9 4 4 .) ▁ ▁Some ▁M 3 ▁Gr ants ▁played ▁an ▁off ensive ▁role ▁with ▁the ▁British ▁Indian ▁Army , ▁in ▁the ▁S out heast ▁Asian ▁Theater . ▁ ▁The ▁Australian ▁Army ▁also ▁used ▁Gr ants ▁during ▁World ▁War ▁II , ▁mainly ▁for ▁hom eland ▁defence ▁and ▁training ▁purposes . ▁ ▁Pacific ▁Ocean ▁Theater ▁▁ ▁The ▁only ▁combat ▁use ▁of ▁the ▁M 3 ▁Lee ▁by ▁the ▁US ▁Army ▁against ▁Japanese ▁forces ▁occurred ▁during ▁the ▁Gilbert ▁and ▁Marshall ▁Islands ▁campaign ▁of ▁ 1 9 4 3 . ▁ ▁Following ▁the ▁better - known ▁landing ▁at ▁Tar awa , ▁the ▁US ▁ 2 7 th ▁Infantry ▁Division ▁made ▁an ▁am ph ib ious ▁assault ▁on ▁Mak in ▁Island ▁with ▁arm oured ▁support ▁from ▁a ▁pl ato on ▁of ▁M 3 A 5 ▁Le es ▁equ ipped ▁with ▁deep - w ading ▁k its ▁belonging ▁to ▁the ▁US ▁Army ' s ▁ 1 9 3 rd ▁T ank ▁Battalion . ▁ ▁Bur ma ▁▁ ▁After ▁British ▁Commonwealth ▁forces ▁in ▁Europe ▁and ▁the ▁Mediter rane an ▁began ▁receiving ▁M 4 ▁Sh erm ans , ▁about ▁ 9 0 0 ▁British - ordered ▁M 3 ▁Le es / Gr ants ▁were ▁sh ipped ▁to ▁the ▁Indian ▁Army . ▁Some ▁of ▁these ▁saw ▁action ▁against ▁Japanese ▁troops ▁and ▁t anks ▁in ▁the ▁Bur ma ▁Camp aign ▁of ▁W W II . ▁ ▁They ▁were ▁used ▁by ▁the ▁British ▁Four teenth ▁Army ▁until ▁the ▁fall ▁of ▁R ango on , ▁regarded ▁as ▁performing ▁" ad mi rab ly "