The U.S. M3 Lee/Grant Tank: the Twin Gunned General!
TLDRThe video script discusses the historical context and development of the M3 Lee tank, a stop-gap solution during World War II. Faced with the superior German Panzer tanks, the U.S. and British forces urgently needed a response, leading to the M3's design which repurposed elements from the M2 medium tank. Despite initial British skepticism due to its compromised design and riveted construction, the M3 saw extensive use in North Africa and the Pacific, earning respect from adversaries. Nicknamed the 'Grant' by the British and the 'Lee' by the U.S., it was also known as the 'Iron Cathedral' for its size. Post-war, some were repurposed as tractors or self-propelled howitzers, with service ending in 1957.
Takeaways
- ๐ World of Tanks is a free-to-play multiplayer tactics game for PC, offering high-impact combat gameplay and authentic vehicle models.
- ๐ฒ The US faced challenges during World War II due to the rapid advancement of German tank technology and the effectiveness of their tactics, notably blitzkrieg.
- ๐ ๏ธ The US initially struggled with tank development and had to quickly adapt to match the capabilities of German tanks, leading to the creation of stopgap solutions like the M3 tank.
- ๐ The M3 tank, also known as the Grant (British variant) and the Lee (US variant), entered service in 1941 and saw extensive use during World War II.
- ๐ The M3 tank was used by various Allied forces, including the British, Australian, and Indian armies, and earned respect for its firepower and armored protection.
- ๐ง Despite its flaws, the M3 tank was recognized as a deadly adversary by both Germans and Japanese, who lacked comparable firepower and armor.
- ๐ฃ After World War II, many M3 tanks were withdrawn from military service, with some repurposed as tractors on farms and others converted into self-propelled howitzers.
- ๐ณ๏ธ Around 1400 M3 tanks were supplied to the Soviet Union to replenish their ranks after suffering heavy casualties during Operation Barbarossa.
- ๐ Approximately 400 M3 tanks were lost during delivery due to threats like Germany's U-boat campaign and aerial attacks.
- ๐ The military career of the M3 tank, nicknamed the 'iron cathedral,' ended in 1957 with its phased-out service, marking the conclusion of these twin-gun generals.
Q & A
What is the name of the free-to-play multiplayer tactics game mentioned in the video?
-World of Tanks
What type of gameplay does World of Tanks offer?
-World of Tanks offers high impact combat gameplay with a mix of strategy and action.
What special code is provided for new players to receive in-game rewards in World of Tanks?
-The special code provided is 'tank mania'.
What does the code 'tank mania' grant to new players in World of Tanks?
-The code grants a Tier 5 Excelsior tank, 250,000 credits, 7 days of premium access, and the ability to rent 3 Tier 6 tanks for 10 missions each.
What was the primary concern of the U.S. government regarding the Nazi regime in the early 1940s?
-The U.S. government was concerned about the threat posed by the Nazi regime and how quickly they had overwhelmed European forces, fearing it was only a matter of time before the U.S. would have to intervene.
What was the German tactic that the American military recognized as very effective?
-The German tactic was known as blitzkrieg, which involved swiftly coordinated tank columns, air support, and artillery for highly mobile warfare.
What was the name given to the British variant of the M3 tank?
-The British variant of the M3 tank was nicknamed the 'Grant'.
How did the riveted design of the M3 tank pose a danger to its crew?
-The riveted design was dangerous because rivets could pop loose and ricochet inside the tank after being struck by incoming fire, potentially injuring the crew and damaging equipment.
In which theater of World War II did the M3 tank see extensive use?
-The M3 tank was used extensively during the North African campaign against the German Africa Corps and the Italian Royal Army.
What was the nickname given to the M3 tank by the Australian and Indian armies?
-The Australian and Indian armies nicknamed the M3 tank the 'Iron Cathedral' due to its impressive dimensions.
How were some of the M3 tanks in post-war Australia repurposed?
-Some M3 tanks in post-war Australia were sold off to be used as tractors on farms, while others were converted into self-propelled howitzers named 'Yarambas'.
What was the name of the operation during which the Soviet Union suffered heavy casualties, leading to the need for replenishing their tank ranks?
-The operation was called 'Operation Barbarossa'.
Outlines
๐ฎ World of Tanks Promotion and Historical Context
This paragraph introduces the video as being sponsored by World of Tanks, a free-to-play multiplayer tactics game for PC. It emphasizes the game's historical and action-packed nature, allowing players to command authentic tank models in large-scale battles. Viewers are encouraged to use the code 'tank mania' for in-game rewards. The paragraph also delves into the historical backdrop of World War II, highlighting the American military's realization of the need for better tank designs to counter the German Panzer tanks. It outlines the development of the M2 medium tank and the subsequent need for an interim solution, which led to the creation of the M3 Lee tank with its unique sponson-mounted main gun and riveted construction, despite the associated risks.
๐ก๏ธ M3 Lee Tank: Design, Use in WWII, and Legacy
The second paragraph discusses the British and American use of the M3 Lee tank during World War II. Despite initial reservations due to its design flaws, such as the danger posed by rivets, the British ordered the tank in large numbers after heavy losses at Dunkirk. The British variant, named the 'Grant', differed slightly by keeping the radio in the turret, which was more practical. The M3 saw extensive use in the North African campaign and against Japanese forces in Asia and the Pacific. Even the Germans and Japanese recognized its capabilities. The tank was also supplied to the Soviet Union, although many were lost en route. Post-war, many M3 tanks were repurposed, with some converted into self-propelled howitzers named 'Yarambas' in Australia, where they remained in service until 1957.
Mindmap
Keywords
๐กWorld of Tanks
๐กBlitzkrieg
๐กM3 Lee
๐กTwin-Gunned General
๐กNorth African Campaign
๐กPanzer Tanks
๐กSoviet Union
๐กArmored Warfare
๐กM4 Sherman
๐กTank Commander
๐กRivets
Highlights
World of Tanks is a free-to-play multiplayer tactics game for PC where players can take charge of authentic tank models and engage in massive historic battles.
The game features over 550 tanks with varied play styles, allowing players to choose how they want to conquer their opponents.
New players can enter the code 'tank mania' to receive the Tier 5 Excelsior tank, 250,000 credits, 7 days of premium access, and the ability to rent 3 Tier 6 tanks.
The M3 Lee tank was developed by the US and Britain as a stopgap solution during World War II to match the current generation of German tanks.
The M3 had a unique design with a main 75mm gun mounted in a sponson on the side of the tank, and a secondary 37mm turreted gun for all-around protection.
The British variant of the M3, nicknamed the Grant, kept its radio in the turret for better tactical communication.
The US version of the M3, nicknamed the Lee, had the radio in the hull, which was less practical.
Over 6,000 M3 tanks were produced, with nearly half assigned to British forces.
The M3 saw extensive use during the North African campaign against the German Africa Corps and Italian Royal Army.
Despite its flaws, the M3 was held in high regard by the Germans and Japanese for its firepower and armor protection.
The Australian and Indian armies also used the M3 extensively during the war.
The M3 was nicknamed the 'Iron Cathedral' due to its large size and impressive dimensions.
Around 1,400 M3 tanks were supplied to the Soviet Union, but it's estimated that 400 were lost during delivery due to German attacks.
After the war, most M3 tanks were scrapped, but some were converted into self-propelled howitzers in Australia and served until 1957.
The converted M3 howitzers in Australia were named 'Yaramas' after an Aboriginal spear-throwing instrument.
The M3 Lee was an important stopgap tank that helped the Allies during a critical period in World War II.
Transcripts
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the usm3 tank the twin gunned general
1941-1957
in 1940 the war in europe may have
seemed distant and ever so far away to
most americans
political and military leaders however
no doubt recognized the threat posed by
the nazi regime
knowing it would only be a matter of
time before the u.s was forced to
intervene in yet another bloody european
conflict
what was probably most disconcerting to
the u.s government was how quickly the
germans had overwhelmed the combined
forces of britain
france belgium and the netherlands all
in just a matter of weeks
at the forefront of the germans rapid
and seemingly unstoppable advance
was a new breed of tank the dreaded
panzer
chiefly consisting of the impressive
panzer iii and the early panzer
mark iv tanks divisions were also
supported by large numbers of recently
integrated czech light tanks
particularly the highly effective
ltvz-38 which was designated the panzer
38t by the germans
the american military was quick to
analyze the german success
and came to two worrying conclusions the
first was that the tactic the germans
used was a very effective one
based around the concept of lightning
war or as it was to become
better known as blitzkrieg
this new approach called for swiftly
coordinated tank columns
air support and artillery and resulted
in a new highly mobile type of warfare
in which fortifications and trenches
were rendered mostly ineffective
the second conclusion the americans came
to was that the german tank designs were
far better than expected and easily
outclassed what was currently being
fielded by the american military
although the u.s had seen the potential
in utilizing tanks as far
back as the conclusion of the first
world war they had failed to adequately
fund or develop this element during the
interwar years
in fact they only decided as late as the
1930s to start fully replacing their
cavalry units with armored vehicles
as a result when war erupted in europe
in 1939
the americans could only field a very
small number of tanks
virtually all of them were of the m1 and
m2 variety
both of which were light tanks
effectively made obsolete by the caliber
of the german opposition
the americans had been developing the m2
tank into a medium-sized model
figuring it would use many of the parts
of the existing m2 light tank
the medium model would be very easy to
produce and maintain
sadly it became apparent that this new
tank would not be much of a match for
the new breed of panzer coming out of
germany
though the upgraded m2 had an effective
37 millimeter gun
its crew of six were overburdened with
no less than 7 machine guns scattered
around its frame
along with having to fulfill the
demanding roles of commander driver
gunner loader and radio operator all
this resulting in a rather chaotic and
clumsily underperforming
so the americans hurriedly started to
develop a tank that would later become
the legendary and highly successful
m4 sherman medium tank in the meantime
however
both the americans and the british
desperately needed a stop gap tank to
match the current generation of german
tanks
in order to save time it was decided
that much of the failed m2 medium tank
project would be utilized
but the major problem with this approach
was that the turret ring of the m2 could
not hold the larger 75 millimeter main
gun required to match that of the new
panzer iv
so an innovative solution was to use the
world war one practice of installing the
main gun on the side of the tank in the
sponson mounting
this eliminated the need for a total
redesign but meant the gun had a very
limited traverse
and that the tank could not dig in in a
defensive position
a high-velocity 37-millimeter turreted
gun was also equipped on top of the crew
compartment for all-around protection
when the british first saw the m3
prototype in the summer of 1940
they were very underwhelmed they felt it
reeked of compromise at every level
and at over 10 feet tall and 27 tons it
left an impression for all the wrong
reasons
to make matters worse for ease of
production the tank was of a riveted
design
the flaw in this type of construction
was represented by the danger of the
rivets themselves
which having absorbed the shock waves of
incoming fire on the armor's exterior
could pop
loose and ricochet wildly about the
interior compartment of the tank at
incredible speeds
shredding the crew and vital equipment
to pieces
despite their misgivings the british
nevertheless felt forced to order large
numbers of these tanks
as most of their armored brigades have
been left behind during the evacuation
of dunkirk
the british variant of the m3 differed
only slightly from the us army version
notably the british model kept its radio
situated in the turret rather than in
the hull compartment
this made much more tactical sense as
the commander could communicate directly
with other tanks while
overseeing any engagement personally the
british model was nicknamed the grant
after the union general ulysses s grant
from the american civil war
whereas the u.s version was nicknamed
the lee after the confederate general
robert e lee on the opposing side of the
war
the m3 entered service in 1941 and
proved reasonably successful
nearly half of over 6 000 produced were
assigned to the british forces
they were used extensively during the
north african campaign against the
german africa corps and the italian
royal army
when the north african campaign
concluded in 1943
their frontline service ceased in the
west but they were still used
extensively against the japanese in the
southeast
asia and pacific theaters until the very
end of the war in 1945
despite its flaws even the germans came
to hold the m3 in quite high regard
recognizing it as a deadly and
well-armed adversary
japanese were similarly forced to
respect the m3
unable to field anything to match it in
terms of firepower and armored
protection
the australian and indian army also used
them in large numbers during the war
it acquired the fanciful nickname of the
iron cathedral due to its impressive
dimensions
interestingly around 1400 were supplied
to the soviet union to help them
replenish their ranks
after the horrendous casualty suffered
at the hands of the germans during
operation barbarossa
it's estimated that around 400 m3 tanks
were lost during delivery
as allied shipping vessels fell victim
to the threat of germany's u-boat
campaign and aerial attacks before they
could arrive at their destination
at the end of the war the tank was
withdrawn from military service with
most being scrapped
in post-war australia the army sold off
many of theirs to be used as
tractors on farms a number were however
kept and converted into self-propelled
howitzers
named yarambas this was done by removing
all their weaponry
and centrally mounting a 25-pound gun in
the center of an open-topped hull
its name was derived from the aboriginal
instrument used for throwing spears
and these vehicles were relatively
successful and were well liked by their
crew
they were finally phased out of service
in 1957
thus ending the military career of these
twin gun
generals
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