It went on slugging matches with Pz III's in the desert until the Sherman rolled over there and earned the dislike of the Russians calling it "a coffin for seven brothers"... and even if it did its run, I still can't like it that much in WoT as much as I admired its tenacity during its service life despite some saying its THE most wonky tank built.
To be fair, it was built as a stopgap tank when they enter the war (or at least, when preparing to enter the war), and at that time they didn't have much experience in designing tanks.
Historynerd said:
For the record, it is never remarked in most publications that, while it was clearly superior to the Italian medium tanks, it was in trouble when facing off with Semoventi. Because, you know, in Africa it also met some Italian forces, when serving with the 8th Army...
Italians manage to defeat someone? Pfft. Ya sadly, Italian only exist in those publication as "Hitler's stupid and useless friend"
For the record, it is never remarked in most publications that, while it was clearly superior to the Italian medium tanks, it was in trouble when facing off with Semoventi. Because, you know, in Africa it also met some Italian forces, when serving with the 8th Army...
Historynerd said: (...) the Italians were there only to surrender or run away... or so they say.
Tell that to the chaps of the Brit. 22nd Armored Brigade at Bir-el-Gubi... (The abriged version: only Italian victory of North Africa, which happened because the Brits charged an Italian position (heavily defended, entrenched, well-stocked, a mix of the Italian best troops and volunteers with something to prove, and *actually crying for blood*) in a single, wide line of tanks literally to "scare them into surrender". Tsk, tsk...)
The M3 Lee had a very good record as an assault gun in the Far East and Burma Theaters. The 37mm had a canister round which was good for defending from infantry attacks, while the 75mm busted up whatever was in front. The MG turret was also pit to good use, and there was quite a bit of free apace insode, and plenty of pistol ports for the crew's personal weapons, so there weren't any sides of the Lee which infantry could approach safely.