Matilda II
In 1936, the British Army issued specification A12 for a new infantry tank. This vehicle was designed as a gun-armed counterpart to the earlier machine-gun-only Matilda I. Major-General Percy Hobart had postulated two alternatives in a paper from 1934. One option was a small heavily armoured model with only machine guns. The other required a larger vehicle with both cannon and heavy armour proof against field artillery. Vickers-Armstrongs produced the smaller version known as the A11 Matilda. The Master-General of the Ordnance Hugh Elles chose the smaller machine gun tank instead. The larger cannon-armed version did not proceed at that time. The requirement passed to Vickers-Armstrongs which held a prototype designated A11E1 by September 1936. The first suggestion for the larger Infantry Tank arrived in 1936 under specification A12. The Royal Arsenal Woolwich produced the design while Vulcan Foundry became the manufacturer. The A12 used mechanical elements from the A7 medium tank built in limited numbers during the early 1930s.
The Matilda Senior weighed around 25 tons more than twice its predecessor. It carried an Ordnance QF 2-pounder tank gun inside a three-man turret. The turret traversed 360 degrees via hydraulic motor or hand crank. Gun elevation ranged from negative 15 to positive 20 degrees. Front glacis plating reached up to 78 millimeters thick. Side hull armor measured 60 millimeters while rear protection stood at 60 millimeters. Cast cylindrical turrets featured 78 millimeter armor all round. Two AEC straight-six water-cooled diesel engines provided power. Each engine delivered up to 87 horsepower linked along a common shaft. Suspension utilized Japanese Type bell crank bogies developed by Vickers. Five double wheels bogies supported each side of the vehicle. Four bogies sat on bellcranks with a common horizontal coil spring. The fifth bogie at the rear sprang against a hull bracket. A larger diameter vertically sprung jockey wheel existed between the first bogie and idler wheel. First Matildas had return rollers replaced later by track skids for easier field service.
The Matilda entered combat in France during 1940 with the 7th Royal Tank Regiment. Only 23 units were Matilda IIs while others remained machine-gun armed Matilda Is. German tanks and anti-tank guns could not penetrate its heavy armour easily. The 88 millimeter anti-aircraft gun proved the only effective counter-measure available. During the counter-attack at Arras on the 21st of May 1940 eighteen British Matilda IIs disrupted German progress briefly. They sustained heavy losses after breaking through to the rear area of the 7th Panzer Division. Thirty tanks were lost during this engagement. General Erwin Rommel personally organized an artillery line including 88mm flak guns to repel the attack. All vehicles surviving battles around Dunkirk were abandoned when the British Expeditionary Force evacuated. The tank earned the nickname Queen of the Desert due to unmatched protection levels in North Africa. Its slow speed reached about 15 miles per hour on roads but much less across desert terrain. A troublesome suspension system complicated maintenance efforts significantly.
Matildas of the British 7th Armoured Division wreaked havoc among Italian forces in late 1940. Operation Compass saw these tanks confound Italian gunners who found them impervious to wide assortment of artillery. British forces pushed Italians out of Egypt and entered Libya to take Bardia and Tobruk. Even as late as November 1941 German infantry combat reports showed impotence against the Matilda. Low speed and unreliable steering became major problems during rapid manoeuvre warfare in open desert. Sixty-four Matildas were lost during Operation Battleaxe when the 88 millimeter anti-aircraft gun caused heavy losses. The arrival of more powerful 5 centimeter Pak 38 and 7.5 centimeter Pak 40 anti-tank guns provided new means for engagement. Matilda tanks of 1st and 32nd Army Tank Brigades broke out from Tobruk during Operation Crusader. They captured the Axis fortress of Bardia after cruiser tank failures. By autumn 1941 the Valentine tank arrived with same gun level but faster chassis derived from Cruiser Mk II. Around twenty-five Matildas took part in Second Battle of El Alamein as mine-clearing Scorpion variants.
A total of 409 Matilda IIs supplied Britain to the Australian army between 1942 and 1944. Thirty-three close-support Matildas transferred from New Zealand to Australia in 1944. The Australian 4th Armoured Brigade used them against Japanese forces in South West Pacific Area first in Huon Peninsula campaign October 1943. Tanks remained in action until last day of war across Wewak Bougainville and Borneo campaigns. Heavy armour enhanced by spare track links proved reasonably effective protection against point-blank fire from hidden artillery. Close-support version armed with Ordnance QF 3-inch howitzer preferred by Australians for bunkers. Local modifications included improving waterproofing and adding outside infantry telephone for better communication. Guards fitted suspension to stop tangling with jungle undergrowth. Metal panels made it harder for soldiers to attach adhesive demolition charges. The Matilda Frog replaced gun with flamethrower seeing successful use on Borneo. Another version called Matilda Hedgehog fired seven mortar shells successfully tested but developed too late for combat service.
The Red Army received 918 of 1,084 Matildas sent to USSR. Soviet Matildas saw action as early as Battle of Moscow becoming fairly common during 1942. Crews often complained snow and dirt accumulated behind skirt panels clogging suspension. Heavy armour comparable to KV-1 heavy tanks lacked equivalent firepower. Most Soviet Matildas expended during 1942 though few served as late as 1944. Soviets modified tanks adding steel sections welded to tracks for better grip. Following Operation Battleaxe dozen Matildas left behind Axis lines repaired and put into German service. Several vehicles transported to Kummersdorf where evaluated including trials by live fire. German designation Infanterie Panzerkampfwagen Mk.II 748(e) translated roughly as Infantry Tank Mk.II Number 748 English. Matildas well-regarded by their German users despite causing confusion to both sides. Czech historian notes Romanians captured some Soviet Matildas though no other source mentions this possibility.
First Matilda produced in 1937 but only two units in service when war broke out September 1939. Some 2,987 tanks produced by Vulcan Foundry John Fowler Co Leeds Ruston Hornsby London Midland Scottish Railway Horwich Works Harland Wolff North British Locomotive Company Glasgow. Last delivered August 1943 peak production reached 1,330 in 1942 most common model Mark IV. Around 70 Matilda IIs survive various degrees preservation today. Thirty exist in Australia with Bandiana Museum Australian Armour Artillery Museum each holding one example. Notable collection at Royal Australian Armoured Corps Memorial Army Tank Museum Puckapunyal includes five Matilda IIs plus Frog flame tank Hedgehog and Bulldozer variants. Tanks running condition owned by Tank Museum Bovington United States American Heritage Museum several private owners Australia. Tank Museum completely restored Matilda II from 2015 to 2018 updates provided through YouTube platform. Other examples displayed Kubinka Tank Museum Russia Royal Museum Armed Forces Military History Belgium Yad La-Shiryon museum Latrun Israel Musée des Blindés France Cavalry Tank Museum Ahmednagar India.
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Common questions
When was the Matilda II tank specification A12 issued by the British Army?
The British Army issued specification A12 for the new infantry tank in 1936. This requirement followed a paper from Major-General Percy Hobart dated 1934 which outlined two alternatives for vehicle design.
What were the armor thickness specifications of the Matilda II front glacis and turret?
Front glacis plating on the Matilda II reached up to 78 millimeters thick while cast cylindrical turrets featured 78 millimeter armor all round. Side hull armor measured 60 millimeters and rear protection stood at 60 millimeters.
How many Matilda IIs entered combat during the counter-attack at Arras on the 21st of May 1940?
Eighteen British Matilda IIs participated in the counter-attack at Arras on the 21st of May 1940. Thirty tanks were lost during this engagement after breaking through to the rear area of the 7th Panzer Division.
Which countries received Matilda II tanks between 1942 and 1944 according to production records?
A total of 409 Matilda IIs supplied Britain to the Australian army between 1942 and 1944. The Red Army received 918 of 1,084 Matildas sent to USSR with thirty-three close-support Matildas transferred from New Zealand to Australia in 1944.
When was the last Matilda II tank delivered by manufacturers before production ended?
The last Matilda II tank was delivered in August 1943 when peak production reached 1,330 units in 1942. Some 2,987 tanks were produced by Vulcan Foundry John Fowler Co Leeds Ruston Hornsby London Midland Scottish Railway Horwich Works Harland Wolff North British Locomotive Company Glasgow.