M3S is a Soviet Tank unit in Steel Division II.
Background[ | ]
An interim medium tank design, Medium Tank, M3, was created in response to requests from the United States Army and the United Kingdom. Designed in mid 1940, it entered production later in the year and service in late 1941. The M3 enjoyed considerable firepower, thanks to the 75mm M2/M3 and 37mm M5/M6 tank guns and good protection overall, but the rush did it no favors: It was an archaic design with a high silhouette, a sponson-mounted main gun, riveted construction, and poor performance in cross-country conditions.
Regardless of its shortcomings, it was used for a lack of a better option and proved to be a match for contemporary German tanks, better armed and armored than Panzer III and Panzer IV marks in frontline service. However, with the introduction of the Tiger, upgunned Panzer IV variants, and the Panther, its performance deteriorated quickly and it was withdrawn from service in the European Theater of Operations. It remained in use in the Pacific Theater, superior to Japanese tank designs through to the end of the war, and in limited use by the USSR, provided through Lend Lease.
These tanks remained in declining service due to production of T-34 and lend lease Sherman. 91st Guards Separate Tank Regiment was equipped with a mixture of M3 and BT-5 and BT-7.
Strategy[ | ]
Notes[ | ]
- The slogan painted on the tank is За Родину! or For the Motherland! (Russia was commonly referred to as the Motherland in propaganda).