M3 Lee

This page is about the American medium tank M3 Lee. For other versions, see M3 Medium (Family). For other uses, see M3 (Disambiguation).

M3 Lee

M4A1

M3 Lee

M4A1

USA

II Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
2.3	2.7	2.7

Class:

Medium tank

Research:7 900

Purchase:10 000

Description

The M3 Lee, formally Medium Tank, M3, is a World War II U.S. Army version of the M3 medium tank. The turret was built in two versions, one for US requirements and one for British requirements. Prior to the introduction of the M3, the M2 medium tank was the primary medium tank of the U.S. Army. However, the accomplishments of the German Panzer IIIs and Panzer IVs in the French campaign during World War II prompted the U.S. Army to immediately request a new medium tank armed with a 75 mm gun in a turret in response to the new threats. The design began in July 1940, and the M3 medium tank commenced production in late 1940, in response to the United Kingdom's pressing demand for 3,650 medium tanks. The concept was a desperate attempt to get medium tanks built as soon as possible. The M3 medium was designed from the start to be an interim design with a 75 mm gun; hence, it was withdrawn from action in most theatres as soon as the M4 Sherman tanks became available in substantial numbers.

Introduced in Update 1.45 "Steel Generals", the M3 Lee had significant firepower and good armour compared to the previous M2 medium tank, but it had serious drawbacks in its overall design, including a high silhouette, an outdated sponson mounting of the main 75 mm gun resulting in a limited firing arc, riveted construction, and poor off-road performance. Overall, it is a very unusual tank for most players and will require certain coordination to be used effectively.

General info

Survivability and armour

Armourfront / side / back

Hull51 / 38 / 38

Turret50 / 50 / 50

Crew7 people

Visibility139 %

Armour type:

• Rolled homogeneous armour (Hull, turret roof)
• Cast homogeneous armour (Turret, MG cupola, transmission area, view ports)

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
Cupola	50.8 mm (25°)	50.8 mm (cylindrical)		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.

The front glacis is separated in two plates with different angles and thicknesses, increasing the chance to bounce a shell off. The crew sits tightly in a limited compartment so any penetrating shot will likely knock out several crew members. The high crew count (6) compensates this aspect.

Mobility

Speedforward / back

AB43 / 6 km/h

RB and SB39 / 6 km/h

Number of gears5 forward

1 back

Weight27.7 t

Engine power

AB763 hp

RB and SB400 hp

Power-to-weight ratio

AB27.5 hp/t

RB and SB14.4 hp/t

Game Mode	Max Speed (km/h)		Weight (tons)	Engine power (horsepower)		Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
	Forward	Reverse		Stock	Upgraded	Stock	Upgraded
Arcade	43	6	27.7	620	763	22.38	27.55
Realistic	39	6		354	400	12.78	14.44

The suspension inherited from the M2 gives it the Lee good all-terrain performance. It has a good acceleration, a reasonable top speed and the reverse speed is enough to back out of a dangerous situation.

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference

AB417 → 536

RB455 → 585

SB547 → 703

Total cost of modifications6 930

6 740

Talisman cost530

Crew training3 000

Experts10 000

Aces115

Research Aces160 000

Reward for battleAB / RB / SB

30 / 40 / 40 %

112 / 112 / 112 %

Modifications

Mobility	Protection	Firepower
Tracks Research: 350 Cost: 340 70 Suspension Research: 310 Cost: 300 60 Brake System Research: 310 Cost: 300 60 Filters Research: 580 Cost: 560 115 Transmission Research: 560 Cost: 550 110 Engine Research: 560 Cost: 550 110	Improved Parts Research: 350 Cost: 340 70 Improved FPE Research: 310 Cost: 300 60 Crew Replenishment Research: 580 Cost: 560 115	Horizontal Drive Research: 350 Cost: 340 70 37mm_usa_m3_APC_ammo_pack Research: 350 Cost: 340 70 Adjustment of Fire Research: 310 Cost: 300 60 75mm_usa_APCBC_ammo_pack Research: 310 Cost: 300 60 Elevation Mechanism Research: 580 Cost: 560 115 Artillery Support Research: 560 Cost: 550 110 75mm_us_M89_Smoke_ammo_pack Research: 560 Cost: 550 110

Armaments

Main armament

37 mm M5 cannon

Vertical stabilizer

Reduces the swing of the gun in one plane while moving

Ammunition179 rounds

Reloadbasic crew → aces

3.7 → 2.9 s

Vertical guidance-7° / 60°

The 37 mm gun is located in the rotating turret, mounted with a leftward offset, and has a small MG cupola on top which can rotate independently.

37 mm M5					Turret rotation speed (°/s)					Reloading rate (seconds)
Mode	Capacity	Vertical	Horizontal	Stabilizer	Stock	Upgraded	Full	Expert	Aced	Stock	Full	Expert	Aced
Arcade	179	-7°/+60°	±180°	Vertical	17.1	23.7	28.8	31.8	33.9	3.77	3.33	3.07	2.90
Realistic					10.7	12.6	15.3	16.9	18.0

Ammunition

Penetration statistics
Ammunition	Type of warhead	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	APCBC	87	84	73	60	50	41

Shell details
Ammunition	Type of warhead	Velocity (m/s)	Projectile mass (kg)	Fuse delay	Fuse sensitivity (mm)	Explosive mass (TNT equivalent) (g)	Ricochet
							0%	50%	100%
M74B1	AP	883	0.87	-	-	-	47°	60°	65°
M51B1	APCBC	883	0.87	-	-	-	48°	63°	71°

Ammo racks

Ammo racks of the M3 Lee

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

75 mm M2 cannon

Vertical stabilizer

Reduces the swing of the gun in one plane while moving

Ammunition50 rounds

Reloadbasic crew → aces

6.2 → 4.8 s

Vertical guidance-9° / 20°

Horizontal guidance-15° / 15°

The large sponson on the starboard side of the tank carries the 75 mm gun. While it is the secondary armament, take note that with only 2 crew members left, it will be the operational gun. The 75 is fired through the "secondary armament" setting: Controls > Ground Vehicles > Weaponry > Fire from secondary guns. When you aim with the 37 mm gun sight, remember that the gun is offset almost a meter to the right and 50 cm closer to the ground. It also drops faster than the 37 mm shell. If you want to aim precisely, you can use the secondary sight: Controls > Ground Vehicles > Weaponry > Select secondary weapon. You'll also need to configure the "Reset weapon selection" setting for it to work properly.

75 mm M2					Turret rotation speed (°/s)					Reloading rate (seconds)
Mode	Capacity	Vertical	Horizontal	Stabilizer	Stock	Upgraded	Full	Expert	Aced	Stock	Full	Expert	Aced
Arcade	50	-9°/+20°	±15°	Vertical	11	15	19	21	22	6.2	5.5	5.0	4.8
Realistic					7	8	10	11	12

Ammunition

Penetration statistics
Ammunition	Type of warhead	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	95	87	78	70	63

Shell details
Ammunition	Type of warhead	Velocity (m/s)	Projectile mass (kg)	Fuse delay (m)	Fuse sensitivity (mm)	Explosive mass (TNT equivalent) (g)	Ricochet
							0%	50%	100%
M48 shell	HE	448	6.3	0.2	0.1	666	79°	80°	81°
M72 shot	AP	588	6.3	-	-	-	47°	60°	65°
M61 shot	APCBC	588	6.79	1.2	14	63.7	48°	63°	71°

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	9	5	20	50

Ammo racks

Ammo racks of the M3 Lee

Full ammo	1st rack empty	2nd rack empty	Visual discrepancy
50	10 (+40)	1 (+49)	No

Machine guns

7.62 mm M1919A4 machine gun (coaxial)

Ammunition3 000 rounds

Belt capacity250 rounds

Reloadbasic crew → aces

10.4 → 8.0 s

Fire rate500 shots/min

7.62 mm M1919A4 machine gun

Ammunition3 000 rounds

Belt capacity250 rounds

Reloadbasic crew → aces

10.4 → 8.0 s

Fire rate500 shots/min

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

The small calibre of the M1919A4 machine gun makes them largely ineffective against all armoured vehicles but the ones with an open compartment. They still can be used to ping targets as a rangefinding help.

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 cannons, the M3 Lee can focus on 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, 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 it's 37 mm to cover the flanks and make longer range snipe shots. The M3 Lee 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.

At its BR, the M3 Lee has a possibility of facing long-barrelled Pz.Kpfw. III, and Pz.Kpfw. IV, as well as T-34s and Sd.Kfz.234/2. The ZiS-30 is also very deadly, with its long gun that can penetrate even a Tiger 1. The 75 mm gun can reliable penetrate all of these tanks at short range (save the T-34), whereas the 37 mm will require some particular shot placement. Another particular enemy worth noting is the Sd.Kfz.234/2 "Puma". This light tank mounts a 50 mm KwK39/1 cannon which can easily penetrate your armour all around. You should try to angle the tank in a way that the shells will just slide harmlessly off. Another tactic is to only expose your turret, that way, you can minimize the amount of damage dealt to you.

When combating the M3 Lee, 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 from 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 a single shot, owing to the lack of sloping and ammunition storage.

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Has two guns: a 37 mm and a 75 mm
• 75 mm gun is powerful, sporting good penetration and post-penetration explosive damage
• Side mounted 75 mm gives the ability for some unique tactics, such as only exposing the right side of the tank to fire
• Above average frontal armour
• 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 means it typically can take multiple shots before it is fully destroyed
• Very effective when using weapon selection as the two different turrets can cover each other while reloading

Cons:

• Tall profile and a big target
• Losing crew members means losing functionality of one of the turrets
• Very awkward to use for new players, especially if the controls for the separate turrets are not properly set
• 75 mm sponson, though powerful, is situational due to its awkward position
  • Cannot be used for hull-down combat
  • Only accurate when completely stationary
• Tall position of turret restricts gun depression
• Slow traverse speeds make it easy for fast tank to sneak around the sides
• Weak side armour
• Driver's vision port is a weak spot

History

Development

The current main tank in US inventory in 1940 was the M2 medium tank, but the Battle of France showed that such a tank was not going to be capable to go up against the German Panzer IIIs and 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.

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 could mount the 75 mm gun. Turret development would take time, and a new tank capable of fighting the Germans was needed by the British, which the Americans were building tanks for even though the United States was not yet at war. Taking elements from French designs such as the Char B1, with its two cannon mounts, the American designers decided that the 75 mm, if it couldn't yet 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. It was always considered a stopgap, using the same chassis as the future M4 Sherman to minimize issues with transition when the new design was ready. 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 development of the M3 Medium Tank faced numerous challenges, particularly in mounting the powerful 75mm gun. American engineers, including key figures like John Christie, Joseph Colby, Jacob Yeates and Canadian Charles Tanut, grappled with the fact that no existing turret design could accommodate the 75mm cannon. This limitation necessitated a more creative approach, leading to the decision to mount the gun on a sponson in the hull—a solution that, while not ideal, allowed for rapid production. This approach helped meet the urgent need for a tank capable of standing up to German armor in North Africa, even as other design challenges, such as the tank's high profile and limited gun traverse, remained.

Two M3 Lee being assembled at the Chrysler Arsenal, their guns still missing.

The M3 design's faults were 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 Panzer IVs from his experience in Africa.

The initial batch of M3s were given to the British for their campaign for North Africa. The original British M3s had a radio in the turret, a new cast turret with room for radio, and the turret cupola and cupola machine gun was replaced with 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, which they called the Grant. Additional tanks built and sent to the UK later with the original US model turret were called the Lee.

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 startup 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 India-Burma Theater. The M3 Mediums arriving in British arsenal caused confusion as the same "M3" designation was given to the 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 for the British redesign, and the M3 light tank and its successors earned the Stuart.

Only 1,400 M3s were kept by the US. Three US crews, sent to help the British with training on the new tanks, had fought in British M3s at the battle of Gazala in June, 1942, with the 1st Royal Tank Regiment. In the US North Africa landings and Tunisia campaign later that year, two battalions of the US 13th Armored Regiment (1st Armored Division) also used M3s, until replaced with Shermans. By the end of the Tunisia campaign in May 1943, all M3s had been taken out of US service in Europe (though it would still see some use in the Pacific theater against Japan).

Combat usage

A M3 Lee crew holding the shells of the M3 Lee in Tunisia.

Combat experience with the M3 Lee was complicated but favourable. In Africa, the Lees and Grants in British and American service surprised the German forces when they could withstand the 50 mm KwK38 L/42 gun and 75 mm KwK37 L/24 howitzer armament on the Panzer IIIs and Panzer IVs. The M3 proved reliable and adequate in armour protection in British and American service. The Soviet's experience with the M3 was less favourable, as their T-34 tanks were much better in combat performance. The Soviets euphemistically called it a "grave for six men" and their Lee tanks were relegated to the secondary fronts or repurposed as armoured personnel carriers. In the Pacific, the M3s 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 snipers off from trees. The only American use of the M3 Lee at the Pacific Theater was during the Battle of Makin Island by the 193rd Tank Battalion in November, 1943.

The M3 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 was redesigned to use it, and the resulting tank was the 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, Tiger I, or improvement of old chassis like the Panzer IV Ausf. G and 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 Ram medium tank.

An anecdote

"The 75 (mm gun) is firing. The 37 (mm gun) is firing, but it is traversed around 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

Archive of the in-game description

The M3 was created based on the M2 medium tank, using almost all its components and powertrain assemblies in addition to its transmission and running gear. The tank offered a multi-tiered armament configuration and, as the first American tank armed with a 75 mm cannon, represented an important step forward in the development of tank design in the US. In 1940 the Ordnance Department brought up requirements for a new medium tank, primary among them being a 75 mm weapon. The 2,134 mm long T7 75 mm cannon met the requirement as a modified version of the T6 cannon, which was designed for standard ammunition from 1897. The modernized weapon was designated the M2, and installing it had a positive impact on the tank's firepower. On the other hand, mounting it in a side sponson greatly limited its arc of fire. The gun could only be moved horizontally by hand and was limited to 15° in either direction. The next weapon modification was the M3 cannon. Its barrel length was extended to 2,810 mm, which both boosted initial shell velocity from 564 m/s to 610 m/s and eliminated the need for a counterweight. The M3 used a riveted hull, while its configuration featured a forward-sitting transmission, battle compartment in the middle, and engine bay in the back. The tank's outline was quite exotic as a result of trying to combine comfort for the crew and high firepower. The first modification was under full-scale production from April 1941 to August 1942, with five companies building a total of 4,924 units. The M3 Lee launched its combat career in North Africa in 1942. Deliveries were also made to the USSR via Lend-Lease for use on the Eastern Front from 1942 to 1943.

Media

Skins

• Skins and camouflages for the M3 Lee from live.warthunder.com.

Videos

Best secondary armaments discusses the M3 Lee at 5:41 - War Thunder Official Channel

Multi-turreted Tanks discusses the M3 Lee at 2:31 - War Thunder Official Channel

You said tank? it's more like a mobile fortress - M3 Lee - HowToPlay1337

M3 Lee, American Tier-1 / Rank-1, Medium Tank - Angry Nerd Gaming

See also

Related development

• M3 Medium (Family)

External links

• [Historical] Steel Generals: M3 Lee
• [Devblog] Developers about M3 Lee

References

U.S. Army Ordnance Department/Corps*
Light tanks	T18E2 · M24 (Designed in collaboration with Cadillac)
M3 Stuart	M3 · M3A1 Stuart · M3A1 (USMC)
M5 Stuart	M5A1
Medium tanks	M3 Lee
M4 Sherman	M4 · M4A1 · M4A2 · M4A3 (105) · Calliope
	M4A1 (76) W · M4A2 (76) W · M4A3 (76) W
M26 Pershing	T20 · T25 · M26 · M26E1 · M26 T99
Patton Series	M46 · M46 "Tiger" · M47
Prototypes	T54E1 · T95E1
Heavy tanks	M103
M4 Jumbo	M4A3E2 · Cobra King · M4A3E2 (76) W
M6 Heavy	M6A1 · M6A2E1 · T1E1
M26 Pershing	T26E1-1 · T26E5
Prototypes	T14
T29	T29 · T30 · T34
T-32	T32 · T32E1
Tank destroyers	M3 GMC · M10 GMC · M56
M8 GMC	M8 HMC · M8A1 GMC
M36 GMC	M36 GMC · M36B2
Prototypes	T28 · T95
SPAAGs
Production	M19 MGMC · M42
Export/Captured	␗M8 HMC · SU-57
Stuart	Stuart I · Stuart III · ␗M3A3 Stuart · ␗M3A3 (1st PTG) · ▄M3A3 · ▄M3A3 Stuart · ▃Stuart VI (5th CAD) · ␗M5A1
Lee/Grant	▂M3 Medium · ▃Grant I · Grant I
M4 Sherman	Sherman II · ▄M4A1 · ␗M4A1 (75) W · ▀M4 748 (a) · ▂M4A2 · ▄M4A3 (105) · ▅M4A3 (76) W · ▄M4A3E2
	␗M4A4 · ␗M4A4 (1st PTG) · ▄Sherman V · ▄M4A4 · ▄Sherman I Composito
M26 Pershing	M26 "D.C.Ariete" · M26A1
M47 Patton	mKPz M47 G · ▅M47
M10 GMC	␗M10 GMC · ▄M10 GMC
M36 GMC	␗M36 GMC · M36B1 · ▅M36 · ▄M36B2
M19 MGMC	▅M19A1
M42 MGMC	▅M42 · ␗M42
	*The Ordnance Department was renamed to the Ordnance Corps after the Army Reorganization Act of 1950.