Medium Tank M3 to M3A5: General Lee/Grant (Tanks in Detail) [Paperback]

Terry Gander (Author)

Book Description

Series: Tanks in Detail | Publication Date: July 2003

Originally designed as a medium tank for the US Army, the M3 was selected by the British to replace the considerable number of tanks lost in France following the withdrawal from Dunkirk. From the outset of production, two types of M3 were built: General Lee (US Army) and General Grant for the British. Six variants of the tanks were constructed - the M3, M3A1, M3A2, M3A3, M3A4 and M3A5 - for both armies. The British were the first to deploy the M3 in action, using it in the Western Desert in May 1942. The US Army M3s were first used in Operation Torch, the landings in North Africa in November 1942. As the M3 became obsolete as a gun tank, it was modified for other battlefield uses, including the HMC7 (self-propelled Howitzer), M33 (prime mover/heavy gun tractor), M31 (tank recovery vehicle) and Kangaroo (armoured personnel carrier). In total, some 6,000 chassis of all variants were constructed. All the variants are covered in detail in this title. Designed with the modeller, preservationist and the wargamer in mind, Ian Allan Publishing's new 'In Detail' series will provide readers with a comprehensive history of the type of tank, self-propelled gun or military transport featured. Each volume will include extensive facts about the unit in service, along with information on variants, markings, unit allocations etc. Alongside the comprehensive illustrative section, which will include detailed shots of models in colour, the books will also include scale drawings and comprehensive guidance notes on camouflage.

Product Details

• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: Ian Allan Publishing (July 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0711029830
• ISBN-13: 978-0711029835
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 7.4 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,160,815 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars your better off buying something else, October 15, 2010

By 

illusion buster (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Medium Tank M3 to M3A5: General Lee/Grant (Tanks in Detail) (Paperback)

This book is a nice book in a way it has some good photos, line drawings of the M3 Lee & M12 Gun Motor Carriage, identification markings charts and interior shots of the M3 but the book tries to cover too much information in 96 pages you just get a little bit of everything. The book is all over the place just showing you a dab of this and that, the Canadian Ram and Sexton, the US M7 Priest, M12 , M31, etc.

When it comes to the main subject the M3 Lee/Grant the book is pretty skimpy on photos. For instance the book only has 6 battlefield pictures of the M3 Grant and one of the photo's is very interesting but it is a bit grainy and poor quality photo. 2 of these battlefield photos are of the camouflaged cover used on the M3 Grant to disguise as a truck, one is a commonly seen photo but the other is a very interesting picture of the truck camouflage structure being erected over the tank. There is also one pretty good shot of maintenance being done on a Grant (removing the engine). You also get 3 color pictures of the Bovington Museum M3 Grant which are sort of OK.

When it comes to the M3 Lee there are only one or possibly two (could be a training exercise photo) battlefield pictures of the Lee. I must say I think the book would have been more valuable if it mostly focus on the M3 Lee/Grant.

If you looking for a book on the Lee/Grant your much better off with Squadron/Signal's books. "M3 Lee/Grant in Action #2033" it has war time, factory, training and M3 variant photos along with line drawings and color plates. The information on the M3's is brief yet all the photos have captions. The other book is the Walk Around book "M3 Medium Tank (Lee & Grant) #5712" which is comprised only of impressive color photos of excellent Museum preserved M3's all the photos have captions too. Both books are modestly priced.

If you want a book only on the M3 Lee you will be very impress with GunPower's "M3 Lee/Grant vol.1 no.32" This book is a little expensive but easily worth every penny, it has no Grants in it I guess they aim to cover that in Vol.2 if that ever comes out?

4.0 out of 5 stars Grant/Lee tank in Detail, August 17, 2010

By 

cpt matt (tanktown, DE) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Medium Tank M3 to M3A5: General Lee/Grant (Tanks in Detail) (Paperback)

Terry Gander provides a quick but accurate read in this book about the M3 Grant tank. The design did not even exist when it was ordered in August, 1940, with a dead line to finalize the tank within 60 days. This tank was always intended to be an interim tank. It saw brief front line action, although many of the hulls were converted to artillery pieces and infantry carriers, which the book covers very well.

The book describes very well all of the shortcomings of this tank - there were many. Great B&W photos, line drawings, some color photos of the inside and outside of this tank. Not a perfect book for modelers (that's why I rated it four stars), but a very good introduction on the M-3 through the M3A5 tank,s the design/development/deployment of this medium tank. I especially like the explanations of why certain decisions were made- for example, the chassis, engine, cannon. A short book, but it certainly gives adequate coverage of an average tank. At the current price of 5.50, it is a good buy.