M3 Medium tank 75mm gun

ltcconard · Post by **ltcconard** » Wed Jun 01, 2011 1:34 am

Has anyone had a problem fixing the 75mm sponson gun in place for the M3 tank? Any indeas on how to do it? They do not seem to "fall' into place as so many of the GHQ models' pieces normally do.

Bruce

Orion320 · Post by **Orion320** » Wed Jun 01, 2011 7:33 am

Super glue gel works wonders. It has enough tack to allow you to position the gun barrel yet move it before it sets completely.

Mk 1 · Post by **Mk 1** » Wed Jun 01, 2011 11:13 pm

No real problem here. One of my favorite all-time models. Wish there was more to do with them on the gaming table -- got to work pretty hard to come up with scenarios for M3s.

But if I remember it fully, I found I needed to inspect the back of the mantlet -- the breech end -- to occasionally remove a bit of a stub, or flash, or something.

But honestly I'm not sure if I am remembering that right. Might have been the top or bottom of the gun's mantlet that needed trimming rather than the base. It was a couple years ago, and it was a very minor issue if that. Whenever I claim to have a mind like a steel trap, those who know me suggest it is more like a mousetrap left in the basement to rust.

I do recall fitting individual guns to individual hulls, one at a time, before gluing them in place. And I seem to recall that the guns had a distinct cant to them, either pointing up or down, and that some fit better one way, and others the other.

Either way, I too very much recommend super glue gel. As I recall the guns did not stay in place of their own fit -- I had to hold them for a moment or two while the glue set.

Hope that helps.

pmskaar · Post by **pmskaar** » Wed Jun 01, 2011 11:46 pm

I assembled 12 Grants a couple of years ago. What Mk1 says is absolutely true for these models - at least for me. I remember having to carefully test fit each barrel into each nothch, and cleaning the notches in some cases. I remember it being a bit tricky to get each one to seat properly both before and during the gluing process. If I recall correctly, there was a certain way for the gun to fit. If the gun was turned "upside down" it wouldn't fit right and the gun would tend to be elevated instead of level. It takes a bit of patience but it was well worth it.

Pete - Binpicker, Out!

ltcconard · Post by **ltcconard** » Thu Jun 02, 2011 8:09 pm

Yeah, that's what I'm finding. That sometimes it is neccesary to trim the mantelet a little to get a good fit -- besides making sure that the flash is trimmed off. One can't rush this.

They make a great looking tank, and I agree that there are few scenarios for them. I'm too lazy to look, but did the Army "cascade" the M3s from the armored division into the seperate tank battalions in 1943?

Bruce

pmskaar · Post by **pmskaar** » Thu Jun 02, 2011 11:12 pm

For both the Lee and Grant tanks North Africa is the primary location for their use. The British were getting these prior to Gazala in May 1942 so you have a fair number of engagements that they were involved in including Gazala, First Alamein, Alam Halfa, and El Alamein and into Tunisia as well. I have a squadron of these because I am gaming this period right now.
For the Americans, primarily Tunisia from late 1942 on. I'm not sure how much of a role they played in Operation Torch against the Vichy French.
There were also some Lees used in the Burma Theater and maybe some of the other Pacific battles as well. Mk1 may have a better idea on their use in the Pacific Theater.

Pete - Binpicker, Out!

Mk 1 · Post by **Mk 1** » Thu Jun 02, 2011 11:18 pm

ltcconard wrote: I'm too lazy to look, but did the Army "cascade" the M3s from the armored division into the seperate tank battalions in 1943?

Not to my knowledge.

As I understand it, only two medium battalions went into Torch with M3s. From that point forward, every new medium battalion shipped into combat theaters by the US Army came into theater equipped with M4s.

One of the M3-equipped battalions replaced losses with M4s during the Tunisian campaign, and so over time wound up having fewer and fewer M3s. The other retained full strength in its M3s through the end of the Tunisian campaign. Only then was it re-equipped with M4s.

But no new M3-equipped battalions arrived, and no battalions were down-graded from M4s to M3s.

I suppose it might be possible that a unit was re-equipped from M3 / M5 Light Tanks to M3 Mediums. But I have never heard/read of it.

I'd be happy to be corrected if anyone has more / better information.

wolfman · Post by **wolfman** » Sat Jun 04, 2011 3:33 am

I am working on North Africa and there seems to be ample opportunity for them in most scenarios there. I have some blister packs in my to build box so sorry cant offer advice on construction.

supertsar · Post by **supertsar** » Tue Jun 07, 2011 9:14 pm

ltcconard wrote: They make a great looking tank, and I agree that there are few scenarios for them. I'm too lazy to look, but did the Army "cascade" the M3s from the armored division into the seperate tank battalions in 1943?

Bruce

They also used them on the Russian Front starting in May of 42' - I believe they were at Kursk as well.

I wish GHQ gave you the option of the different gun barrels - the longer one and the shorter one with counterweight....