▁ 6 , 2 5 8 ▁M 3 ▁variants ▁manufact ured ▁in ▁the ▁United ▁States , ▁ 2 , 8 5 5 ▁( 4 5 %) ▁were ▁officially ▁handed ▁over ▁to ▁the ▁British ▁government . ▁ ▁The ▁M 3 ▁Grant ▁first ▁saw ▁action ▁with ▁the ▁Royal ▁Arm oured ▁Corps ▁in ▁North ▁Africa , ▁during ▁May ▁ 1 9 4 2 . ▁However , ▁most ▁of ▁the ▁M 3 s ▁ordered ▁by ▁the ▁UK ▁quickly ▁became ▁sur plus ▁to ▁the ▁requirements ▁of ▁the ▁British ▁Army . ▁▁▁ 1 , 7 0 0 ▁were ▁transferred ▁to ▁the ▁Australian ▁Army , ▁for ▁home ▁defence ▁and ▁training ▁duties ▁in ▁Australia . ▁ ▁The ▁British ▁Indian ▁Army ▁received ▁ 9 0 0 ▁Gr ants ▁ ▁A ▁further ▁ 2 2 % ▁( 1 , 3 8 6 ) ▁were ▁export ed ▁directly ▁from ▁the ▁US ▁to ▁the ▁Soviet ▁Union , ▁although ▁only ▁ 9 6 9 ▁of ▁these ▁reached ▁Russian ▁ports , ▁due ▁to ▁German ▁U - bo at ▁and ▁air ▁attacks ▁on ▁Al lied ▁con vo ys . ▁ ▁North ▁African ▁campaign ▁The ▁M 3 ▁brought ▁much - ne eded ▁fire power ▁to ▁British ▁forces ▁in ▁the ▁North ▁African ▁desert ▁campaign . ▁ ▁The ▁American ▁M 3 ▁medium ▁tank ' s ▁first ▁action ▁during ▁the ▁war ▁was ▁in ▁, ▁during ▁the ▁North ▁African ▁Camp aign . ▁British ▁Le es ▁and ▁Gr ants ▁were ▁in ▁action ▁against ▁R omm el ' s ▁forces ▁at ▁the ▁Battle ▁of ▁Gaz ala ▁on ▁ 2 7 ▁May ▁that ▁year . ▁Their