The Medium Tank M3 was an American tank used during World War II. Design commenced in July 1940 as a desperate attempt to mount a 75mm gun onto any possible chassy. Coupled with the United Kingdom's immediate need for tanks of any sort to replace those left behind at the Dunkirk evacuation, the M3 began production by late 1940 and first saw action in 1941.
The tank is easily identified by its peculiar design, with the main 75mm gun in a casemate sponson on the right side of the hull, and a smaller turret atop the hull mounting a 37mm gun. In addition, the British also outfitted some M3 tanks with British-pattern turrets, visually identified by their top turrets looking "flatter" compared to the ones from the United States. In accordance with British practice to name their Lend-Lease tanks after generals from the American Civil War, tanks with the taller, American-made turrets were named for Robert E. Lee, while those with the smaller, British-made turrets were named for Ulysses S. Grant.
