Matilda II

Unit Card:

Matilda_II_Early_War_AAMeditor_120128012847.jpg

UK, Vehicle - Tank, 1940

ATT inf 6/6/4
ATT veh 9/8/6
Cost 13 points
Def 6/5
Speed 2

Superior Frontal Armor 2
An attack against this unit’s front defense must beat it by 2 or more in order to score two hits against it.

Set - Rarity - Number

North Africa - Rare - 16/60
Combat Zone - March 2008 Promotional
Early War - Rare - 21/50

Historical Background

The former Matilda, or Matilda I, was a product of the 1929 financial crisis, a rather limited and compromised vehicle, badly suited to real battlefield operations. In 1936, it was in production, and the very same year, another parallel specification (A12), asked for a larger, better armed model, derived from the A7 prototype. In fact, the A12 was completetly different from its "little brother", A11 (known as the "Matilda"), in size, weight, drivetrain, armament and crew. Development at the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich (which already designed the A7) lasted until 1938, when war seemed highly plausible, and the final A12 prototype trials were urgently passed, and an order came soon after, Vulcan Foundry having to build a first batch of 140 units until mid-1938.

When the war enveloped North Africa, the Matilda II truly became legendary, being nicknamed the "Queen of the desert" by its crews. The Matilda II's armor was still a powerful argument in all tank-to-tank engagements against Italian armor and AT guns during the early stage of the war (Operation Compass, late 1940). After that it proved itself time and time again against the DAK XVth Panzerdivision, still largely equipped with light Panzer IIs and early models of the Panzer III and IV, using inadequate guns. But Rommel's imaginative ambush tactics using AT guns proved a serious threat for the Matilda II, hampered by its slow speed and a somewhat troublesome, overheating engine, and troublesome steering under the harsh conditions of this specific theater of war. The already famous 7th RTR, reborn in Britain, fully reequipped with Mark IIs, took part both in the late 1940 campaign, and still ruled the battlefield until late 1941. Battle records included the conquest of Libya, seizing of Tobruk and Bardia, and later, Operation Battleaxe.

- Source: www.tanks-encyclopedia.com

Reviews:

Captain Morevo
The Matilda II is the slow hammer of the British in North Africa, in any game set before 1942. She shines for her superior frontal armor, making her hard to take out even with 88s and while she is slow, she is tough to stop. For her points there are times when you just can't get a better infantry tank.

Plastic Figure Notes:

  • This model was only made in the larger V2 scale.
  • This model was also released as a Combat Zone promotional item in a different (and some would say superior) color scheme. Only 500 of there were produced.
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