then can finish up the rest of the modules with Artillery Support and Crew Replenishment.

== Armaments ==
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}
=== Main armament ===
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}

{{main|KT-28 (76 mm)}}
[[File:T-28 Production (4).jpg|thumb|T-28 pushing forwards through foliage]]
The T-28 (1938) is armed with a KT-28 howitzer, the same gun as the T-35 and the T-26-4. As a howitzer, the trajectory of the shell will compel you to get closer if you want to hit. The APHEBC shell is filled with 155 g of TNT, making sure all penetrated vehicles are knocked out after a single shot. The penetration is rather poor but is not a big problem at this BR, as almost all the vehicles you'll face won't have enough armour. The only real curve of using this gun is the velocity which is at max 387 m/s for HE & 370 m/s for the APHEBC.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[KT-28 (76 mm)|76 mm KT-28]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
|-
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
|-
! ''Arcade''
| rowspan="2" | 69 || rowspan="2" | -5°/+25° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 14.3 || 19.8 || 24.0 || 26.5 || 28.2 || rowspan="2" | 5.20 || rowspan="2" | 4.60 || rowspan="2" | 4.24 || rowspan="2" | 4.00
|-
! ''Realistic''
| 8.9 || 10.5 || 12.8 || 14.1 || 15.0
|-
|}

==== Ammunition ====
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics
|-
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
! rowspan="2" | Type of warhead
! colspan="6" | Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
|-
! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m
|-
| BR-350A (MD-5 fuze) || APHEBC || 37 || 37 || 33 || 30 || 27 || 24
|-
| OF-350M || HE || 11 || 11 || 11 || 11 || 11 || 11
|-
| Sh-353 || Shrapnel || 27 || 25 || 21 || 19 || 16 || 12
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
! colspan="10" | Shell details
|-
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
! rowspan="2" | Type of warhead
! rowspan="2" | Velocity (m/s)
! rowspan="2" | Projectile Mass (kg)
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay (m)
! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity (mm)
! rowspan="2" | Explosive Mass (TNT equivalent) (g)
! colspan="3" | Ricochet
|-
! 0% !! 50% !! 100%
|-
| BR-350A (MD-5 fuze) || APHEBC || 370 || 6.3 || 1.2 || 14 || 155 || 48° || 63° || 71°
|-
| OF-350M || HE || 387 || 6.2 || 0.05 || 0.1 || 710 || 79° || 80° || 81°
|-
| Sh-353 || Shrapnel || 381 || 6.2 || 0.5 || 8 || 85 || 62° || 69° || 73°
|-
|}

==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
[[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! Full ammo
! 1st rack empty
! 2nd rack empty
! 3rd rack empty
! 4th rack empty
! 5th rack empty
! 6th rack empty
! 7th rack empty
! 8th rack empty
|-
| '''69''' || 62 ''(+7)'' || 56 ''(+13)'' || 50 ''(+19)'' || 47 ''(+22)'' || 44 ''(+25)'' || 41 ''(+28)'' || 39 ''(+30)'' || 36 ''(+33)''
|-
! 9th rack empty
! 10th rack empty
! 11th rack empty
! 12th rack empty
! 13th rack empty
! 14th rack empty
! 15th rack empty
! Visual discrepancy
!
|-
| 33 ''(+36)'' || 30 ''(+39)'' || 20 ''(+49)'' || 17 ''(+52)'' || 14 ''(+55)'' || 4 ''(+65)'' || 1 ''(+68)'' || No
!
|-
|}
'''Notes''':

* Shells are modeled individually and disappear after having been shot or loaded.
* If you pack 50 ''(+19)'' shells, it will keep the turret empty of ammo.
* If you pack 33 ''(+36)'' shells, it will keep the turret and the top hull empty of ammo.

=== Machine guns ===
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}}
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|3}}
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|4}}

{{main|DT (7.62 mm)}}

The MGs are purely mounted for infantry combat, they won't penetrate anything that is more than covered and would only suffice at knocking out open crewed vehicles and anti-air. The vertical guidance is mediocre and you might be able to shoot down planes directly in front of the tank if you get it on a slope.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[DT (7.62 mm)|7.62 mm DT]]
|-
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
|-
| Coaxial || 2,646 (63) || 600 || ±15° || ±15°
|-
| Left Turret || 2,646 (63) || 600 || -5°/+28° || -155°/+5°
|-
| Right Turret || 2,646 (63) || 600 || -5°/+28° || -33°/+145°
|-
|}

== Usage in battles ==


For the size of the T-28 (1938), it has quite the mobility and its gun is quite powerful for its BR, though it lacks in penetration against the more armoured vehicles. The T-28 (1938) is a great brawler and thrives in a close combat setting. Unlike the succeeding versions, the {{PAGENAME}} can't shoot enemy tanks at a middle to long range, so avoid sniping and try to get as close as possible to the enemies. Don't travel in the open, the armour won't last long to enemy fire. But even if the armour is not adequate to endure a lot of enemy guns, it's still adequate enough to be a pain to face the enemy with its large sized crew.

T-28 (1938) has a couple of vehicles it should beware of and try to avoid in a direct confrontation, for example : [[Marder III]], [[Ho-Ni III]], [[LVT(A)(4) (ZiS-2) (China)]], [[M3 Lee]] and [[Chi-Ha Kai]]. These vehicles can easily knock out the T-28 (1938) before it comes into range to get a secure hit with the [[KT-28 (76 mm)]]. But even if the T-28 (1938) comes within range, it will have quite the trouble doing something against a [[M3 Lee]]'s armour. Which makes it crucial to be in a close quarter battle with most of these vehicles where the T-28 (1938)'s KT-28 gun will do adequate damage.

Having a large crew got its advantage with being able to replace vital crew members and will give better chance to survive auto-cannons from vehicles such as the [[Pz.II]], [[Ta-Se]] and [[M15 CGMC]] where the large and spread out crew can be a life saver. Large crew can also be a blessing against small cannon fire from 37 mm or 45 mm, but can still be easily decimated by larger guns like 75 mm, 120 mm or 150 mm which can cause devastating blow to the T-28 (1938).

So in summary, the best way to utilize the vehicle is by close quarter combat against most vehicles. Within a safe range of the KT-28 gun where it can hopefully penetrate enemy vehicles or if the 76 mm shells HE filling will eliminate the vehicle. The mobility can work well in a close combat where if T-28 keeps moving will be hard to hit where the enemy want to hit to destroy. T-28 large crew will also make it able to take a few hit depending on the gun being used against it.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Numerous crew members grant a longer survivability
* Good mobility
* Armour-piercing shells filled with a large explosive will allow you to take out most tanks with a single shot
* Shrapnel shells are useful to destroy trucks and armoured cars

'''Cons:'''

* Big silhouette and profile, difficult to hide
* Poorly armoured vehicle
* Low muzzle velocity makes long distance targeting difficult

== History ==

{{Notice
|The T-28 (1938) represents the T-28 Model 1936.}}

'''Development'''

The T-28 Model 1934 (first production T-28 variant) was modified with steel wheels for the number four and five suspension bogies starting in 1936. They were also modified with a new turret roof that had two hatches; it is not known if these modifications were applied at the same time or separately. The commander's hatch on the left side received a P-40 anti-aircraft machine gun mount. Additionally, the 71-TK-1 radio set was replaced by the improved 71-TK-3. The engine air intakes were later changed as well, either in 1936 or 1937. T-28s with these changes were called the T-28 Model 1936 for obvious reasons. Other than the above stated changes they were identical to T-28 Model 1934 tanks.<ref name=":0">https://forum.warthunder.com/index.php?/topic/457963-t-28-model-1936-marginally-better/</ref>

'''Design'''

The T-28 Model 1936 had a three-turret design, with a central three-man turret and two smaller one-man auxiliary machine gun turrets located in front and to each side of the main turret. The crew complement was six with a driver in the hull front, a gunner in each auxiliary turret, and a gunner, loader, and commander in the main turret. The engine and transmission were located at the rear of the hull with fuel tanks on each side of it. The weight is stated to be around 25 tonnes but that number depends on the source. A 71-TK-3 radio set was provided which was a feature not all too common at the time.

The primary armament was a 76.2 mm KT-28 howitzer located in the main turret alongside a coaxial 7.62 mm DT machine gun. The main gun could elevate 25° and depress 5° and the main turret could traverse a full 360°. Each auxiliary turret was armed with a single 7.62 mm DT machine gun. Finally, a 7.62 mm DT machine gun could be mounted on the commander's cupola for a total of four 7.62 mm machine guns. The ammunition load was 70 76.2 mm rounds and 7,938 rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition (2,646 rounds per three standard machine guns, not including optional anti-aircraft machine gun).

The engine used was a 48 liter, 500 horsepower V12 M-17T aircraft engine. This powerful engine allowed a speed of around 40-45 km/h to be reached, with the number depending on the source. The downside of the engine was that the high-octane gasoline fuel was incredibly volatile when hit by enemy fire. The transmission had four forward gears and one reverse gear.

The suspension consisted of 12 steel road wheels, all rubber rimmed except for the two pairs on the fourth and fifth bogies. The drive sprocket was at the rear and the idler wheel was at the front of the suspension. There were four return rollers. Note: all of these numbers are for each side meaning the total amount of the components would be double the numbers listed. The tracks were 45 cm (17.7 inches) wide - relatively thin for the size of the vehicle.

The armour protection was relatively thin for such a large tank with a maximum thickness of 30 mm on the front and 20 mm on the sides and rear. The sides of the hull, though, were also protected by side skirts.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">https://tanks-encyclopedia.com/ww2/soviet/soviet_T-28.php</ref>

'''Production and Service'''

Around 500-600 (depending on the source) total T-28 medium tanks of all variants were built from 1933 to 1941, when the T-34 superseded it on production lines.

The Soviet heavy armoured brigades consisted of 136 T-28 and 37 BT tanks in 1939. T-28s were often used more on the Sino-Mongolian border against the Japanese Imperial Army but were also used in European actions. Notable actions in the east included the Nomonhan incident and border classes of 1938 through late 1939. The first combat use of the T-28 in Europe was against Poland during the Soviet invasion of Poland in 1939.

The T-28 was used very heavily during the Winter War of 1939-1940 which was a Soviet invasion of Finland. The T-28s were used in the assault against the heavily fortified Mannerheim line. During the conflict around 200 T-28s were knocked out by Finnish anti-tank guns, artillery, or ambushes. Oftentimes the knocked out T-28s were recovered in working condition and were reused after some repairs, up to five times during the conflict. A total of seven T-28s were captured by Finnish forces and used against the Soviet Red Army, nicknamed “ostivaunu” which means “wagon coaches”. During the war it quickly became apparent to the Red Army that the T-28 did not have sufficient armour and so the T-28E up-armoured version was produced and earlier models were modified in the field with the increased armour. It was these vehicles that finally broke through the Mannerheim line in 1940 and forced the Finns to sue for peace.

Even by June 1941 there remained 411 T-28s on the Western front, as reported by official numbers. That same month the German Operation Barbarossa - the invasion of the USSR - began and most of the T-28 tanks were knocked out in just the first two months of combat. Not all of them were knocked out by enemy tanks, many broke down due to lack of spare parts and poor maintenance. At least one was captured by the Germans - designated T-28 746(r) - and also at least one by the Hungarians. The last running T-28s were used in the defense of Moscow and Leningrad but were removed from frontline service by 1942 due to them having become obsolete by that time. They were then only used for training and parts.

Turkey apparently received two T-28s and used them in the 1st Tank Regiment of the 2nd Cavalry Division based at Luleburgaz.<ref name=":1" />

'''Surviving Vehicles'''

A few T-28 tanks survive to this day including two at the museum in Parola, Finland and one in Moscow, Russia which happens to be the only remaining T-28 Model 1936 left in the world.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=ussr_t_28_1938 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Images
<gallery mode="packed-hover" heights="150px">
T-28 Production (1).jpg|
T-28 Production (5).jpg|
T-28 Production (3).jpg|
</gallery>

== See also ==

* ''[[T-28]]''
* [[T-28E]]
* [[SMK]]
* [[Nb.Fz.]]
* [[Independent]]

== External links ==

''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''

* ''topic on the official game forum;''
* ''other literature.''

=== References ===
<references />

{{USSR medium tanks}}

M3 Medium (USSR)

2022-08-23T21:26:41Z

U45449751: edits

{{About
| about = premium gift tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
|other
|usage-1 = other versions
|link-1 = M3 Medium (Family)
|usage-2 = other uses
|link-2 = M3 (Disambiguation)
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=ussr_m3c
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|ArtImage_{{PAGENAME}}.png}}
|market=M3 Medium (USSR)
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a premium gift rank {{Specs|rank}} Soviet medium tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced during [[Update 1.55 "Royal Armour"]]. It was first obtained via the special event [[wt:en/news/3579-tournament-defender-combined-battles-en/|"Defender combined battles"]] in 20 February 2016 and has been occasionally available since, such as in the September "Tanker's Day" events in [[wt:en/news/4232-special-tanker-s-day-specials-en/|2016]], [[wt:en/news/4954-event-happy-tanker-s-day-en|2017]] and as a battle trophy vehicle in the [[wt:en/news/5738-news-how-can-you-get-premium-vehicles-warbonds-en|September 2018]] and [[wt:en/news/6605-news-premium-vehicles-for-warbonds-until-the-31st-of-march-en|March 2020]] [[Warbonds]] shop.

Aside from the paint job, the M3 Medium is virtually identical to the American [[M3 Lee]]; the different name comes from the Russian designation of just "M3 Medium". The M3 is most well recognized for its tall profile and two cannons. The suspension resembles that of the [[M4|M4 Sherman]], the only notable difference being the return rollers' positions. The hull front is also stepped into two plates, where the upper is closer to vertical. The large sponson on the right side of the tank carries the main 75 mm gun; note that with 2 crew, it is the operational gun. The 37 mm gun is in a turret, mounted with a leftward offset, and has a small MG cupola on top.

== General info ==
=== Survivability and armour ===
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}

'''Armour type:'''

*Rolled homogeneous armour (Hull, Turret roof)
*Cast homogeneous armour (Turret, Transmission area)

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
|-
| Hull || 38.1 mm (54°) ''Front Glacis'' 50.8 mm (15-55°) ''Transmission area'' 50.8 mm (29°) ''Driver port'' 38.1 mm (0-57°) ''Hull gun mount'' || 38.1 mm (0-22°) ''Top'' 38.1 mm ''Bottom'' || 38.1 mm (1-14°) ''Top'' 38.1 mm (15-53°) ''Bottom'' || 12.7 mm
|-
| Turret || 50.8 mm (11-65°) ''Turret front'' 38.1 mm (1-82°) ''Gun mantlet'' || 50.8 mm (0-66°) || 50.8 mm (1-54°) || 22.2 mm
|-
! Armour !! Sides !! Roof
|-
| Cupola || 50.8 mm || 50.8 mm
|-
|}
'''Notes:'''

* Suspension wheels are 15 mm thick, bogies are 10 mm thick, and tracks are 17 mm thick.
* Hull doors and vision ports are 38.1 mm thick.

When combating this tank, avoid its 75 mm gun by flanking the vehicle, then get in close and hug the sides or rear of the vehicle to prevent them form turning and going under the 37 mm's depression range. Aim for the large superstructure, a solid penetration will knock out all 6 crew members or make the ammunition combust. Note that firing through the side hatch will usually destroy the tank in one-shot, owing to the lack of sloping and ammunition storage.

=== Mobility ===
{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}


{{tankMobility|abMinHp=620|rbMinHp=354}}

=== Modifications and economy ===
{{Specs-Economy}}

== Armaments ==
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}
=== Main armament ===
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}}

{{main|M5 (37 mm)}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[M5 (37 mm)|37 mm M5]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
|-
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
|-
! ''Arcade''
| rowspan="2" | 179 || rowspan="2" | -7°/+60° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | {{Annotation|Vertical|up to 16 km/h}} || 17.1 || 23.7 || 28.8 || 31.8 || 33.9 || rowspan="2" | 3.77 || rowspan="2" | 3.33 || rowspan="2" | 3.07 || rowspan="2" | 2.90
|-
! ''Realistic''
| 10.7 || 12.6 || 15.3 || 16.9 || 18.0
|-
|}

==== Ammunition ====
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics
|-
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
! rowspan="2" | Type of warhead
! colspan="6" | Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
|-
! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m
|-
| M74B1 || AP || 79 || 76 || 65 || 54 || 45 || 37
|-
| M51B1/B2 || APCBC || 87 || 84 || 73 || 60 || 50 || 41
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
! colspan="10" | Shell details
|-
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
! rowspan="2" | Type of warhead
! rowspan="2" | Velocity (m/s)
! rowspan="2" | Projectile Mass (kg)
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay (m)
! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity (mm)
! rowspan="2" | Explosive Mass (TNT equivalent) (g)
! colspan="3" | Ricochet
|-
! 0% !! 50% !! 100%
|-
| M74B1 || AP || 883 || 0.87 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 47° || 60° || 65°
|-
| M51B1/B2 || APCBC || 883 || 0.87 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 48° || 63° || 71°
|-
|}

==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
[[File:Ammoracks_M3_Lee.png|right|thumb|400px|[[Ammo racks]] of the M3 Lee.]]

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! Full ammo
! 1st rack empty
! 2nd rack empty
! 3rd rack empty
! 4th rack empty
! 5th rack empty
! 6th rack empty
! 7th rack empty
|-
| '''179''' || 176 ''(+3)'' || 172 ''(+7)'' || 168 ''(+11)'' || 160 ''(+19)''|| 153 ''(+26)''|| 148 ''(+31)'' || 140 ''(+39)''
|-
! 8th rack empty
! 9th rack empty
! 10th rack empty
! 11th rack empty
! 12th rack empty
! 13th rack empty
! 14th rack empty
! Visual discrepancy
|-
| 133 ''(+46)'' || 129 ''(+50)'' || 116 ''(+63)'' || 105 ''(+74)'' || 63 ''(+116)'' || 21 ''(+158)'' || 1 ''(+178)''|| No
|-
|}

=== Additional armament ===
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}

{{main|M2 (75 mm)}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[M2 (75 mm)|75 mm M2]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
|-
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
|-
! ''Arcade''
| rowspan="2" | 50 || rowspan="2" | -9°/+20° || rowspan="2" | ±15° || rowspan="2" | {{Annotation|Vertical|up to 16 km/h}} || 11 || 16 || 19 || 21 || 23 || rowspan="2" | 6.2 || rowspan="2" | 5.6 || rowspan="2" | 5.1 || rowspan="2" | 4.8
|-
! ''Realistic''
| 7.1 || 8.4 || 10 || 11 || 12
|-
|}

==== Ammunition ====
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics
|-
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
! rowspan="2" | Type of warhead
! colspan="6" | Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
|-
! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m
|-
| M48 shell || HE || 10 || 10 || 10 || 10 || 10 || 10
|-
| M72 shot || AP || 84 || 82 || 73 || 62 || 53 || 46
|-
| M61 shot || APCBC || 97 || 94 || 84 || 73 || 63 || 55
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
! colspan="10" | Shell details
|-
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
! rowspan="2" | Type of warhead
! rowspan="2" | Velocity (m/s)
! rowspan="2" | Projectile Mass (kg)
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay (m)
! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity (mm)
! rowspan="2" | Explosive Mass (TNT equivalent) (g)
! colspan="3" | Ricochet
|-
! 0% !! 50% !! 100%
|-
| M48 shell || HE || 448 || 6.3 || 0 || 0.1 || 666 || 79° || 80° || 81°
|-
| M72 shot || AP || 588 || 6.3 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 47° || 60° || 65°
|-
| M61 shot || APCBC || 588 || 6.79 || 1.2 || 14 || 63.7 || 48° || 63° || 71°
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! colspan="7" | Smoke shell characteristics
|-
! Ammunition
! Velocity (m/s)
! Projectile Mass (kg)
! Screen radius (m)
! Screen deploy time (s)
! Screen hold time (s)
! Explosive Mass (TNT equivalent) (g)
|-
| M89 || 259 || 3 || 13 || 5 || 20 || 50
|-
|}

==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
[[File:Ammoracks_M3_Lee.png|right|thumb|400px|[[Ammo racks]] of the M3 Lee.]]

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! Full ammo
! 1st rack empty
! 2nd rack empty
! Visual discrepancy
|-
| '''50''' || 10 ''(+40)'' || 1 ''(+49)'' || No
|-
|}

=== Machine guns ===
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|3}}
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|4}}

{{main|M1919A4 (7.62 mm)}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[M1919A4 (7.62 mm)|7.62 mm M1919A4]]
|-
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
|-
| Commander cupola || 3,000 (250) || 500 || -10°/+60° || ±180°
|-
| Coaxial with 37 mm || 3,000 (250) || 500 || N/A || N/A
|-
|}

== Usage in battles ==

The multiple cannons allow for different combinations of attack. The 37 mm gun on the full 360° traverse turret allows for a diverse role on the M3, with its high-velocity and effective round for long-range fighting, but with a fast reload for close-quarter encounters. The 75 mm on the sponson mount has the same penetration level as the 37 mm, but with a very high post-penetration damage with the right ammo at the cost of lower velocity, and thus a shorter battle range. The limited traverse on the 75 mm mount also means it is not as flexible as the turreted 37 mm. With these two cannon, the M3 can focus on a close-range combat with the two cannons fighting a single tank, or engage two separate tanks at a longer range. Closer range combat is supported by the M3's adequate sloped frontal armour, able to withstand most enemy fire at its battle rating. It is recommended to set the keys to allow separate firing of the cannons for maximum effectiveness.

Still, the different guns mean different styles of play. The M3 can also play as a tank destroyer, using its sponson gun to take shots at medium range and its 37 mm to cover the flanks and make longer range snipe shots. The M3 can also be used as an assault tank, quickly advancing on points while switching between the powerful 75 mm gun and the faster-firing 37 mm. It is also possible to completely ignore the 37 mm and focus solely on the 75 mm as it is a far more effective gun with its HE filler in its APCBC, as well as being easier to manage for newer players. In all game modes, the weapons should be assigned to different keys, this will allow the tank to aim using the sights of the three guns separately, allowing more accurate targeting at ranges, especially for the 75 mm gun. Since the 75 mm is in a side sponson, it is also possible to approach cover to where only the 37 mm is showing, allowing the tank to fire with most of the tank's profile hidden.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Ability to use two guns: a 37 mm and a 75 mm - which is unique as well as useful at this rank
* Best gun depression of all Russian tanks at the rank of -7°
* Acceptable frontal armour
* Side mounted 75 mm gives the ability for some unique tactics
* Despite the tall profile, the "wedding cake" design of the turret has thick sloped armour, providing extra protection to make up for its height
* 6 crew members, harder to fully incapacitate
* Good for researching low rank tanks
* Premium and Research rewards

'''Cons:'''

* Tall profile, big target
* 75 mm sponson weapon does not allow for hull-down combat
* Tall position of turret restricts gun depression
* Slow traverse speeds make it easy for a light or a particularly speedy medium tank to sneak around the sides
* Weak side armour
* Very awkward to use for new players
* Coffin for seven brothers

== History ==

===Development===
The current main tank in US inventory in 1940 was the [[M2|M2 medium tank]], but the Battle of France showed that such a tank was not going to be capable to go against the German [[Pz.III F|Panzer IIIs]] and [[Pz.IV F1|Panzer IVs]] and their Panzer Divisions. With the Western Allies now embroiled in the North African campaign against the Germans and Italians, the Allies needed a good tank capable of going against the Panzer tanks, and they needed it quickly.<ref name="ZalogaM3Med">Zaloga Steven. ''M3 Lee/Grant Medium Tank 1941-45'' Great Britain: Osprey Publishing Ltd., 2005</ref>

The new tank design took elements from the M2 Medium, using the chassis and its VVSS suspension system. Part of the requirement for the new tank was to mount the more powerful 75 mm cannon. However it was discovered that the United States does not have a turret design that can mount the 75 mm gun. But turret development takes time, and a new tank capable of fighting the Germans was needed now. Taking elements from French designs such as the Char B1, with its two cannon mounts, the American designers decided that the 75 mm, if can't be mounted on a turret, should be mounted on a sponson design on the hull. This design was tested on the M2 medium tank as the ''T5E2''. Ordnance approved it as combat-capable and the design was approved as the '''M3 Medium'''. The M3 Medium design had two cannons, the 75 mm on the hull sponson mount, and a 37 mm with a coaxial machine gun on a turret, a cupola on the turret had its own machine gun. The M3 Lee's 75 mm gun however presented a huge advantage over contemporary tank armaments as the 75 mm could fire high-explosive rounds for fortifications and artillery pieces, yet could fire a shell with a high enough velocity for anti-tank purposes.

The M3 design's faults was the high profile and the sponson mount for its armament. The M3 was 10 ft. 3 in. tall, a foot taller than the M2 medium tank. The 75 mm on a sponson mount meant that the main armament of the tank had a limited traverse compared to a rotatable turret and forced the tank to reveal much of its body in order to aim the gun at the enemy. The M3 Medium was also constructed out of rivets (which increased spalling) and had a smooth track design which reduced ground traction. Despite these disadvantages, the Allies happily accepted them as they were critically low on tanks, and German Colonel Hans von Luck considered them superior to the [[Pz.IV E|Panzer IV]]s from his experience in Africa.

The initial batch of M3 Lees were given to the British for their campaign at North Africa. The British experience with the M3 design pointed out most ofits flaws, but they were concerned with the lack of radio in the turret and a lacking in armour, with which they requested a redesign. The new design had a new cast turret with room for a radio, the hull had thicker armour, and the turret cupola's machine gun was removed for a simple hatch. The modified M3 also required one less crew member due to the radio now being in the turret for the commander rather than for a radio operator. The British ordered 1,250 of these modified M3 medium tanks.

On August 1941, production officially started on the M3 Mediums, though the armour was thicker than initials batches of the tank due to its combat experiences. A majority of these were completed at Baldwin Locomotive Works in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Of the total 6,258 M3s built between start up to the end of production in December 1942, 2,855 units went to the British and 1,386 went to the Soviet Union. Other users of the M3 were the Australians and Indians in the Pacific Theater. The M3 Mediums arriving in British arsenal caused confusion as the same "M3" designation was given to the [[M3 Stuart|M3 Light Tank]], plus there were two different design types of the M3 Mediums. This set off the tradition of naming American tanks after generals, where the M3 medium tank earned the Lee for the initial Americans design, [[Grant I|Grant]] for the British redesign, and the M3 light tank and its [[M5A1|successors]] earned the Stuart.

===Combat usage===
[[File:Soviet M3 Lee tanks of the 6th Guards Army Kursk July 1943.jpg|x250px|right|thumb|none|American-supplied M3 Lees in Soviet service during the Battle of Kursk.]]
Combat experience with the M3 Lee was complicated, but favorable. In Africa, the Lees and Grants in British and American service surprised the German forces when they could withstand the [[KwK 38 (50 mm)|50 mm KwK 38 L/42 gun]] and [[KwK 37 (75 mm)|75 mm KwK 37 L/24 howitzer]] armament on the Panzer IIIs and Panzer IVs. The M3 Lee proved reliable and adequate in armour protection in British and American service. The Soviet's experience with the M3 Lee was less favorable, as their [[T-34 (1941)|T-34 tanks]] were much better in combat performance. The Soviets euphemistically called it a "grave for six men" and the Lee tanks were relegated to the secondary fronts or repurposed as armoured personnel carriers. In the Pacific, the M3 Lees were lent to the Australians and Indians, which proved vastly superior to the Japanese tanks in service. The high gun elevation on its 37 mm turret and machine guns proved effective in knocking Japanese sniper off from trees. The only American use of the M3 Lee at the Pacific Theater was during the Battle of Makin Island.

The M3 Lee served fine as a stop gap solution for the American tank development. They performed very well on the combat field and proved very reliable. However, once a 75 mm turret was finally designed, the M3 Lee was redesigned to use it, and the resulting tank was the [[M4|M4 Sherman]], which will go on to replace the M3 tanks in the Allies as they are withdrawn from service. Even if it wasn't, the M3 was becoming obsolete due to newer German tanks being deployed, such as the [[Panther D|Panther]], [[Tiger H1|Tiger I]], or improvement of of old chassis like [[Pz.IV G|Panzer IV Ausf. G]] and [[StuG III F|StuG III Ausf. F]]. Its obsolescence was a consequence of its own rather unique development and anachronistic design, limiting this medium tank's service life to a mere two years in Allied hands. However it lived on until the end of World War II in some modifications such as tractor and recovery vehicle. The chassis and running gear were adapted by the Canadians to develop their [[M4A5|Ram medium tank]].<ref name="ZalogaM3Med" />

===An anecdote===

::"The 75 (mm gun) is firing. The 37 (mm gun) is firing, but it is traversed round the wrong way. The Browning (machine gun) is jammed. I am saying 'Driver advance' on the A set and the driver, who can't hear me, is reversing. And as I look over the top of the turret and see twelve enemy tanks fifty yards away, someone hands me a cheese sandwich." —''British Lieutenant Ken Giles, tank commander of a M3 Grant''<ref name="GrantAnecdote">Bell, Chris. "Fury: All You Need to Know about Life in a Tank." The Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group, 24 Oct. 2014. Web. 12 Jan. 2017. [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/film-news/11167575/Fury-all-you-need-to-know-about-life-in-a-tank.html Website]</ref>

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=ussr_m3c Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|vwrdLkD_gMc|'''{{PAGENAME}} Tank Review''' - ''NUSensei''}}

== See also ==
''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''

* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''

== External links ==


=== References ===
<references />

{{TankManufacturer Ordnance Department}}
{{USSR medium tanks}}
{{USSR premium ground vehicles}}