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The Matilda Mark I shows clearly what can happen when something is designed down to a price rather than to a practical and effective standard. Conceived as an Infantry tank, it was specified to be proof against current anti tank weapons with no requirement for a speed greater than a soldier on foot.

"More of a mobile machine

Low cost and heavy armour left the Matilda I with only a single machine gun as armament in a one man turret. Perhaps its only saving grace was a reliable Ford V8 engine; reliable but with only 70hp, underpowered for its 11 ton weight.

A forlorn attempt at up-gunning the Matilda was made by changing the .303 gun for a .5 gun, but this only served to add to the difficulties of the lone turret crewman.

Conceived at a time when the aims and means of Germany were already becoming apparent, the Matilda had no real hope of meeting likely opposition on anything like equal terms, although it was sent into action in France in 1940 during the battle of Arras, alongside its successor, the Matilda II.

RESTORERS
MUSEUMS
1990 - now
COLD WAR
1939 - 1945
1919 - 1938
1914 - 1918
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1914 - 1918
1919 - 1938
1939 - 1945
COLD WAR
1990 - now
MUSEUMS
home
RESTORERS
WW2: MATILDA MK I
MATILDA MK I