M3 "General Grant" – the US medium tank

M3 "Lee" or "General Grant" – the US medium tank of World War II. The first prototype was manufactured in 1941, serially produced in 1941-1942. In total about 6300 copies of this tank of all versions were produced. M3 "Lee" was powered by one "Continental" R 975 EC2 340 h. p. power engine or two “General Motors” 6-71 engines, with a total power of 375 h. p. It was armed with one 75 mm M2 or M3 gun in the hull, one M5 or M6 37 mm caliber gun, mounted in a turret, and two or three 7.62 mm “Browning” 1919A machine guns. In 1940 the French campaign made a great impression on the US Army leadership and made it clear, that the M2 tank, which was being produced at that time, did not meet the requirements of the battlefield. While waiting for the main construction, which was to become the M 4 “Sherman”, the tank industry was tasked with creating a transitional tank, that could fight on an equal footing with the Pz. Kpfw III and Pz. Kpfw IV tanks. In 1941 the first prototype of the M3 “Lee” tank was created - the British called it "General Grant". The new tank had several advantages: excellent armor, high reliability and powerful armament. However, it had many shortcomings: it was difficult to overcome obstacles, it was very high, which made camouflage very difficult - especially in desert conditions, very low modernization capabilities. As a result, since 1943 it was systematically removed from front-line units and replaced by the M4 "Sherman". However, even after 1943 it was used by the Red Army in secondary directions of the war, and the Americans - in battles in the Pacific Ocean region. During serial production several versions of the M3 "Lee" were created. The first was designated M3 and had riveted armor. Soon followed the M3A1 version with cast armor, then - the M3A2 with welded armor. The last version was the M3A5 with riveted armor, but with a long-barreled 37 mm cannon.

A small, but well-designed and quite richly detailed model of a small tank, which will suit only medium-experienced and experienced modelers. The model has a perfectly detailed hull, external detailing, chassis, its suspension, armament, additional details. Beautiful spotted camouflage will definitely attract the attention of judges and spectators at competitions and exhibitions. Tracks - only from separate tracks. There are no color reserves. There are no textual instructions at all, the graphical, although not the largest, is quite informative and easy to read. Antiquarian publication.