M3 Grant I

Type: Medium Tank
Nation: USA/United Kingdom
Period: World War 2
Location: El Alamein Military Museum, Egypt

Caught by surprise

When the German Panzer Divisions were sweeping through France and the British Expeditionary Force had to be evacuated from Dunkirk in 1940, the United States only possessed 18 (!) M2 medium tanks. Their 37 mm guns might have seemed adequate as anti-tank weapons in the 1930s, but now it became clear that the US needed to build up its strength with modern equipment as quickly as possible. The desired long-term solution was a medium tank with a turret-mounted 75 mm dual-purpose gun which eventually became the M4 Sherman, but the matter was found so urgent that an interim tank was developed that could be pressed into production almost right away.

Compromise

Since there was no time for experimenting, testing and refining, the M3 was to have as few new parts as possible. Instead, the designers had to make due with what they already got and what they knew would work. The automotive components such as the engine, drivetrain and suspension system were all inherited from the M2. The hull layout was borrowed from the pre-war T5E2 prototype, which had a 75 mm gun in a side-mounted sponson while retaining a traversable turret. Another influence with a similar design was the French Char B1 bis.

Anglo-American twins

In July 1940 a British delegation was sent to the US with the goal of procuring tanks for the British Army. When they were offered the M3, the British Tank Mission requested some changes to the design. Apart from a modified fighting compartment, the most important feature of the British M3s was the redesigned 37 mm gun turret which had a prominent bustle to accommodate a Number 19 wireless set. The American version required a separate radio operator in the hull, while the British preferred to place the radio with the commander. The Americans later eliminated the extra man and let the driver control the radio. The British Army called the US version the “General Lee I” and the British version “General Grant I”. As the Confederate General Robert E. Lee had surrendered to Ulysses S. Grant in 1865, these naming choices indicate which M3 version the British found superior.

Nickname: Iron Cathedral

The basic M3 was a riveted construction with a Wright R-975 Whirlwind radial engine which gave the tank an awkwardly high silhouette. Combined with the 75 mm gun’s low position and limited traverse, this proved to be a major disadvantage on the battlefield. On the other hand, the six Grant crewmen were working in a relatively roomy fighting compartment and the vehicle was much more mechanically reliable than previous British tanks such as the Crusader and the Matilda.

Mission accomplished

M3 Grants were first used on 27 May 1942 near Bir Hacheim and took part in both battles at El Alamein. Although they were never meant to be more than a stopgap and took heavy losses, they were effective against the German Panzer IIIs and Panzer IVs in the long-range engagements typical for North Africa. When the Sherman arrived in large numbers, the M3 was soon taken out of frontline service and delegated to so-called secondary theatres such as Burma, where there was little tank-on-tank fighting going on.

Desert warrior

This particular vehicle is located at the El Alamein Military Museum which houses a large collection of vehicle types that the Axis and Allies were operating in the two famous battles in July and October 1942. This Grant shows a considerable amount of battle scars, including a damaged sprocket and a deep hit on the gun shield which seemingly interfered with the 75’s elevation. The weld-on armour patch left to the driver’s vision port is possibly covering up a penetration.

Inconspicuous remains

What is particular interesting about El Alamein is that the old wartime train station building can still be found there. There is no visible sign indicating this site’s historic significance and the concrete has seen better days, so it’s rather easy to miss.