m3 grant

This M3 Grant tank was running in the arena at Tankfest 26 at the Tank Museum.

The M3 Grant was the British-specification variant of the American M3 Lee medium tank, rushed into service during the Second World War to bolster Allied armour in the North African Campaign. While both models shared the same hull design, featuring a sponson-mounted 75mm gun on the right side and a secondary 37mm gun in the upper turret. The Grant was distinguished by a completely redesigned, lower-profile cast turret engineered to British specifications. This new turret eliminated the high commander’s machine-gun cupola found on the American Lee, reducing the tank’s overall height, and provided internal housing for a radio at the rear of the turret, allowing the radio operator to be positioned alongside the commander rather than in the hull. As a result, the Grant operated with a reduced crew of six (compared to the Lee’s seven) and offered a slightly less conspicuous target on the open desert battlefield, where its dual-gun firepower proved vital in countering German armour during battles such as Gazala Offensive and El Alamein.

M3 Grant Tank

The M3 Lee was an American medium tank used during World War II. It was a stopgap design that was quickly developed in response to the need for a more powerful tank than the M2 Medium Tank. The M3 had a unique design with a main gun in a sponson on the hull side, and a smaller machine gun turret in the center. This design was not ideal, as it made the tank’s silhouette very high and made it difficult to aim the main gun.

This M3 Grant Medium Tank was on display at Bovington.

Despite its flaws, the M3 was a reliable and sturdy tank. It was also well-armed, with a 75mm main gun and a .30-caliber machine gun in the turret. The M3 was also relatively easy to produce, which was important for the United States, which was not yet fully mobilized for war.

The British Army received a large number of M3 tanks under the Lend-Lease program. The British were not happy with the M3’s design, and they insisted on modifications, including a different turret. The British-modified M3s were called “Grants,” while the original American-designed tanks were called “Lees.”

The main asset of the tank, from the British point of view, was the 75mm gun which could fire high explosive and armour piercing ammunition. The former was the perfect answer to Rommel’s imaginative use of anti-tank guns and there is no doubt that Grant tanks were largely responsible for halting Rommel’s attack during the key battle of Alam Halfa.

For all that the Grant was a difficult tank to fight in. The low position of the main gun meant that it was impossible to conceal and the tank often had to swing round in order to bring this gun to bear. Riveted construction was also a serious liability by 1942 while the 37mm gun, in the turret, was all but useless.

Both the Lee and Grant tanks saw extensive service with British forces in North Africa, Italy, and the Far East. The tanks were not the best in the world, but they were reliable and sturdy, and they played an important role in the Allied victory.

M3A5 General Grant II (Monty’s) at the Imperial War Museum in Duxford.

M3 Grant Medium Tank

This enormous tank presents an interesting contrast with contemporary British designs. American manufacturing techniques, using sophisticated machine tools, not only speeded up production but also ensured high reliability. Even so Britain insisted on modifications to the American design which resulted in a different turret but both types saw service with British forces. Those with the original turret were designated Lee, those with the British style turret were Grants.

The M3 Grant Medium Tank was on display at Bovington. In the background is a Light Tank M3A1 Stuart IV.

Tanks of this type were first used in Western Desert in 1942. Mechanically reliable but soon superseded by Sherman.

Over at Duxford they have the one used by General Montgomery during the battle of El Alamein. The 37mm gun was replaced by a wooden dummy gun barrel to create more room in the turret for extra radio equipment.

Notice the difference in track guards.

M3A5 General Grant II (Monty’s)

US WW2 medium tank, powered by twin General Motors 6-71 diesel engines, use by General Montgomery during the battle of El Alamein. The 37mm gun was replaced by a wooden dummy gun barrel to create more room in the turret for extra radio equipment.

This Tank was used by General (later Field Marshal) Sir Bernard Law Montgomery in the Desert Campaign in 1942 – 1943, including the Battle of El Alamein in October 1942 in which the 8th Army defeated Rommel. It continued to be used by Monty during the invasion of Sicily in July 1943, and for the remainder of that year as the 8th Army advanced into Italy. It was attached to 8th Army Headquarters and was used by Montgomery and subsequent Commanders for forward observation on the battlefield. It was “Monty’s wish” that the tank should be handed back to his old Regiment, the Royal Warwickshire Regiment, and in 1948 it was brought from Austria to England and became gate guardian at Budbrooke Barracks outside Warwick.