This is a Scale Model Kit, Paint and Glue are not included.
The Matilda I A11 was a British infantry tank of the Second World War. The first prototypes were built in 1936, and serial production continued in 1939-1940. In total, about 140 examples of this tank were built. Matilda I was powered by an engine Ford V8 with a power of 70 HP. The vehicle was armed only with a single 7.7 or 12.7 mm machine gun in the turret.
Tank Matilda I. It was constructed as a new infantry tank for the British Army by General PC Hobart. Its design focuses primarily on the powerful armor that protects the tank against anti-tank artillery fire and on the low production costs of the vehicle. It was also accepted - as it turned out wrongly - that a single machine gun would be sufficient armament for the new car. However, at the time of the start of serial production, it began to be perceived in the command of the British army Matilda I as a transition tank, which also affected a small number of vehicles produced. Matilda I entered the line in 1938, and the only time it was used during the French campaign in May-June 1940. Due to the low rating it received, its production was completely discontinued, and by 1942 this tank was withdrawn from the line, handing it over for training purposes.
The Matilda II A12 was a British WWII infantry tank. The first prototypes were built in 1938, and serial production continued in 1939-1943. In total, about 2,900 copies of this tank were built. The Matilda II was powered by either two engines Leyland 95 HP each or two AEC engines 87 HP each. It was armed with a single 40mm OQF 2-pounder cannon and a single 7.92mm Besa machine gun.
Tank Matilda II was constructed as a very far-reaching development of the tank Matilda I, creating a de facto new tank with much greater combat capabilities. First of all, the main armament was changed and a 40mm gun was used in the turret, instead of a single machine gun. A new drive unit was also used and the armor was clearly strengthened, especially in the front part of the car. As a result, when it entered service, the Matilda II was the best armored tank in the world, with decent armament (until 1941-1942), but with a low top speed of only 15 km / h in the field! It did a great job in the battles in North Africa in 1940-1942, but after 1943 tanks of this type were gradually decommissioned in favor of the Sherman and Valentine tanks. Several versions of the Matilda II were created in the course of serial production. Chronologically, the first was the vehicle designated as Matilda I Mk. II, which was the first to go into series production with a 7.7mm Vickers machine gun and a 40mm cannon. Shortly thereafter, the Matilda II Mk. IIA, in which the Vickers rifle was replaced with the Besa rifle. An interesting version was the version designated Matilda III CS, armed with a 76.2mm howitzer and intended for direct infantry support. Matilda II tanks were sent to the USSR as part of the Lend-and-Lease program, and they were also used by the Canadian, New Zealand and Polish Armed Forces in the West (PES).
