7 Royal Tank Regiment at Tobruk June 1942

Discussion in 'North Africa & the Med' started by Drew5233, Nov 17, 2014.

  1. pminotti

    pminotti Junior Member

    This is the Armour of a Matilda II

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    And this is that of Valentine

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    It's seems a bit impervious to brew these tanks with Kwk 38
     
  2. Andreas

    Andreas Working on two books

    Nobody talks about brewing them up. As for having an effect, you need to take that up with the German officers who undertook the trial and wrote the report. There is no point in arguing about it.

    Have a look here:

    http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=130300

    The T/D ratio is 75/50 or 1.5. I am not mathematical enough to bother with (W(Vcosx)2)/(d3)=C(t/d)A and in fact don't have the figures for C and A, but a simple look at the chart says the slope multiplier might be 1.4 or thereabouts. So that would get you to 64mm instead of 46, at which point steel quality issues and the definition of 'Anzeige' vs. 'penetration' may well become crucial.

    So you're welcome to your opinion. I don't agree with it.

    All the best

    Andreas
     
  3. pminotti

    pminotti Junior Member

    Maybe this photo could be one taken in the German Test.

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    "A British Matilda II tank showing the penetration by German anti-tank fire at Tobruk, Libya"

    This image is available from the Collection Database of the Australian War Memorial under the ID Number: 023716
     
  4. pminotti

    pminotti Junior Member

    The number handwritten on the tail suggests a test

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  5. pminotti

    pminotti Junior Member

    In this photo we have some 88/56 hits

    It says only December 1941


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  6. Andreas

    Andreas Working on two books

    The numbers written on there were to prevent double-counting of losses. It was a standard technique as far as I know, I have read about it in the context of the border battles in Russia in 1941.

    If the pictures are correctly labelled, none relates to the firing trials, since they were held in March 1942, probably around Mechili.

    I would however agree that the tank numbered '8' was subjected to multiple penetration tests of various calibres, including an assessment of HE damage.

    Thanks for posting these.

    All the best

    Andreas
     
  7. Don Juan

    Don Juan Well-Known Member

    I don't think this is actually a firing trial. This is the instructions for a firing trial.

    I think "Anzeige" translates as "Display" or possibly "Demonstrate", "Evtl. Anzeige" translates as "Possibly Display", and "Wirkung" translates as "effect".

    i.e. the document is giving a list of weapon types to be featured, and angles to be attacked, in a forthcoming demonstration. The British opinion of the 5cm Panzergranate 40 was that it was (a) hopelessly inaccurate, and (b) of poor quality material, so therefore dangerous to a Matilda at no more than 200 metres. They certainly didn't consider it much of a danger at 600m.
     

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