1/72nd Scale - M3 Medium Tank Kit Lists

M3 Medium Tank

The M3 Medium Tank was the direct precursor to the M4 Sherman. The M3 was developed as an interim measure, knowing beforehand that it was close to obsolete even prior to entering service. Its combat career was limited, seeing action with US forces briefly in North Africa, in a single action with the US Marines in the Pacific, and more extensively (but still rather limited relative to other tanks) with the British in North Africa, India and Burma. A small number was sent to the USSR through Lend-Lease, where they saw limited action throughout 1942, particularly at the Battle of Kursk.

A large number of derivative vehicles were based on the M3 chassis. Given the fact that the M3 led to the M4, and both chassis were very similar, it is often difficult to recall which support vehicles were based off of which chassis. For example, the M7 Priest was built on the M3 chassis, whereas the M7B1 Priest was built on the M4 chassis. This is the main reason I decided to add the M3 Medium to this website; so that it can include the entire M3/M4 family of vehicles. Please refer to the Support Vehicles page for lists of all support vehicles based on either the M3 or M4 chassis.

The standard M3 was the most numerous version built, with 4,924 M3s (including the British Grant I version, described below) being delivered. This version had a riveted hull common to almost all of the M3 series. Most were powered by the Wright Continental R-975 gasoline engine, though a small number were re-engined with the Guiberson T-1400 diesel engine due to shortages of the Wright. The British were supplied with a number of standard M3s, which they named the General Lee Mk I.

Name	Manufacturer	Item #	Medium	Type	Rating	Comments	Links
Medium Tank M3 Lee Mk. I	Hasegawa	MT04	Plastic	Kit	**	Very old model. Not up to today's standards.
M3 General Lee	Mirage	72801	Plastic	Kit	****	Very nice model. First new M3 Medium kit since the very old Hasegawa kit.	Preview
Lee Mk. I	Mirage	72802	Plastic	Kit	****	Same kit as #72801, but with the Grant turret sprue added so as to include the sand shields, and new decals.	Preview
Medium Tank M3 Battle of Kursk	Mirage	72806	Plastic	Kit	****	Lend-lease M3 to the Soviet Union.	Preview

The British designed a new turret for the M3, one that was larger yet lower in profile to lower the overall height of the tank, which was very tall. M3 tanks mounting this revised turret were named General Grant Mk I. An M3 with the diesel engine and the British turret were named General Grant Mk IV.

Name	Manufacturer	Item #	Medium	Type	Rating	Comments	Links
M3 Grant Mk. I	Hasegawa	MT05	Plastic	Kit	**	Very old model. Not up to today's standards.
M3 General Grant CDL	Lonewulf Models	P008	Resin	Conversion	?	Conversion set for Mirage Grant kit.
Grant Mk. I - El Alamein	Mirage	72804	Plastic	Kit	****	Gorgeous model with six decal options. Far better than the Hasegawa Grant.	Preview
Command Tank Grant Mk. I	Mirage	72805	Plastic	Kit	****	Same kit as 72804, but with white metal AA machinegun, figure of Monty, and new markings.
M3 Grant Mk.I "Gazala 1942"	Mirage	72808	Plastic	Kit	****	Same kit as 72804, but with new markings.
M3 General Grant CDL	Mirage	72901	Plastic	Kit	****	CDL=Canal Defense Light - A modification to the standard Grant Mk. I.

In order to eliminate the risk posed by the riveted hull (internal rivet ricochets from shell hits), a completely cast hull was designed and designated the M3A1. A total of 300 of this version was built. An additional 28 were built with the Guiberson diesel engine. In British Service, this version was named the General Lee Mk II.

Name	Manufacturer	Item #	Medium	Type	Rating	Comments	Links
M3A1 Cast Hull (late)	Lonewulf Models	P015	Resin	Conversion	?	Conversion set for Mirage Lee or Grant kit.
M3A1 Medium Tank	Mirage	72803	Plastic	Kit	?	Primarily the same kit as 72801, but with new cast hull parts, and of course, new markings.
M3A1 "General Lee" (cast hull)	Modell Trans	72416	Resin	Kit	?

In another attempt to eliminate the rivet problem, a completely welded hull was designed. With the Wright Continental R-975 gasoline engine, this was designated the M3A2. Only 12 of these were built prior to switching to a new engine. In British service, this version was named the General Lee Mk III. The M3A2 that mounted the British "Grant" turret was named the General Grant Mk III.

Due to the shortage of the Continental engine, the welded hull from the M3A2 was used with the General Motors 6-71 diesel engine, and was designated the M3A3. A total of 322 of this version was built. In British service, this version was named the General Lee Mk IV. Some of these were used by the US Marines in the Pacific. The M3A3 that mounted the British "Grant" turret was named the General Grant Mk VII.

Again, due to the shortage of the Continental engine, other engine options were pursued, including the Chysler A-57 multibank gasoline engine. These were mounted in a lengthened riveted hull (to accomodate the larger size of the engine), and designated the M3A4. A total of 109 of this version was built. In British service, this version was named the General Lee Mk VI.

The M3A5 was essentially the M3A3 (with the GM 6-71 diesel engine), only changing back to the riveted hull. A total of 591 was built. Many of these were also issued to the US Marines for use in the Pacific. For some reason, these were named the General Grant Mk II in British service, even though it mounted the standard M3 turret. With the British "Grant" turret, it was named the General Grant Mk IX.