▁the ▁high - vel ocity ▁ 8 8   mm ▁F lak ▁gun , ▁adapted ▁as ▁an ▁anti - t ank ▁gun , ▁proved ▁dead ly ▁if ▁British ▁t anks ▁attacked ▁without ▁art illery ▁support . ▁Britain ' s ▁Director ▁of ▁Arm ored ▁Fight ing ▁Ve h icles ▁non eth eless ▁said ▁before ▁the ▁M 4 ▁Sh erman ▁arrived ▁that ▁ ▁Gr ants ▁and ▁Le es ▁served ▁with ▁British ▁units ▁in ▁North ▁Africa ▁until ▁the ▁end ▁of ▁the ▁campaign . ▁Following ▁Operation ▁Tor ch ▁( the ▁invasion ▁of ▁French ▁North ▁Africa ), ▁the ▁U . S . ▁also ▁fought ▁in ▁North ▁Africa ▁using ▁the ▁M 3 ▁Lee . ▁ ▁The ▁US ▁ 1 st ▁Arm ored ▁Division ▁had ▁been ▁issued ▁new ▁M 4 ▁Sh erm ans , ▁but ▁had ▁to ▁give ▁up ▁one ▁regiment ' s ▁worth ▁to ▁the ▁British ▁Army ▁prior ▁to ▁the ▁Second ▁Battle ▁of ▁El ▁Al ame in . ▁Con sequently , ▁a ▁regiment ▁of ▁the ▁division ▁was ▁still ▁using ▁the ▁M 3 ▁Lee ▁in ▁North ▁Africa . ▁ ▁The ▁M 3 ▁was ▁generally ▁appreciated ▁during ▁the ▁North ▁African ▁campaign ▁for ▁its ▁mechanical ▁reli ability , ▁good ▁arm or ▁protection , ▁and ▁heavy ▁fire power . ▁In ▁all ▁three ▁aspects , ▁the ▁M 3 ▁was ▁capable ▁of ▁eng aging ▁German ▁t anks ▁and ▁to wed ▁anti - t ank ▁guns . ▁ ▁However , ▁the ▁high ▁sil hou ette ▁and ▁low , ▁h ull - mount ed ▁ 7 5   mm ▁were ▁tact ical ▁draw back s ▁since ▁they