Facebook: Friends of the Tank Museum

[fsn]

Development of Matilda I began in 1935. Production began just before the outbreak of the Second World War in July 1939 and 139 vehicles were delivered in August 1940. 97 of these were lost after the evacuation of troops from Dunkirk, without having had much use. The rest were removed from British service in 1941, but captured vehicles stayed in German service in domestic security roles.

Just reflecting that about 8 years separated the design of the Matilda I and the Comet ... indeed the Centurion.

[Heedless Horseman]

fsn... yeah, just a quote... but thought that Matilda Mk1 were the main vehicles in the Arras Attack? Never been sure whether Matilda IIs and Is were 'integrated' within units in 1940?

'Muzzle Flash'.. wargames tend to forget that a 'Gun' has a 'Bl***y Biig Blast!' I can't see that 'supporting' inf would want to be anywhere near  a tank firing main gun! Or any arty in any period!

Matilda Mk1 to Centurion. Or Gloster Gladiator to Gloster Meteor ! Aren't We Amazing when 'Pushed'! Current issues included! Me... I just need more sleep! lol!

[Lord Kermit of Birkenhead]

Me... I just need more sleep! lol!

Dont we all !!! As to integration - 2-4 troops of Matilda I - rest Matilda II - not certain wheter it was 4 or 5 troops in the Tank Rgts.

[sultanbev]

MicroMark list B198 

The Matildas were treated differently in different units.
4th RTR was pure Matilda I but did have Vickers VIC in CHQs.
7th RTR has one company of 16x Matilda I, one company of 16x Matilda II, and one mixed company of 7x Matilda II and 9x Matilda I. Companies were 5 platoons each of 3 tanks, CHQs one tank and one Vickers VIB.

[fsn]

Portrait of a family, Alaska, circa early 1900s.


OK, technically not a tank, but I have a serious question. What is he holding in his hand - the hoop and stick thing?

[Steve J]

It looks like a hand drum and drum stick to me.

[Heedless Horseman]

'Drum/ Tambour'? 'Plate'? Stick  for beating, thereof? Small boat suggests 'Ritual'... as they used to say on Time Team!

sultanbev: Thanks for that. A mixed company sounds interesting!

[Raider4]

. . . and one mixed company of 7x Matilda II and 9x Matilda I. Companies were 5 platoons each of 3 tanks, CHQs one tank and one Vickers VIB.

So, 3x troops/platoon of Matilda I, 2x troops/platoons of Matilda II, and the CHQ in a Matilda II?

[Lord Kermit of Birkenhead]

FRom some accounts the CHQ was in Vickers Lights. Otherwise yes.....

[fsn]

Tracked motorcycles are one of those ideas that keep cropping up, but are hard to make work in practice.  Most put track at the rear, but the 350cc French 1937 Mercier Moto Chenille opted to put the track in place of the front wheel.  Five prototypes were built, and one was tested by the French Army, but they decided not to take it forward – not unreasonably, as they had other priorities just then.



I want one!

[paulr]

Steering must be a nightmare

[fsn]

You think there was steering?!   

[fsn]

Nope. No steering. 

[Steve J]

That is insane!!!

[pierre the shy]

Get off my lawn!!!!

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Needs a silencer!

[Lord Kermit of Birkenhead]

No foot pegs - downright dangerous.

[fsn]

The Universal Carrier (aka "Bren Carrier") had served the Commonwealth armies well through the Second World War, but it was ultimately a pre-war design and showing its age by 1945. The army was looking for a replacement capable of carrying more cargo and towing the heavy 17 pdr AT gun; the bren carrier had been limited to the 6 pdr. The result was the Oxford Carrier (formally the Carrier, Tracked CT20), which appeared in 1946. It weighed 6 tons, twice what the Bren carrier did, but was of similar overall design, with open top and centrally mounted engine dividing the cargo area. Early versions had a Cadillac engine, but this was quickly replaced by a Rolls-Royce engine due to supply issues. About 400 were built, and served in Korea and Suez as well as in the UK and BAOR.

[fsn]

OK ... my horses tend to be ... brown.

I feel suitably chastened.

[fsn]

During WW2, the Germans built fake wooden airfields with wooden aircraft and vehicles in order to trick the Allies, however, the RAF responded by waiting for them to finish and then dropped a single fake wooden bomb on it
Credit: Historic Photographs