- Yes
- No
Hello, I’m rounding up and finishing off the infantry tanks in Canadian service. And I had remembered I had seen a multi-part source of Matlida’s in Canadian service.
History:
With a need for better protection and greater firepower over the Infantry tank Mk I, a new design would be drawn up by the British Mechanization Board, as the needed improvements weren’t possible with the with the first Infantry tank variant, the Matilda I, so the Infantry Tank Mark II, Matilda II was made. It would have increased armour thickness, an AEC straight six-cylinder water-cooled diesel engine, heavy side skirts and a crew of 4. Well, there was some debate on the armament; the British General Staff would declare that it was to protect the infantry from tanks, which would lead it to be equipped with the 2-pdr anti-tank gun, as the gun was considered the best anti-tank gun at the time, however it was also made so it could mount a 30-inch howitzer in place of the 2-pdr. In November of 1936, Vulcan Foundry Ltd would be directed to produce a wooden mock-up of the design, which would end up being inspected in April 1937. During that time, the British would decide that two AEC diesel engines should be used, which would lead the Metlida II to become the first British tank with a diesel engine. Being satisfied with the mock-up pilot models where ordered, but due to delays in part deliveries, it would not be until April of 1938, for it to be ready for trials. In June of 1938, there would be an initial order of 140 Matilda IIs. A big part of the Matilda II’s design was its armour protection, that let it withstand all known anti-tank guns and most artillery at the time. Not long after production started, an alternative power unit was sought after; these would end up being twin Leyland 6-cylinder diesel engines, and all Matildas that use these would be designated as Infantry Tank Mark IIA* or Matilda III.
Under pressure from Lieutenant-General A. G. L. McNaughton to hasten the departure of the Canadian Armoured Corps, the 1st Canadian Army Tank Brigade would arrive in the UK on the 30th of June, 1941. Army Tank Brigades were independent formations that were under army control, compared to tank brigades that were under armoured divisions. Because of this set-up, they were primarily to support the infantry and would have most of their equipment made out of infantry tanks, with cruiser tanks only being part of the headquarters.
The 1st Canadian Army Tank Brigade was meant to be equipped with Canadian-built Valentine tanks, but due to delays in production, Lieutenant-General McNaughton would set out to persuade the British War Office to loan some tanks, with plans to replace them with Canadian-built tanks as soon as they became available. This endeavour would end up being successful due to the support of the British Army’s Commander of the Royal Armoured Corps, Major-General G. Le Q. Martel. Apon arvieing the the UK, the 1st Canadian Army Tank Brigade would receive a respectable amount of equipment. Well, the Ontario Regiment would be equipped with Churchill tanks; all other regiments would be equipped with the Infantry Tank Mark IIA*, Matilda III. All tanks that would enter Canadian service would be thoroughly inspected before being handed to each unit. Between the Calgary Regiment and the Three Rivers Regiment would have 29 Matilda tanks by the end of July of 1941, with the Headquarters would have received a close support variant. In August of 1941, 18 more would be issued in September, along with a second close support Matilda, which would join the Calgary Regiment. October would see 18 more being issued, which would also be the last set of them issued to Canadian forces. Beginning in November of 1941, the Matilda would begin being pulled from Canadian service and replaced with the Churchill; this would slowly happen until December of 1942, when the final Matilda was returned, being the last one in Canadian service since the 7th of April 1942, well, the two close support variants of the Matilda in service would stay with Canadian forces untill the later major retrment of Matlidas in Canadian service in February of 1942.
Spoiler
Specs:
Crew:
- 4 (Commander, gunner, loader/operator, driver)
Weight (fully loaded):
- approximately 25-tons
Length:
- without auxiliary fuel tank fitted: 18-feet 9-inches
- with auxiliary fuel tank fitted: 19-feet 9-inches
Width:
- 8-feet 3-inches
Height:
- 8-feet 5-inches
Ground clearance:
- 13-inches
Ground pressure:
- 20-pounds per square inch
Maximum speed:
- 15-miles per hour
Maximum cross country speed:
- 8-miles per hour
Fording depth:
- flaps open: 3-feet
- flaps closed: 3-feet 6-inches
Vertical obstacle:
- 2-feet
Trench crossing:
- 7-feet
Track length:
- 6-feet 9½-inches (69 shoes per track)
Track width:
- 14-inches
Main Armament:
- 2-pounder Ordnance Quick Firing gun Mark IX or Mark X
Secondary Armament:
- 7.92-millimetre Besa machine gun
- twin 4-inch electrically fired smoke generator (No. 2 Mark I) discharger mounted on right forward turret side
- Bren .303-inch light machine gun for anti-air craft/ground defence
Elevation:
- 2-pounder Ordnance Quick Firing gun Mark IX or Mark X – minus 15 degrees to plus 20 degrees
Muzzle velocity:
- 2-pounder Ordnance Quick Firing gun Mark IX or Mark X – 2800-feet per second
Armour thickness:
- maximum: 3-inches
- minimum: 1-inch
Engine:
- Twin Leyland 6-cylinder diesels, 95-horsepower each (
Fuel tanks:
- two tanks of 23.25 gallons each, with a total fuel capacity of 46.5 gallons
Auxiliary fuel tank:
- with a total fuel capacity of 36 gallons
Maximum cruising range:
- 160-miles
Turret rotation:
- hydraulic power or by hand, 360-degree traverse (complete rotation in 14 seconds using hydraulic power)
Vision arrangements:
- three Vicker’s Tank Periscope Mk IV, and observations slits (Commander, gunner and driver)
Ammunition stowage:
- 93 rounds 2-pounder
- 2925 rounds 7.92-millimetre (13 belts of 225 rounds each)
- 8 smoke generators
- 600 rounds .303-inch in six 100 round drums, 10 rifle grenade cartridges .303-inch for smoke generator dischargers
Sources
Part 1 – The Infantry Tank Mark II, Matilda II (A12) in Service with the Canadian Army Overseas | CSMMI MILART
Part 2 – The Infantry Tank Mark II, Matilda II (A12) in Service with the Canadian Army Overseas | CSMMI MILART
Part 3 – The Infantry Tank Mark II, Matilda II (A12) in Service with the Canadian Army Overseas | CSMMI MILART
Matilda II - Wikipedia
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fl7QmlNpXQc
Matilda Infantry Tank 1938-45 by David Fletcher