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Britain's Infantry Tank Mk I, A11, Matilda Mk I, Matilda I Infantry Tank13
Infantry Tank Mk I, Matilda Mk I, A11: |
Design
In April 1934 the British General Staff discussed a proposal put forth by General Sir Hugh Elles of the Royal Tank Corps that covered the specs for an "Infantry" tank, well protected, with MG as armament and go as fast as infantry on foot. Sir John Carden led the design team.
Costs were kept down by using a commercial Ford engine and transmission.12 The crew was limited to 2 because of severe cost restrictions, and thus there wasn't enough in the budget for 2 in the cast turret.
Engine was at rear which drove sprockets that were also at the rear of the tank.8
The steering, brake and clutches were adapted from the Vickers light tanks.1 Named after a cartoon duck.8 Another source says that Matilda was the orginal code word for the tank that was in the proposal created by John Carden.12
Prototype
Prototypes were given to the army for trials in September 1936.8
Production
Production order for 60 was placed in April 1937.12
- Infantry Mk I, A11, Matilda Mk I: 1408,12
- Production: April 1937 - August 194012
- Manufacturer: Vickers-Armstrong Ltd7
Variants
- Matilda I, Mk II: First production type with AEC engines.
- Matilda I, with Fowler Coulter Plough: Designed with a plough attached to the front to help uproot mines.4 Designed in 1937.4
Usage
The first models were delivered in 1938 to the 1st Army Tank Brigade.
There were 65 available in September 1939 when the war started.8
The 1st Army Tank Brigade had 77 Matilda Is by May 1940.13 Went with 4th and 7th Royal Tank Regiment, and 1st Army Tank Brigade to France in 1940 and took part in battle of Arras. At the Battle of Arras there were 58 Matilda Is.13
After Dunkirk remaining vehicles used for training.1
97 lost in France with the British Expedition Force.
| Infantry Tank Mk I, A11, Matilda Mk I | |
|---|---|
| Crew | Commander-gunner, driver.3 21,2,3,4,7,8,12,13 |
| Radio | Wireless Set No. 913 |
| Physical Characteristics | |
| Weight | 24,640 lb3 10.98 tons1,7, 11 tons4,8,11,12,13, 12 tons2 11,160 kg1,7,12 |
| Length w/gun | 15' 1"7, 15' 11"1,3,4,8,11,12,13 4.85 m1,7,12,13, 4.95 m2 |
| Length w/o gun | |
| Height | 6' 1"1,12,13, 6' 1.5"3,4,8, 6' 2"7, 7' 8"11 1.85 m12,13, 1.86 m7, 1.867 m1, 1.9 m2 |
| Width | 7' 6"1,3,4,7,8,12,13, 7' 8"11 2.28 m7, 2.286 m1, 2.29 m12,13, 2.31 m2 |
| Ground clearance | 1' 3" 0.38 m2 |
| Ground contact length | |
| Ground pressure | 10.8 psi 0.76 (kg/cm2)2 |
| Turret ring diameter | |
| Armament | |
| Main | .50 cal (12.7 mm)1,3,8,11,12 1: 12.7 mm Vickers HMG13 MG2,4 .50 cal Vickers MG (later models)7 |
| OR | .303 cal (7.7 mm) Vickers MG 1,3,5,7,8,11,12,13 |
| Secondary | |
| MG | |
| Side arms | |
| Quantity | |
| Main | 4,0003, 4,4002 |
| Secondary | |
| MG | |
| Side arms | |
| Armor Thickness (mm) | 10 - 601,4,7 103, 603,12,658 0.4"-2.34"7 Front: 6511 Side: 6011 |
| Hull Front, Upper | 602 |
| Hull Front, Lower | |
| Hull Sides, Upper | 602 |
| Hull Sides, Lower | |
| Hull Rear | 602 |
| Hull Top | 302 |
| Hull Bottom | 102 |
| Turret Front | 652 |
| Turret Sides | 652 |
| Turret Rear | 652 |
| Turret Top | 102 |
| Engine (Make / Model) | Ford1,2,3,4,5,7,8,11,12,13 |
| Bore / stroke | |
| Cooling | Water |
| Cylinders | V-85,7,8,11,12,13 |
| Net HP | 708,11,13, 70 @ 3,500 rpm7 |
| Power to weight ratio | |
| Compression ratio | |
| Transmission (Type) | 4 forward2, 1 reverse2 |
| Steering | |
| Steering ratio | |
| Starter | |
| Electrical system | |
| Ignition | |
| Fuel (Type) | Gasoline13 |
| Octane | |
| Quantity | 42 gallons11, 50 gallons 190 liters2 |
| Road consumption | |
| Cross country consumption | |
| Performance | |
| Traverse | 360°3 |
| Max speed | 8 mph3,4,7,8,11,12,13, 7.95 mph1 12.8 kph1, 11.2 kph2, 13 kph7,12,13 |
| Cross country speed | 4 mph, 5.6 mph3 |
| Road radius | 78 miles7, 80 miles3,11,12,13, 80.11 miles1 125 kph7, 129 km1,12,13, 135 km2 |
| Cross country radius | |
| Turning radius | 18' 5.5 m2 |
| Elevation limits | |
| Fording depth | 3'3 0.76 m2 |
| Trench crossing | 6' 6"11, 7'3 |
| Vertical obstacle | 2' 1"3, 2' 6"11 |
| Climbing ability | |
| Suspension (Type) | Box bogie and leaf spring.2,3 |
| Wheels each side | 82 |
| Return rollers each side | |
| Tracks (Type) | |
| Length | |
| Width | 11.5"3 292 mm2 |
| Diameter | |
| Number of links | |
| Pitch | |
| Tire tread | |
| Track centers/tread | 6' 4"3 |
Sources:
- The Encyclopedia of Tanks and Armored Fighting Vehicles - The Comprehensive Guide to Over 900 Armored Fighting Vehicles From 1915 to the Present Day, General Editor: Christopher F. Foss, 2002
- Panzer Truppen The Complete Guide to the Creation and Combat Employment of Germany's Tank Force 1933-1942, Thomas L. Jentz, 1996
- British and American Tanks of World War Two, The Complete Illustrated History of British, American, and Commonwealth Tanks 1933-1945, Peter Chamberlain and Chris Ellis, 1969
- Tanks of the World, 1915-1945, Peter Chamberlain, Chris Ellis, 1972
- The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II, Chris Bishop, 1998
- -
- Allied Armour of World War Two, Ian V. Hogg, 2000
- Tanks of World War II, Duncan Crow, 1979
- Tank Data, Aberdeen Proving Grounds Series, 1968?
- Battle Winning Tanks, Aircraft & Warships of World War II, David Miller, 2000
- The Royal Armoured Corps Tank Museum, Tanks 1919-1939 The Inter War Period, 1966
- The Illustrated Guide to Tanks of the World, George Forty, 2006
- Western Allied Tanks 1939-45, David Porter, 2009
