"David Nicholls" wrote in message
...

"robert arndt" wrote in message
om...
Your armor was garbage just like your ships .....

The Maltida II was the main British tank of mid-1940 and (for 1940) was
immune to all German tank guns at that time. It's frontal armor could
only
be penetrated by the 88mm A gun. The German Panzer I, II and early III
(with 37mm gun) could not scratch it neither could the standard AT guns in
German service, hence its nickname of "Queen of the Battlefield" in 1940
and
1941. Its limited turrent ring stopped it being upgunned. Its use in the
Battle of Arras (1940) caused Guderian to consider stopping the attack on
France and it wsa only when Rommel used 88mm AA guns against the Matilda
II's were destroyed (there were only 16 in the battle).

David


The Matilda II went on to create havoc with the Italians
in North Africa were it tore through Italian tank and
anti-tank formations and also served with some
distinction in Russia which received over a 1000
of them at a critical period when their own tank production was
being relocated beyond the Urals.

Keith