The M3 Lee (called the Grant in the U.K.) ... Close to a thousand were provided to the Soviet Union between 1941 and 1943, so it has a fascinating history in and out of warfare during WWII.

Before the Sherman, there was the Lee. Rushed into service and armed with two cannons, the M3 Lee/Grant wasn’t perfect—but it held the line when it mattered most.

Thus, the M3 Lee arose as a stop-gap solution. ... The U.S. also delivered 1,386 M3s to the Soviet Union—though interdiction of Arctic convoys resulted only in 957 being received, ...