M3 medium "Lee/Grant" in North Africa and beyond

[former user]

Hi
so, I've done some literature investigation about this vehicle and I get possibly contradicting information about the end of it's combat use:
aside from conversions into recovery vehicles, tractors and funnies or the re-use of the chassis for other purposes, some sources claim that after the end of the NA campaign, remaining M3 mediums were left in Oran for training purposes of the french army. Other sources claim that some units were still using it in the Italian campaign in combat.
So, who could clear this up please?
The question I was originally trying to clear up is:
 when did this tank enter french service, for how long and in which role?

can someone give me a oush into the right deriction please?

[Cubs]

Never heard of the M3 being used by the French in active service, in fact after North Africa I thought most (all?) were shipped out to Burma.

[Johan]

i have found that Free French Forces used grants, even took them to Italy where they fought at Monte Cassino. On the long run they were probably rebuilt as ARV's like with the British and Americans.

[former user]

THX so far, some sources would be useful to go deeper

[Cubs]

Osprey do a book on the M3 Lee/Grant I think.

[former user]

Yes, and this is where I got the reference about them being left in Oran for training purposes

[Etrangere]

As Cubs mentioned, they were being used in Burma (definitely in 1944 at Imphal).

[former user]

Yes THX, and in Kursk by the soviets, but I can't find a single pictures with french, for training, combat or even converted to tractors/recovery vehicles or whatever

Indochina is not my field of interest

[Cubs]

When I Googled it, I kept coming up with Free French Shermans, but it makes sense that they might have trained with the Lee/Grant because of its similarities with the Sherman.

[former user]

yes, it makes absolute sense, even if the allies reclassified it as subsatandard for training too, but one knows about the initial question whether France would qualify for lend/lease

Obviously the 2e DB did not take any with them when leaving for Britain, but I would still like to know whether any were shipped to Italy or not

[Johan]

picture of a free french arv

[former user]

hey cool
where's this from?

[dadlamassu]

hey cool
where's this from?

It is from the Free French 2nd Armoured Division in France August 1944.  See more at: http://www.tanks-encyclopedia.com/ww2/US/M3_Lee_Grant.php

[former user]

THX
oh, my
mistakes
2e DB landed in Nomandy, not in the Provence....
anyway, I was aiming for the combat version

[Johan]

Here's the units of the 2nd Blindee that used tanks or armoured vehicles


BLINDES
   

    Reconnaissance

    1er Regiment de Marche de Spahis Marocains
    Chars légers M1 Stuart, Automitrailleuses M8 "Greyhound" et Half-Tracks
    Commandant : Colonel Remy
    Adjoint : Lt-Colonel Roumiantzoff
    1er Escadron : Cne Morel-Deville
    2° Escadron : Cne Pallu
    3° Escadron : Cne Da
    4° Escadron : Cne Savelli
    5° Escadron : Lt Kochanovsky


 
   

    Combat

     
    501ème Regiment de Chars de Combat
    Chars moyens Sherman et chars légers M1 3A3 Stuart

    Commandant : Cdt Cantarel (1.07.43 au 8.8.44)
    Colonel Warabiot (8.8.44 au 2.9.44)
    Colonel Cantarel (2.9.44 au 25.3.45), puis Lt-Cl Delpierre
    1ere Compagnie : Cne Buis (  17 chars Sherman)
    2° Compagnie : Cne de Witasse (17 chars Sherman)
    3° Compagnie : Cne Branet (17 chars Sherman)
    4° Compagnie : Cne de Gavardie (17 Chars légers 1 Stuart)
    Compagnie hors rang : ?

   

    12ème Regiment de Chasseurs d'Afrique
    Commandant : Colonel de Langlade
    Adjoint : Cdt Minjonnet
    1° Escadron : Cne du Hays (A.M8 "Greyhound")
    2° Escadron : Lt Coupé puis Lt de Vandières (17 chars Sherman)
    3° Escadron : Cne de Bort (17 chars Sherman)
    4° Escadron : Cne Hargous 17 chars Sherman)
    Escadron Hors Rang : Cne Baillou

   

    12ème Regiment de Cuirassiers
    Commandant :  Colonel Noiret puis Colonel Rouvillois (11.11.44)
    Adjoint :  Colonel Rouvillois puis Commandant Didelot
    1° Escadron : Cne d'Orgeix puis Cne Compagnon (17 chars Sherman)
    2° Escadron : Cne Noel (17 chars Sherman)
    3° Escadron : Cne Gaudet (17 chars Sherman)
    4° Escadron : Cne de Laitre puis Cne Lenoir (17 Chars légers M1 Stuart)
    Escadron Hors Rang : Cne Thomas


 
   
Chasseurs de chars

    Régiment Blindé de Fusiliers Marins (R.B.F.M)
    Commandant :  Cne de Corvette Maggiar
    Adjoint :  Cne de Corvette Martinet
    1° Escadron : Lt de Vaisseau Pauly (Tank Destroyers TD10)
    2° Escadron : Lt de Vaisseau Guillon (Tank Destroyers TD10)
    3° Escadron : Lt de Vaisseau Bonnet (Tank Destroyers TD10)
    4° Escadron : Lt de Vaisseau Richard (Tank Destroyers TD10)
    Escadron Hors Rang : Lt de Vaisseau Olieu