The M3 Lee, officially Medium Tank, M3, was an American medium tank used during World War II. The turret was produced in two forms, one for US needs and one modified to British requirements to place the radio next to the commander. In British Commonwealth service, the tank was called by two names: tanks employing US-pattern turrets were called "Lee", named after Confederate general Robert E. Lee, while those with British-pattern turrets were known as "Grant", named after Union general Ulysses S. Grant.
Medium Tank, M3, Fort Knox, June 1942
The armor plate on the M3 was too heavy for welding and had to be riveted in position.
Crew exiting a "disabled tank" during maneuvers held at Camp Polk in February 1943
British Grant (left) and Lee (right) at El Alamein (in the Egyptian Western Desert) 1942, showing differences between the British turret and the original design of the M3
The M4 Sherman, officially Medium Tank, M4, was the most widely used medium tank by the United States and Western Allies in World War II. The M4 Sherman proved to be reliable, relatively cheap to produce, and available in great numbers. It was also the basis of several other armored fighting vehicles including self-propelled artillery, tank destroyers, and armored recovery vehicles. Tens of thousands were distributed through the Lend-Lease program to the British Commonwealth and Soviet Union. The tank was named by the British after the American Civil War General William Tecumseh Sherman.
An M4 (105) Sherman tank with spare track-links welded on its front for additional armor protection, preserved at the Langenberg Liberation Memorial in Ede, Netherlands
Cutaway Sherman showing transmission and driver's seat
A Sherman DD amphibious tank of 13th/18th Royal Hussars in action against German troops using crashed Airspeed Horsa gliders as cover near Ranville, Operation Overlord Normandy, 10 June 1944
The second production Sherman, Michael, displayed at The Tank Museum, Bovington, England (2010)