The Tank Museum
Published 21 Feb 2025Forget the Sherman, forget the Panther, forget the T-34 … Should Matilda II be considered the best tank of WWII?
Emerging from the request for a new and improved infantry tank, Matilda II debuted on the battlefield in France. The heroic actions of Matilda crews at Arras stopped Blitzkrieg in its tracks and allowed the British army to be evacuated from the beaches of Dunkirk.
The Matilda’s fighting peak was during the North Africa campaign, where the 2pdr gun was more than a match for any of the Italian armour it came up against. Despite some mechanical issues, the performance of Matilda II at this time would earn her the title “Queen of the Desert”. Once the Germans arrived in North Africa, Matilda started to become obsolete but remained useful as a testbed for experimental equipment that would eventually be used on D-Day.
Matilda II saw service in all theatres of the Second World War. Around 900 tanks were deployed by the Soviets in 1942, filling the gap as the Red Army increased its roster of T-34s. Matilda made great contributions to campaigns in the Pacific – its small and solid profile making it ideal for jungle bashing. The Australians made effective use of the Matilda, creating variants including a mortar launcher and a flamethrower.
Some say that if it wasn’t for Matilda II we would be speaking German right now. Watch this video to find out why …
00:00 | Introduction
00:36 | Heroics at Arras
03:29 | It Takes Two
06:00 | Matilda II – Inside and Out
13:03 | Queen of the Desert
18:14 | Soviet Service on The Eastern Front
19:49 | The Pacific – Welcome to the Jungle…
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In this film, Chris Copson delves into the legendary service history of the Matilda II – the only British tank to see front line action throughout the Second World War. Matilda II was never as fast or as strong as her contemporaries, but she was solid, reliable and flexible – features that made her useful both in combat and as an experimental test bed. From the winters of the Eastern front to the tropical jungles of the Pacific, the Matilda served with distinction in all theatres of war and stands out as the hero that saved an army.
Want to learn more about Matilda II? Here are some of the sources we used to make this film:
The Tank Museum Guide to Matilda – Dick Taylor
The Matilda – Bryan Perrett
TM Archive, E2001.22 “War Diary: 4th Royal Tank Regiment: September 1939 to March 1942 and January 1945 to March 1946”
TM Archive, E2001.26 “War Diary: 7th Royal Tank Regiment: November 1939 to February 1942”Support The Tank Museum!
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July 10, 2025
Was Matilda II the BEST Tank of WWII?
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