I have an idea for a dio from an old Fightin Army comic. I know kinda lame and not real accurate but i think it will be cool. Anyway its about Aussie infantry saving a disabled M3 Lee from Japanese soldiers.Now for the question , did the Aussies use the Lee and if so what color should it be?I use mostly model master acrylics but ican get my hands on tamiya too.I know some of you have a wealth of info on Aussie stuff so thanks in advance.

Yes we used both the Lee and the Grant and the only combat use was three Dozers (Grants) used in the Dutch Est Indies in 1945. The colours tended to be the delivered OD however a number of schemes were used and I;d recommend a visit to Anzac Steel for info on the colours or look up the article in Military Modelling by Paul Handel (Vol 31 No 15 Dec 2001) on Australian Grants. This article indicates that the Lees were all Rivetted hull with no side doors (added later) and were declared as not fit for combat. They were later painted in Overall sand with Khaki Green No 3 a very dark green disruptive colour when issued to 1st Armd Div although I doubt Lees were issued to an active unit .
it appears the Lees were modified and used for training and conversion to Recovery vehicles.
Regards
Al

Our lee's also had the Grant style cupola instead of the high Lee cupola. And all our M3 mediums had the late driver’s periscope. Some Lee's had vents on the turret roof. And most had 2 hull roof vents. And some Lee's had deleted side doors and rear bins in the back empty corner of the hull. Early grants where radial engined and late where the twin GM diesel. None of our lee's where diesel.

Thanks for the replies . I was hoping the Aussies used it in combat . I'm really hoping to do this dio .So were the Aussies ever supported by the M3 Lee ?

There is a possibility that during the Western Desert Battles they may have been supported by British lees but never in the SWPA.
Cheers
Al

hey al.! i only ever thought it was the one grand dozer minus its blade and used as a forward comand post at balikpapan that ws the only M3 medium to see action in australian service. cheers.