Tank photo - North Africa

Came across this. The two chaps are RAF Bomb Disposal. Other than that I have no info, but thought folk might like to take a look anyway.

 

It is (was?) a Matilda II, as are the tanks in the background. The dark paint on the side of the turret suggests the Caunter diagonal camouflage scheme, and the white/dark/white stripes (white/red/white) on the left side of the hull were used - as I understand it - only during Operation Crusader.

It's been subjected to a tremendous amount of fire! It looks like three separate holes in the lower glacis, a broken lamp, and a very oddly shaped hole (?) in the side of the outer plate covering the suspension, and the broken left track.

 

Thanks Chris.
Just done some googling and found some other images of this tank. -
"BADLY SMASHED BRITISH M2 TANK"
TOBRUK, LIBYA. A BRITISH MATILDA II TANK SHOWING THE PENETRATION BY GERMAN ANTI-TANK FIRE.
http://albumwar2.com/british-matild...of-antiaircraft-guns-in-the-battle-of-tobruk/

 

Thanks Chris, I will take a look at those when I can.

 

I'm not a Matilda expert, but I believe that where that big hole is on the hull nose is actually a stowage compartment. The front of the Matilda hull was actually angled inwards, and two flush fitting stowage compartments were located on either side, thus giving a false impression of the shape of the front end. As such, I don't think that hole represents a big projectile going through thick armour, despite it appearing that way.

 

Don Juan, of course you are right - I'd forgotten about that.

 

Of more concern is what appears to be a hole lower left front centre. I hope the Driver made it out safely.