Product Description
In the build-up to entering the war, US Army planners knew they would need a 75mm-armed tank to overcome the latest German panzers. Of the proposed designs which could be produced quickly, none had a turret big enough to hold a 75mm gun. As a temporary solution, the hull of a pre-war M2A1 medium tank was modified to take a short M2 75mm gun in a limited traverse sponson in the right front of the hull, while retaining a 37mm gun in the turret. This odd, ungainly vehicle was far from perfect, but it was nevertheless an effective tank that filled a much-needed role at a crucial time.
Later production runs of the M3 Lee replaced its M2 75mm gun with the longer-barrelled M3 75mm—the same as the weapon in the M4 Sherman. Both guns fire the same ammunition, but the extra 68cm (26-inch) length gives the M3 a higher muzzle velocity, making it a more effective tank killer. As new tanks are issued to replace those lost in combat, it is not unusual to see a mix of tanks armed with short and long guns fighting together in the same platoon.
The 13th Armored Division began the campaign with one battalion fielding the M3 Lee, with another battalion arriving in Tunisia in December 1942.
THIS PRODUCT CONTAINS:
- 5x M3 Lee Tanks
- 1x Decal Sheet
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These miniatures are supplied unassembled and unpainted
