▁in ▁its ▁original ▁intended ▁role ▁of ▁supporting ▁inf antry ▁in ▁Bur ma ▁between ▁ 1 9 4 4 ▁and ▁ 1 9 4 5 . ▁ ▁In ▁the ▁Bur ma ▁Camp aign , ▁the ▁M 3 ▁medium ▁tank ' s ▁main ▁task ▁was ▁inf antry ▁support . ▁It ▁played ▁a ▁p iv otal ▁role ▁during ▁the ▁Battle ▁of ▁Im phal , ▁during ▁which ▁the ▁Imperial ▁Japanese ▁Army ' s ▁ 1 4 th ▁T ank ▁Regiment ▁( prim arily ▁equ ipped ▁with ▁their ▁own ▁Type ▁ 9 5 ▁Ha - Go ▁light ▁t anks , ▁together ▁with ▁a ▁hand ful ▁of ▁captured ▁British ▁M 3 ▁Stuart ▁light ▁t anks ▁as ▁well ) ▁encountered ▁M 3 ▁medium ▁t anks ▁for ▁the ▁first ▁time ▁and ▁found ▁their ▁light ▁t anks ▁out g unn ed ▁and ▁out match ed ▁by ▁the ▁better ▁British ▁arm our . ▁Despite ▁their ▁worse - than - aver age ▁off - road ▁performance , ▁the ▁British ▁M 3 ▁t anks ▁performed ▁well ▁as ▁they ▁travers ed ▁the ▁ste ep ▁hills ides ▁around ▁Im phal ▁and ▁defeated ▁the ▁assault ing ▁Japanese ▁forces . ▁Official ly ▁declared ▁ob sole te ▁in ▁April ▁ 1 9 4 4 , ▁never theless , ▁the ▁Lee / Gr ant ▁saw ▁action ▁until ▁the ▁end ▁of ▁the ▁war ▁in ▁September ▁ 1 9 4 5 . ▁ ▁Australia ▁ ▁At ▁the ▁beginning ▁of ▁the ▁war , ▁Australian ▁Army ▁doctrine ▁viewed ▁tank ▁units ▁as ▁minor ▁off ensive ▁components ▁within ▁inf antry ▁divisions . ▁It ▁had ▁no ▁dedicated ▁arm