Tank Battles:
Lend-Lease

The Soviet Union produced huge amounts of military equipment during the Great Patriotic War, but despite the heroic sacrifices of the working class, foreign assistance was still necessary. Britain agreed to supply equipment on 28 June 1941, six days after the treacherous Nazi assault, including some items received from the United States under the Lend-Lease Act of March 1941. Starting in November 1941, the U.S. began supplying the Soviet Union directly.

Our Tank Battles scenario book for Panzer Grenadier includes one scenario calling for two types of Lend-Lease vehicle in Soviet service: the Matilda II infantry tank and the M3 Stuart light tank.

The Matilda was the first Lend-Lease tank received by the Red Army, and entered combat in front of Moscow in the winter of 1941. Soviet tankers liked its engine and thick armor, but the complicated running gear broke down easily on the appalling Russian roads. The 2-pounder gun was also ridiculously weak for a tank of its size (27 tons, slightly more than a T-34/76a).

The Soviets attempted to mount a bigger weapon on the tank, but its small turret made this impossible. Almost 3,000 Matildas were manufactured, and 1,084 of them went to the Red Army. Deliveries continued until August 1943, when the Red Army began receiving the Churchill instead. This proved much less popular with Soviet tank crews.

The Matilda was very slow, rumbling along at a top speed of 15 miles per hour (about the speed of a man running very fast). But only 88mm anti-aircraft guns could penetrate its thick hide. Some of the vehicles were completed as Matilda CS models, with a low-velocity 3-inch howitzer in place of the 2-pounder gun.

The first American tank received by the Red Army was the M3 Stuart light tank, which got mixed reviews. Maneuverability and speed were good, armament (a 37mm gun) was weak, and the Soviets disliked the gasoline engine: Red Army practice dictated use of diesels to reduce the risk of fire, and the Soviet economy did not always produce very high-grade gasoline. Still, the tank arrived in great numbers (1,665) and the Red Army happily put it to use. Noteworthy use was in the Black Sea amphibious landings in 1942.

Its high profile made the tank a ready target, but its 37mm gun had an effective cannister round and the M3 sported five machine guns, making it a useful infantry-support tank. The later M5 version had only two machine guns, but better protection and all-welded construction for more rapid production. This model was also supplied to the Soviet Union.

Lend-Lease vehicles appear in one scenario in Tank Battles’ Operation Mars set (out of 34). But gamers demand, well, they demand a lot. The counters are available in Desert Rats in British colors, but we’ve never offered these vehicles in Soviet garb. Now they’re available as a free download here. We’ve also tossed in a close-support Matilda, which the Soviet player may substitute for one of the Matilda pieces if he or she wishes.