M3 Lee/Grant US Medium Tank

The M3 Medium Tank, the first mass-produced US medium tank, was developed in 1940 and became operational in 1941. It featured two turret variants: one aligned with US specifications and another adapted for British needs, including radio placement. Within the British Commonwealth, tanks with US-model turrets were named 'Lee' after Confederate General Robert E. Lee, while those with British-model turrets were called 'Grant' in honor of Union General Ulysses S. Grant, reflecting a unique connection to American Civil War history.