The Commander Series Forum

Hi All

playing a desert campaign and using the matilda 2 as a support tank unit, unlike the infantry tank unit matilda 2 it has no AT line. I see thats the same deal as the support churchill.

any idea why, and do you know the thinking for having support/infantry/tank units?

ta

It represents the 3" howitzer armed version of the Matilda II. It was designed to provide close direct fire support for infantry. Not sure of the original design ethos, but it was used to beef up the ineffective (some would say non-existent) HE capability of the 2pdr armed vehicles. If you can get it in range, it's much more effective against AT guns than other tanks. Same principle for any 2pdr armed tanks. Largely outdated by the time 6pdr guns became standard issue, but still in use until the 105mm Sherman used in NW Europe.

Cheers, Andy

1) the 105 Shermans in NWE were US and French, not used by the British, only in Italy.

2) Original 3.7" CS howitzer only fired Smoke. 3" fired smoke and HE, although it looks like more smoke was carried than HE. The 95mm on Churchills and Cromwells had a very effective HEAT round, so it does have an AT capacity.

Numbers - officially there were 2 per squadron + 2 at RHQ. This gives 8, so 2-3 bases at a base per troop. I'd go with 2.

Use - as hinted above they were mainly used for smoke, the HEAT round is for self defence, another oddity is that there were no CS Valentines so in 41-3 Valentine Rgt and Battalions had Matildas as their CS tanks.

As to why no 105 Shermans in NWE - I suspect that it was due to logistics - certainly there was a shortatge of 105 ammunition.

IanS

Thanks all