Matilda II A12 part 1

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Matilda II, by General Staff Specification A12, was a British infantry tank of the Second World War.  Production: 2980 – 2987 tanks.
Variants:

  • Matilda II Mk I  – First model  armed with only a Vickers machine gun. Production: 140 – 165 tanks
  • Matilda II Mk II
  • Matilda II Mk III (Mk IIA, Mk II*) – new diesel engine (Leyland)
  • Matilda II Mk IV (Mk II**)
  • Matilda II Mk V
  • Matilda II Close Support (CS) armed with QF 3 inch (76 mm) howitzer
  • Matilda AMRA – Anti Mine Roller Attachment
  • Matilda Carrot – anti mine variant
  • Matilda Scorpion Mk I and II – mine flail. used in North Africa 1942 – 1943. Production: 24 + 32 .
  • Matilda Baron  Mk I, II, III, IIIA – mine flail.
  • Matilda Bangalore
  • Matilda II CDL (Canal Defence Light)
  • Matilda With 76,2 mm Zis gun – Lend Lease Matilda supplied to the USSR
  • Matilda with A27 turret
  • Matilda Black Prince – radio-controlled prototype
  • Matilda Restive – with Inglis bridge
  • Matilda Trench Crossing Devise
  • Matilda Carpet
  • Matilda Fascine
  • Matilda Dozer – australian bulldozer tank
  • Matilda Frog – australian flame thrower tank
  • Matilda Murray – australian flame thrower tank
  • Matilda Projector (Hedgehog) – armed with spigot mortar
  • German designation – Infanterie Panzerkampfwagen Mk II 748(e) Matilda II A12

Specifications:

version
A12 Matilda II Mk II
A12 Matilda II CS (Close Support)
crew
4
4
armor
hull:
front: 78-75 mm, sides:  70-40 mm, rear 55 mm, bottom: 20 and 13 mm, top: 20 mm
turret:
front: 75 mm, sides: 75 mm,  rear: 75  mm, top: 20 mm
hull:
front: 78-75 mm, sides:  70-40 mm, rear 55 mm, bottom: 20 and 13 mm, top: 20 mm
turret:
front: 75 mm, sides: 75 mm,  rear: 75  mm, top: 20 mm
mainarmament
Ordnance OQF Mk IX/X 2 prd (40 mm), 67 – 93 rounds
Ordnance QF Mk I or IA 3-inch howitzer (76,2 mm)
secondaryarmament
1 x Besa 7,92 mm (2925 – 3150 rounds)
1 x Besa 7,92 mm (2925 – 3150 rounds)
weight (kg)
26950
26800
length (mm)
5581
5715
width (mm)
2576
2576
height (mm)
2510
2370
ground pressure (kg/cm2)
1,12
1,11
track centres (mm)
2060
2305
lenght track on ground (mm)
3280
3280
engine
2 x AEC A183/184, 87 hp at 2000 rpm, 6750 cm3, 6 cyl,
diesel, water cooled
2 x Leyland E148/149 ( or E164/165 E170/171) , 95 hp at 2000 rpm,
6750 cm3, diesel, 6 cyl, water cooled, weight: 540 kg
transmission
5 + 1 forward, 1 reverse
5 + 1 forward, 1 reverse
fuel capacity (l)
190 + 211
190 + 211
range (road km/ off-road km)
257 / 129
257 / 129
speed (km/h)
24 (15 off-road)
24 (15 off-road)
number of links per track
68 or 69
69
trench crossing (mm)
2120
2120
vertical obstacle (mm)
610
610
fording (mm)
900
900
ground clearance (mm)
400
400
climbing ability (degrees)
24
24
manufacturer
Vulcan Foundry, Ruston & Hornby, John Fowler & Co, North
British Locomotive Co, Harland and Wolff, Midland and Scottish
Railway Co.

Bibliography:

  • Panzer Tracts 19-2: Beute-Panzerkampfwagen: British, American, Russian and Italian Tanks Captured from 1940 to 1945 – Thomas L Jentz, Werner Regenberg
  • Modelling the Matilda Infantry Tank, Osprey Modelling 5
  • Bryan Perrett – The Matilda, Armour in Action 2
  • Peter Sarson – Matilda Infantry Tank 1938-45, Osprey New Vanguard 8
  • Matilda, Wydawnictwo Militaria 267 (polish/english)
  • The Matilda Infantry Tank in Australian Service – Military Ordnance Special Number 13
  • Australian Sentinel and Matildas, AFV Weapons Profile 31
  • Infantry Tank Mk. II Matilda, Armor Profile 15
  • The Essential Vehicle Identification Guide: Western Allied Tanks 1939-45
  • Anthony Tucker-Jones – Armoured Warfare in the North African Campaign – Images of War
  • British and American Tanks of World War Two: The Complete Illustrated History of British, American and Commonwealth Tanks, 1939-45 – Peter Chamberlain, Chris Ellis
  • The Great Tank Scandal: British Armour in the Second World War Part 1 – David Fletcher
  • B. T. White – British Tank Markings and Names, Squadron Specials series No. 6021
  • British Tanks: The Second World War – Images of War, Pen and Sword Military 2012
  • Bryan Perrett – British Tanks in North Africa 1940-42, Osprey
  • B.T. White – British Tanks 1915-1945
  • British North Africa – Focus On Armour Camouflage & Markings 2
  • Norm E. Harms, Steve Clayton, Uwe Feist – British Armour in Action, Squadron/Signal Publications
  • Richard Doherty – British Armoured Divisions and Their Commanders, 1939-1945