Do we have a tank expert These tanks are being loaded at a British port for transit to Russia, any idea what they are?
And that is liverpool, (the Matidila was made just down the road in Newton) in fact I think its the Princess Landing stage. Kev
Sure this has been posted before. Description: Matilda tanks being loaded onto ships at Liverpool docks for shipment to the Soviet Union, 17 October 1941.
Sure this has been posted before. Ive changed my mind it dont think its the princess landing stage. Kev
Interesting pic! Going by the size of the barrel of the one in the foreground, compared to all the rest...is it a Matilda II CS tank? The howitzer-armed Close Support version for throwing smoke??? Can anyone confirm what "T23341" was?
Ive changed my mind it dont think its the princess landing stage. Kev Its not mate but it is Liverpool..Ill have to dig out me old image books. The dock name is mentioned in one.
How would the Matildas have coped in this arena of combat. I know they performed relatively will in the desert but became wildly outmatched by German armour in the area. I also know that the German armour on the eastern front was geared towards heavy (like Panzer IVs etc), or tank destroyers (like the Stug III). I cannot imagine the Matildas doing well against other armour so maybe they were infantry support weapons for use against troops and structures? (Note the massive anti-tank rifle held by the Russian in the trench as the Matildas appear!)
Local history mag has it as Sandon dock PQ2 1941 to Archangel but there are lots of mixed pics of other docks and tanks on same page. I know nofink.
Well, that's was what there was to be had. Somewhat a let down for the Sovs who had that superlative T-34, but the Valentines were well-liked up to 45.
How would the Matildas have coped in this arena of combat. I know they performed relatively will in the desert but became wildly outmatched by German armour in the area. I also know that the German armour on the eastern front was geared towards heavy (like Panzer IVs etc), or tank destroyers (like the Stug III). I cannot imagine the Matildas doing well against other armour so maybe they were infantry support weapons for use against troops and structures? The vital thing for the Russians at Xmas '41 is that that was what was being fought outside Moscow - the infantry and armour-backed counteroffensive. At that time the British armour made up something like 10% of their strength. Plus like all fronts - there was a HUGE asortment of Axis armour mustered for Barbarossa. As for how they coped - unsurprisingly, the Matilda was found to be too slow when the weather improved, and unreliable. Crews often complained that snow and dirt were accumulating behind the "skirt" panels, clogging the suspension - same issue as the British had with sand in the desert. The slow speed and heavy armour made them comparable to the Red Army's KV-1, but the Matilda had nowhere near the firepower of the KV. Obviously it was the Matilda's 2pdr gun that "aged" first...but in armour terms it was proofed until the L/43 began to appear on PzIVs
At least it helped them hold out. I think, in my opinion that as soon as the Germans failed to win that winter, they were doomed. The Americans had joined our side, the Russians were able to bring their massive forces and production capabilites up to scratch.
See... Britain carries out her pledge - loading tanks at a British port for Russia. – Works – Digital Collections And ref. Valentines on a North Country Moor - 25-26d8m1941 See also - For the Russian front - straight from the factories, these British tanks are passing in an almost unbroken stream to the sea supply lines. – Works – Digital Collections The British merchant navy at war: No. 4. Munitions carried to every battlefront. ... – Works – Digital Collections "Photograph of a ship being loaded with military equipment. Small British flag in lower left corner with phrase 'For victory.' " And... Arms for Russia. ... – Works – Digital Collections