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Unique ID: 688 Added to Database: December 2008 Last Edited: 21 May 2012 Type (ID): A12 Matilda II (3760) Model (ID): Matilda II (3760) Location Category (ID): U.S. Army Ordnance Museum (70050) Location (ID): Display Park (70060) Serial Number: Registration: “T10099”. Name: Other Identification: Collection Reference: Links: Beutepanzer: bottom picture Wikipedia: 7th Armoured Division at Sidi Rezegh 7th Armoured Division Engagements 1941: Sidi Rezegh AFV News: Rommel’s Dash to the Wire 5 Star: APG Matilda References: Associated Tanks: Location History: (see map) 1: North British Locomotive Company Limited, Glasgow, Scotland, Britain (Additional manufacturer) 2: Gibraltar Harbour, Gibraltar (Tiger convoy leaves 6 May 1941) 3: Valletta, Malta (Tiger convoy arrives 9 May 1941) 4: Alexandria, Egypt (Tiger convoy arrives 12 May 1941) 5: Sidi-Rezegh – Halfaya Pass, Libya (November 1941 – October 1942) 6: Brooklyn – New York, USA (Transported 1943 – retrieved 1944) 7: U.S. Army Ordnance Museum, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Harford County, Maryland, USA (Current location) Text in original Preserved British Tanks publication: [No entry] Text in Preserved British Tanks Update: [No entry] Text in original Preserved Tanks In USA publication: According to Ordnance museum publications this Matilda was “lost to the Germans in a battle at Sidi Rezag-Halfaya Pass in November 1941, re-marked by the Germans and used as a pill box at the same pass until recaptured by the British after the battle of El Alemein in October 1942. Sent to the US as part of reverse Lend-Lease scrap shipments in 1943 and diverted from Brooklyn, N.Y. to the museum in 1944” (source: R. Smart, N. Baumgardner via AVFNDB). It was apparently recovered, as a hulk devoid of all usable parts, on its way to a steel mill. Even now there are clear indications of battle damage, including four small calibre hits and penetrations of the skirting plates on the right-hand side. In addition there is a large penetration of the upper left-hand side of the turret mantlet and this strike is likely to be what put the vehicle out of action. A contemporary photograph of a recaptured Matilda shows exactly the same distinctive damage marks on the right-hand side so it clearly depicts the same tank; it is marked with the War Department number T10099 so that identifies this vehicle. The information that this Matilda was lost in the area of Sidi Rezegh and Halfaya Pass in November 1941 implies that it took part in Operation Crusader, which ran from 18 November to 30 December 1941. The aim of this operation… [edited for space]… It is clear that many Allied tank units were involved in Operation Crusader, however only 4RTR, 7RTR, 42RTR and 44RTR were equipped with Matildas so if it was captured in November 1941 then it is probable that this tank had been in action with one of these units. An alternative explanation is that this tank was one of a dozen or so Matildas that were left behind Axis lines at the end of Operation Battleaxe (June 1941) and were put into service by the Germans. This could explain why the photograph of it on recapture shows it not in a bunker position, but instead with its engine bay open as though it had broken down in use. In either case by 1941 the Matilda was starting to be replaced by the Valentine. The last major supply of Matildas to North Africa consisted of 135 vehicles transported on a convoy codenamed ‘Tiger’ that arrived in Alexandria on 12th May 1941. These vehicles were used to equip 4RTR and 7RTR. From photographic evidence, the WD number for this Matilda, T10099, is high compared to other Matildas in service at the time (which were typically of the form T6xxx and T7xxx) so it is credible that it arrived on this convoy and served with either 4RTR or 7RTR.

Images - Photographs and NavPix (click to expand or browse)

June 2007 1: Front view, photo taken by Mark Pellegrini Taken: 12 June 2007 Contributor: Wikimedia Photo ID: 3539 Added: 21 July 2010 Filename: Dig_Mati... Views: 487 Select/Has Priority: 21/0		2: Right view, photo taken by Mark Pellegrini Taken: 12 June 2007 Contributor: Wikimedia Photo ID: 3540 Added: 21 July 2010 Filename: Dig_Mati... Views: 236 Select/Has Priority: 21/0		3: Right view, photo taken by Mark Pellegrini - damage high... Taken: 12 June 2007 Contributor: Wikimedia Photo ID: 3541 Added: 22 July 2010 Filename: Dig_Mati... Views: 252 Select/Has Priority: 21/0
July 1983 4: Front right view Taken: 9 July 1983 Contributor: T. Larkum Photo ID: 919 Added: 13 December 2008 Filename: Scan_Mat... Views: 339 Select/Has Priority: 21/0		5: Front left view Taken: 9 July 1983 Contributor: T. Larkum Photo ID: 920 Added: 13 December 2008 Filename: Scan_Mat... Views: 244 Select/Has Priority: 21/0
October 1942 6: “A German manned Matilda which has returned to British h... Taken: October 1942 Contributor: CRFU Photo ID: 3542 Added: 22 July 2010 Filename: Scan_Mat... Views: 261 Select/Has Priority: 21/0		7: Right view, damage highlighted Taken: October 1942 Contributor: CRFU Photo ID: 3543 Added: 22 July 2010 Filename: Scan_Mat... Views: 596 Select/Has Priority: 21/0

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