American M3 Lee Tank Company

Old Ironsides, the first of the mighty Armored Force, the pioneer in the art and science of armor, the father of other divisions, the first armored division overseas, the first to land on African soil, the first to engage the German troops in World War II, the instructor of others entering combat, the first into Rome, the first of the armored divisions in days of actual field service during World War II.

The American M3 Lee Tank Company includes:

• Five Plastic M3 Lee Tanks
• Three Plastic M4 Sherman Tanks
• Four M3 Stuart Tanks
• Four M10 Tank Destroyers
• Three M7 Priest Self-propelled Guns
• Two T28E1 Self-propelled AA Guns
• Complete A5 Flames Of War rulebook
• One American "Start Here" Guide
• Five Decal Sheets
• Nine Unit cards.

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.

The M4 Medium Tank—best known by the nickname ‘Sherman’ given to it by the British—is the most famous American tank, operated in
large numbers by the US and their allies across all theatres. Over the course of the war there will be numerous variants, changing the engine and suspension, adding more armour and bigger guns, but all with the same tall, solid shape.

The M4A1 model, recognisable by its distinctive rounded single-piece cast upper hull, is the first Sherman variant to enter combat with the US armored forces. Most of the initial production run of the original M4 variant, with its sharpsided welded upper hull, were supplied to the British through the Lend-Lease programme.

As well as serving with US armored divisions in the light battalions of the armored regiments, thousands of M3 Light Tanks were supplied to Britain and the Soviet Union. The British codenamed the tank ‘General Stuart’, after the famous American Civil War cavalry commander, and the name caught on with US troops as well.

The M3 Stuart was mechanically reliable, and even though it had lighter armor and a smaller gun than the latest German panzers, its small size and high speed made it well suited to probing enemy defences and fighting a free-wheeling and tactical style of moving battle.

The most potent weapon the US Army has in Tunisia for dealing with enemy tanks is the M10 tank destroyer, officially named the M10 3-inch Gun Motor Carriage. It has one job: to stalk and destroy enemy tanks, breaking up the focused armoured attacks for which the German panzer divisions have become famous.

Following the events of the war the U.S. Army came to the conclusion that there was a need for a self propelled artillary vehicle with the firepower to support armored tank opperations. With the lessons learned from half-track vehicles such as the T19 Howitzer Motor Carriage and the M3 Half-track Chasis they decided the M7 would be not only armored but also full tracked

It was decided to use the M3 Lee chassis as the basis for this new vehicle design, which was designated T32. The pilot vehicles used the M3 chassis with an open-topped superstructure, mounting an M1A2 105 mm howitzer and, following trials, adding a machine gun, the T32 was accepted for service as the M7 in February 1942 and production began that April. As the M4 Sherman tank replaced the M3, it was decided to continue production using the M4 chassis instead.