Burning Soviet M3 Lee, 1943
The M3 medium tank, often overshadowed by its more famous counterparts, saw some of its earliest combat action on the Eastern Front during World War II. The Soviet Union received M3 medium tanks through the Lend-Lease program, and these tanks were integrated into various Soviet units and saw combat across several fronts.
Early Combat Use
The first recorded combat use of the M3 medium tank on the Eastern Front was by the 114th Tank Brigade on the Southern Front in May 1942. This brigade had a small and diverse tank complement, including:
- 2 M3 medium tanks
- 2 Matilda Mk. II tanks
- 21 T-60 light tanks
The Soviets referred to the M3 medium tank as the M3S, where the “S” stood for sredniy, meaning “medium” in Russian. This was to differentiate it from the M3 light tank (often referred to as the M3L), given the confusing nomenclature of the U.S. Army. The M3 medium tanks were deployed on nearly all fronts during the 1942 fighting, especially during the critical summer and autumn campaigns. They were predominantly used in separate tank battalions and brigades that provided close support to infantry units.
Soviet Perception and Use
Soviet accounts from the Cold War era often criticized the M3 medium tank, labeling it a “grave for seven brothers,” referring to its seven-man crew. This criticism was largely influenced by Cold War rhetoric. Despite this, the M3 medium tank was still considered superior to many Soviet tanks used in infantry support roles, such as the T-60 and T-70 light tanks.
While the M3 was not as effective as the T-34 in direct tank combat, it was still a valuable asset for infantry support. Its dual-purpose armament, consisting of a 75mm gun mounted in the hull and a 37mm gun in the turret, provided the flexibility needed for both anti-tank and infantry support roles.
Role in the Battle of Kursk
- During the Battle of Kursk in the summer of 1943, the M3 medium tank was still in active use by the Soviet forces. The 48th Army on the Central Front had a significant number of M3 tanks, distributed across two separate tank regiments (OTP):
- 45th OTP: This regiment had 8 M3 light tanks (M3L), 8 SU-76 self-propelled guns, and 30 M3 medium tanks (M3S).
- 193rd OTP: This regiment was equipped with 3 SU-76s and 55 M3 medium tanks (M3S).
Continued Service
- Despite its limitations, the M3 medium tank remained in service with the Soviet forces throughout the war. Remarkably, records indicate that at least one M3 medium tank was still operational on the Baikal Front during the Soviet invasion of Manchuria in August 1945, when the Soviet Union declared war on Japan.