Matilda I

This article includes a list of references, related reading or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. Please improve this article by introducing more precise citations where appropriate. (March 2009)

Tank, Infantry, Mk I, Matilda I (A11)
A11E1 pilot model
Type	Infantry tank
Place of origin	United Kingdom
Production history
Designer	Vickers-Armstrongs
Manufacturer	Vickers-Armstrongs
Number built	140
Specifications
Weight	11 Long tons
Length	18 ft 5 in (4.85 m )
Width	8 ft 6 in (2.28 m)
Height	8 ft 3 in( 1.86 m)
Crew	2 (commander/gunner, driver)
Armour	10–60 mm
Primary armament	.303 or .50 inch Vickers machine gun 4,000 rounds
Secondary armament	none
Engine	Ford V8 petrol, 70 hp (52 kW)
Power/weight	6.36 hp/ton
Suspension	Sprung bogie
Operational range	80 miles (130 km)
Speed	8 mph (12.87 km/h), off road: 5.6 mph (9 km/h)

The Tank, Infantry, Mk I, Matilda I (A11)^[1] was a British infantry tank of the Second World War. It is not to be confused with the later model Tank, Infantry Mk II (A12), also known as the "Matilda II" which took over the "Matilda" name after the early part of the war when the first Matilda was withdrawn from combat service. They were of totally different design and did not share components, but did have some similar traits because they were both designed to be infantry tanks, a type of tank that tended to sacrifice speed for increased armour protection.

Development history

The development, by Vickers-Armstrongs Ltd, began in 1935. It resulted in a small two-man vehicle with a low hull and a small cast turret in which its only weapon, a Vickers machine gun, was mounted. Designed for quick delivery, the A11 used many stock parts from other vehicles: a Ford V8 engine, a Fordson gearbox, a steering mechanism similar to the one used in Vickers light tanks, and suspension adapted from the Mk IV Dragon artillery tractor that was based on the Vickers 6-Ton Tank Model E.

Although the hull and turret were well protected against contemporary anti-tank weapons, the tracks and running gear were completely exposed and more vulnerable than on tanks that had protected tracks. In addition, the lack of a cannon severely limited its utility on the battlefield.

The machine gun was either a .303 or .50 inch calibre.

General Hugh Elles, the Master-General of the Ordnance, gave the tank the name Matilda "due to the vehicle's diminutive size and duck-like shape and gait." ^[2]

Production history

The first order of 60 Matilda tanks was placed in April 1937, and the tank remained in production until August 1940. One hundred and forty were produced, some of them with the heavier .50 inch Vickers machine gun instead of the .303 inch Vickers machine gun.

Combat history

The Matilda I (55) and Matilda II tanks fought together in France as part of the 1st Army Tank Brigade of the British Expeditionary Force in the Battle of France. They participated in the defence and counter-attack operation at Arras against the invasion by Nazi Germany in May 1940, temporarily discomfiting the 7th Panzer Division under Rommel.

When the BEF returned to the United Kingdom, nearly all their armour was left behind. Matilda Mk Is left in the United Kingdom were withdrawn for training purposes.

Survivors

Three tanks are preserved at the Bovington Tank Museum. One (T-3447) is in running condition, one is on display in the museum and the third is a severely damaged wreck that was used as a gunnery range target.

See also

• List of UK tanks

Notes

References

• Fletcher, David, and Peter Sarson. Matilda Infantry Tank 1938–45 (New Vanguard 8). Oxford: Osprey Publishing, 1994. ISBN 1-85532-457-1.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Matilda I tank

• Britain's Matilda Tanks at World War II Tanks and Vehicles / Advanced Squad Leader

v • d • e	British Commonwealth armoured fighting vehicles of World War II

v • d • e Tanks Light tanks Vickers 6-Ton · Mk II · Mk III · Mk IV · Mk V · Mk VI · Mk VII Tetrarch Cruiser tanks Mk I · Mk II · Mk III · Mk IV · Mk V Covenanter · Mk VI Crusader · Mk VII Cavalier · Mk VIII Centaur · Mk VIII Cromwell · Challenger · Comet · Sherman Firefly · Ram (Canada) · Grizzly I (Canada) · Sentinel (Australia) Infantry tanks Mk I Matilda · Mk II Matilda · Mk III Valentine · Mk IV Churchill  · Churchill Mk VII

v • d • e Self-propelled artillery Bishop • Sexton • Deacon • Archer • Achilles

v • d • e Armoured personnel carriers Universal Carrier • Loyd Carrier • Kangaroo • Terrapin

v • d • e Scout Cars and Armoured cars Scout Cars Daimler Dingo • Dingo Scout Car (Australia) • Humber Scout Car • Lynx Scout Car (Canada) • S1 Scout Car (Australia) Light Reconnaissance Cars Humber LRC • Morris LRC • Otter LRC (Canada) Armoured Cars AEC Armoured Car • Coventry Armoured Car • Daimler Armoured Car • Fox Armoured Car (Canada) • Guy Armoured Car • Humber Armoured Car • Lanchester Armoured Car • Marmon-Herrington Armoured Car (South Africa) • Morris CS9 • Rhino Heavy Armoured Car (Australia) • Rolls-Royce Armoured Car • Rover Light Armoured Car (Australia) • Standard Beaverette • Armoured Carrier Wheeled Indian Pattern (India) Armoured Trucks Bedford OXA • Bedford Armadillo • Bison • C15TA Armoured Truck (Canada) Armoured Command Vehicles AEC ACV • Guy Lizard ACV

v • d • e Experimental vehicles Avenger • Black Prince • Centurion • Excelsior • TOG 1 • TOG 2 • Tortoise • Valiant • Harry Hopkins • Alecto

v • d • e Unarmoured vehicles Artillery tractors AEC Matador • Morris C8 Quad • Scammell Pioneer • Canadian Military Pattern Trucks and lorries Bedford QLD • Austin K2 • Morris 15 cwt • Austin K5 • Bedford OYD • Bedford OXD • Morris C9 • Guy Ant • Leyland Retriever (3-ton) • Leyland Lynx (30-cwt) • Leyland Hippo (10-ton) • Thornycroft Nubian • Thornycroft Tartar Tank transporters Diamond T tank transporter • Scammell Pioneer Semi-trailer Utility and cars Car, Heavy Utility 4x2 Ford C11 • Car, Light Utility ("Tilly") • Car, 4-Seater 4x2

British armoured fighting vehicle production during World War II