Matilda II Tank - AAIM, Singleton, NSW, Australia - Military Ground Equipment Displays on Waymarking.com

While this tank looks in somewhat reasonable condition, all Unit markings have been removed; just the 'Fording Markings' remain on the side. There is a bronze plate affixed to the front, with the following information:

	MATILDA TANK (II)
Crew	- Commander, Gunner, Loader/Signaller, Driver.
Weight	- 26 tons
Armament- 2 Pounder Gun; 93 rounds.
	7.92 mm Besa Machine Gun 2952 rounds.
Engines	- Two, 90 Horsepower Leyland Diesel
Speed	- 15 MPH
Operating - 70 Miles
Range

[Restored by 2 Base Workshop; RAEME]

With some 400 Matilda II Tanks put into Australian service, it is no wonder that there are a few around on different displays (the first one I saw was at Maitland, as a budding geocacher in 2007!)

From 'Tank Encyclopedia': Matilda II in Australian Service "An incident from the 2nd of December 1943 illustrates the sheer durability of the Matilda II tank. Having advanced in support of infantry pinned down by Japanese fire, a Matilda II was engaged at close range (50 yards/45 m) by a Japanese 37 mm AT gun and suffered a broken track. A group of twenty Japanese soldiers advanced on the tank and began to hurl grenades and anti-tank mines from a ditch close to the vehicle. The tank could not move nor depress its weapons sufficiently to return fire on the Japanese infantry but continued to fire with the main gun and coaxial MG to deter enemy advances. Shortly afterwards, a Japanese 75 mm (2.95 in) howitzer opened fire on the stricken tank, damaging the frontal track idlers and suspension. When all ammunition was expended the crew locked the main access hatches and crawled back to the nearby allied infantry via the escape hatch under the tank. Having sustained a total of fifty direct hits from enemy fire, the tank was still able to drive away after field repairs on the following day and was back in action by December 4th." [Unlikely to be this specimen!]

Visited: 1022 - 1225, Sunday, 3 December, 2017

Location restrictions: No Fee to see. As it can be seen through the gate in daytime. Museum Open (and Gates) Wednesday to Sunday: 9am to 4pm * The gates are closed when Museum is closed *

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