Hi Benamin! Hi Folks!
- BenjaminLiottel
The Matilda I was built in 1937, and was completely outmoded by 1939, yet it still saw action in WWII. However, the Wikipedia entry says that only two Matilda I's were actually in service by WWII, this must be false as there are quite a few pictures of disabled Matlida Is out there. I was wondering, how many Matilda Is actually saw service in WWII? Did any see action later on in the war? Were any captured by the Germans?
Liottel.
In "The Tanks, The History of the Royal Tank Regiment Volume Two 1939-1945 " by Cpt B.H. Liddel Hart.
The BEF deployed to France in 1940 with the 4th and 7th RTRs. The 7th had 27 Matilda I, 23 Mitilda IIs and 7 light tanks. The 4th RTR had 50 Matilda Is for a total of 77 vehicles taken to France in May of 1940.
I would think that Wikipedia entry may not be correct.
As for any seeing any action later in the war, Not that I remember reading about. Of course, that is not counting any used for defense in England during the Battle of Britian.
Were any captured by the Germans? All the tanks the BEF took to France in 1940 were left behind. A better question would be, did the Germans used any of them for anything other that testing?
Note: During May 1940, the Mark I and II Infantry support tanks had not yet been named 'Matilda'.
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