Matilda II Mk.IIIAfrique du Nord, novembre 1941

Constructeur  Vulcan Foundry Ltd.
Date de production 1941
Numéro de série T.6968
Unité d’attache 42nd Royal Tank Regiment, 1st Army Tank Brigade
Théâtre d’opérationAfrique du Nord, novembre 1941
KitTamiya 35300 (2017)
Date de réalisation 

Un camouflage unique

Depuis longtemps, un kit de Tamiya me titillait par son camouflage particulier, tout en lignes droites et utilisant même du bleu… Ce camouflage se nomme « Caunter ».

Mais, ce bleu est une erreur qui se perpétuait jusqu’à récemment.

The 1938 scheme was replaced by the ‘Caunter Scheme’ in July 1940, so called as it is reputed to have been devised by Colonel Caunter of 4th Heavy Armoured Brigade. This bold, disruptive design was later detailed in G.O.297 of November 1940. The term is not official, simply being known by that in military and modelling circles.

G.O.297 specified the colors and patterns to be employed, repeated in M.T.P.10, India, of June 1941, showing eight drawings for all classes of vehicle and AFV then in use. This new design used three contrasting colors in a geometric, straight edged pattern which was in essence a series of interlocking triangles along the vehicle. It was not a series of diagonal random slashes of color across a vehicle.

The colors were all from BS.381C: 1930 ‘Colours For Ready Mixed Paints’ and were BSC. No.64 Portland Stone or BSC. No.61 Light Stone with BSC. No.34 Slate and BSC. No.28 Silver Grey. This last is a medium toned greyish yellow-green: not light blue or grey as often incorrectly depicted in artwork and kit instructions. Essentially the same layout was used on cruisers, light tanks, trucks and lorries, but artillery pieces, trailers, carriers and motorcycles each had their own designs.

[…]

From a close study of numerous photographs, this author found three main variations of the design on both Matilda and Stuart tanks. Should you wish to apply the design to types then try to find as many contemporary photographs as possible and compare color demarcation lines before putting paint to your model. No kit instruction sheet has got this correct yet.

Extrait de: Real Colors of WWII, p. 138

Matilda, Reine du Désert

By the summer of 1940, despite the low priority placed on tank production in British factories, Britain’s armoured units possessed about 240 medium and 108 Cruiser tanks, as well as 514 light tanks. As the fighting with the Italians in North Africa escalated, many were dispatched to Egypt. In October 1940 Churchill’s reinforcements began to arrive in Egypt, the most significant of which were fifty Matilda infantry-support tanks. This was the most powerful weapon in the British tank inventory and its 80mm frontal armour could withstand every Italian gun in service.

Extrait de: Armored Warfare in the North, p. 33
Source: Desert Armour: Tank Warfare in North Africa, p. 33

[The Matilda II] was also designated the A12. It was designed as an infantry tank. The British had wanted a larger tank and it was developed out of designs that had begun in the late-1920s. The tank weighed around 27tons. One of its big problems was that initially there was no high explosive shell for the gun, so it had to use its machine guns for close support when working with infantry. It was considerably better armoured than even the German Panzer IIIs and IVs of its time. It had a distinctive cast turret and it was nicknamed The Queen of the Desert. When the Germans and Italians first encountered the vehicle they found it almost impossible to knock out. The armour was simply too thick for the standard Italian 47mm gun and shells fired from either German 37mm or 50mm anti-tank guns simply bounced off. It was, however, vulnerable to German 75mm and 88mm guns. Although it had good protection it was incredibly slow and could manage around 6mph in the desert. The suspension was not entirely reliable, it was underpowered and if it needed to undergo repairs this took an inordinate amount of time. Just less than 3,000 of the tanks were produced and the last vehicles were delivered in August 1943. It had proved quite difficult to manufacture, particularly the turret and the fact that it had a somewhat complicated suspension system.

Extrait de: Rommel’s Army in the Desert, p. 44

Versions du Matilda II

La nomenclature des chars britanniques d’alors est relativement compliquée, comme nous l’indique le nom même du kit de Tamiya: « Matilda Mk.III/IV British Infantry Tank Mk.IIA* ».

Mark W. Tonner tente de nous démêler tout ça:

A brief note on the nomenclature (names) used by the British for the various variants of the Infantry Tank Mark II, Matilda II (A12). The suffix letter ‘A’ denoted a change in the armament of the co-axial machine gun, from that of the .303-inch Vickers machine gun, to that of the 7.92-millimetre Besa machine gun. The asterisk denoted that the power units, had been changed over to Leyland twin diesel engines, from that of AEC twin diesel engines.

[…]

Prior to June 1940, the Infantry Tank Mark II, the Infantry Tank Mark IIA, and the Infantry Tank Mark IIA*, had been simply known as the A12. As of 11 June 1940, to differentiate the various changes in armament or power units, the nomenclature was further broken down by designating the Matilda, whose co-axial machine gun was that of the .303-inch Vickers machine gun, and whose power units were AEC twin diesel engines, the Infantry Tank Mark II. Those with the 7.92-millimetre Besa co-axial machine gun, and whose power units were AEC twin diesel engines, were designated the Infantry Tank Mark IIA, while those with the 7.92-millimetre Besa co-axial machine gun, and whose power units were Leyland twin diesel engines, was designated the Infantry Tank Mark IIA. As of July 1941, the nomenclature of the Matilda was changed yet again. The Infantry Tank Mark II, was designated the Matilda I, while the Infantry Tank Mark IIA, was designated the Matilda II, and the Infantry Tank Mark IIA*, was designated the Matilda III.

[…]

Matilda tanks that were powered by twin Leyland diesel engines (the Mark IIA* Matilda III onwards), could be identified by an exhaust pipe running down both sides of the engine deck

Extraits de: Part 1 – The Infantry Tank Mark II, Matilda II (A12) in Service with the Canadian Army Overseas (2013), milart.blog

Ainsi, avec deux tuyaux d’échappement, ce modèle réduit de Tamiya reproduit un Matilda II Mk.III. Il ne peut être un Mark IV car sa tourelle possède encore sa lampe, et le support pour le filet de camouflage utilise toujours des ganses de cuir plutôt qu’une structure tubulaire:

The Mk.I was never really officialised, being the first, early batch delivered in 1939. Most were lost during the French campaign, in May 1940. They were characterized by a massive trench-crossing tail, as it was thought that a stalemate style warfare was still to be expected. This feature proved useless, and the tail was never mounted on the first large-scale production variant, the Mark II. Like the Mk.I, it was equipped with a Vickers machine-gun, characterized by a large armored mantlet.

By late 1940, this model was replaced by the lighter and more recent Besa model, of the same caliber, without a mantlet. This was known as the Matilda Mk.IIA. The Besa was a British version of the Czechoslovak ZB-53. It was compact, air-cooled and belt-fed.

The next model, the Mark III, saw the replacement of the old AEC engines for more modern twin Leyland diesel engines. These were sturdier and increased the range significantly.

The Mark IV (1941-42) introduced an improved Leyland diesel, and the turret leather belt fixation replaced by a fixed tubular mounting. The turret lamp was also removed. It was the main production version, with perhaps 1200 units built throughout 1942.

The Mark V (1943), was the last version, fitted with an improved gearbox and Westinghouse air servo. Some attempts were made to replace the old QF-2pdr (40 mm/1.57 in) with a more efficient 6-pdr (57 mm) high-velocity gun, already tested on the Cromwell, Cavalier and Centaur. In this hope, a Cromwell turret was tested with the Matilda hull, but production never materialized.

Despite promising characteristics, combining firepower with an efficient armor, the age of the model, suspension design and lack of speed led to the cancellation of any other developments.

Extrait de: David B., A.12, Infantry Tank Mk.II, Matilda II, tanks-encyclopedia.com

Opération Crusader

« Tobruk. Matilda II Infantry Tanks. » Source: Australian War Memorial

Les décalques de Tamiya permettent le marquage de trois chars:

  • T6949 « Defiance », qui a servi en Libye en 1941
  • T6968 « Phantom », Afrique du Nord, 1941
  • T6943 « Filibuster », Angleterre, 1942

Seules les deux premières options requièrent un camouflage « Caunter ». Et leurs flancs montrent tous deux de larges rectangles rouge et blanc. Cette marque est typique de l’Opération Crusader: elle servit à distinguer les chars alliés de ceux capturés et utilisés par l’ennemi.1

C’est à partir de la mi-novembre 1941 que débute l’opération Crusader, qui par sa confusion est une bataille caractéristique de la Seconde Guerre mondiale. Les débuts britanniques sont difficiles et les Allemands infligent de très lourdes pertes à leurs forces blindées, notamment à Sidi Rezeigh. Tout laisse à penser que l’opération Crusader risque d’être encore plus catastrophique que l’opération Battleaxe. Toutefois, les Britanniques et leurs alliés du Commonwealth et polonais réagissent et infligent aux troupes allemandes de lourdes pertes, et peu de temps après, ceux-ci sont obligés de battre en retraite à Gazala et d’abandonner le siège de Tobrouk. Enfin, le 15 décembre, Erwin Rommel doit se replier sous la pression britannique et abandonner toute la Cyrénaïque aux Britanniques.

Extrait de: Opération Crusader, Wikipedia.fr
THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORTH AFRICA 1941 (E 1772) A British Matilda tank on its way into Tobruk, displaying an Italian flag, 24 January 1941. Copyright: © IWM. Original Source: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205203470
THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORTH AFRICA 1941 (E 2640) The crew of an A13 Cruiser tank Mk IV studying a map whilst on operations in the Western Desert, 30 April 1941. Copyright: © IWM. Original Source: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205203537
THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORTH AFRICA 1941 (E 2863) Men of the Royal Armoured Corps pose with a Matilda tank near Tobruk, 8 May 1941. Copyright: © IWM. Original Source: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205203540
THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORTH AFRICA 1941 (E 5541) Matilda tanks lined up and ready to move off near Tobruk, 12 September 1941. Copyright: © IWM. Original Source: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205203625
THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORTH AFRICA 1941 (E 6589) A Matilda tank under camouflage netting in Tobruk, 18 November 1941. Copyright: © IWM. Original Source: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205203641
THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORTH AFRICA 1941 (E 6600) Matilda tanks on the move outside the perimeter of Tobruk, 18 November 1941. Copyright: © IWM. Original Source: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205203642
THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORTH AFRICA 1941 (E 6605) Matilda tanks on the move outside the perimeter of Tobruk, 18 November 1941. Copyright: © IWM. Original Source: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205203643
THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORTH AFRICA 1941 (E 6804) The crew of a Matilda tank take a break during the fighting near Tobruk, 28 November 1941. Copyright: © IWM. Original Source: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205203652
THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORTH AFRICA 1941 (E 6864) A Matilda tank crew overhauling their vehicle in preparation for the next phase of battle near Tobruk, 1 December 1941. Copyright: © IWM. Original Source: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205203657
THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORTH AFRICA 1941 (E 7070) A Matilda tank knocked out during battle near Tobruk, 15 December 1941. Copyright: © IWM. Original Source: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205203666

J’aimais bien le marquage de « Defiance », avec son gros numéro 4. Mais, son camouflage comptait du brun au lieu du Slate. J’ai donc choisi de reproduire « Phantom », un des cinq chars ayant survécu à la bataille de Sidi Omar.2

THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORTH AFRICA 1941 (E 3716E) Matilda tank, named ‘Phantom’, of 42nd Royal Tank Regiment, 24 November 1941. Copyright: © IWM. Original Source: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205207171

Situons cette unité dans l’ordre de bataille de l’Opération Crusader3

À l’aube du 22 novembre, la 5e brigade néo-zélandaise et une partie du 8e régiment royal de chars capturent Fort Capuzzo et les 200 soldats qui le défendent et qui, surpris, ne tirent pas un coup de feu. Une autre partie du 8e RTR rencontre une colonne de l’Afrika Korps et détruit une voiture blindée et huit autres véhicules. Dans cette attaque, l’officier de liaison entre l’armée italienne et l’Afrika Korps est capturé avec tous ses codes.

Mais, après ces succès, les Britanniques ont bien du mal à progresser face notamment aux canons de 88 mm qui font un ravage face aux Matilda II. Malgré la prise du fort de Sidi Omar Nuovo, les Britanniques échouent face à Lybian Omar. Lors de cette action, les 44e et 42e régiments royaux de chars perdent 46 chars, 6 officiers (1 blessé) et 43 hommes (21 blessés) et un disparu.

Extrait de: Opération Crusader, Wikipedia.fr
Source: Desert Armour: Tank Warfare in North Africa, p. 263

[The 42nd Royal Tank Regiment] had in fact only received a full squadron of tanks (albeit missing a lot of equipment) by 12 October, six weeks before the start of the operation, and the tanks needed to equip the second squadron were only received by 11 November, one week before the start of the operation. In consequence, there was no opportunity for this battalion, which had never seen action, to prepare for its task by training with the infantry it was to support.

Moreover, many tanks had been taken over from 8 R.T.R., which itself had been equipped with the new Infantry Tank Mk. III, the Valentine. These tanks were not only missing equipment, but some of them seem to have been mechanically a bit worn out, leading to breakdowns during the approach march. One has to wonder if this contributed to the extremely heavy casualties (22 out of 28 I tanks were lost) suffered in the assault on Sidi Omar. But in any case, this supports the view of General Auchinleck, that the operation had to be postponed, something which Churchill was unwilling to accept.

Extrait de: The late arrival of 42 R.T.R., rommelsriposte.com

Manquements au kit

Le kit de Tamiya omet les numéro 10 peints des deux côtés de la tourelle, près du marquage rouge et blanc.4

Même récente (2021), cette illustration par Vincent Bourguignon est erronée. Hormis ce Silver Grey encore trop bleu, le réservoir arrière serait un anachronisme pour les chars ayant participé à l’Opération Crusader: ce long baril à l’horizontal ne serait apparu que plus tard.5 Auparavant, la réserve d’essence supplémentaire se trouvait dans des flimsies6 placés dans une cage, que l’on voit très bien dans cette photo d’un Matilda capturé par les Allemands.

Source: Desert Armour: Tank Warfare in North Africa, p. 224

Steve Zaloga a apporté d’autres corrections à son montage de « Phantom » afin de mieux représenter l’original

The earlier Matilda castings were flat under the driver’s visor, but the kit depicts the later configuration with a thickened front to prevent bullets from ricocheting up into the base of the visor. This can be corrected with some judicous grinding under of the kit part which is thick enough to permit it. The kit comes with the later style of rear fuel drum, but the Operation Crusader tanks were fitted with a simple frame rack for six petrol or water cans. I scratch-built this from Evergreen strip and used the Ultracast resin flimsies for the cans. The kit has indented front fenders but the Crusader period Matildas had a straight shape. The Crusader Matildas had small fittings for the « Sunshields » on the side which can be added from sheet plastic. The particular tank I wanted to model had some dust covers fitted on the front which I made from wine-bottle lead sheet.

Mon projet déjà bien avancé quand j’ai trouvé cette référence, il était trop tard pour que je me mette à sabler la coque. Mais, en plus du fameux panier à flimsies, je me suis procuré, avec les même frais de transport, des garde-boues, et les lances-grenades fumigènes.

Peinture

Couleurs de base

J’ai ignoré les instructions de Tamiya, pour leur préférer les couleurs d’AK Interactive.

BSCTamiyaAK Interactive
BSC no. 28 Silver GreyXF-23 Bleu clairAK11374
BSC no. 61 Light StoneXF-58 Jaune désertAK11377
BSC no. 34 SlateXF-26 : 5 + XF-1 : 17AK11375

Ceci étant, il aurait peut-être été plus véridique historiquement si, au lieu du Light Stone, j’avais utilisé du BSC no. 64 Portland Stone. Mais, à mes yeux, celui-ci ne contrastait pas suffisamment avec le Silver Grey.

Filtres et badigeons

Sur l’ensemble de la coque préalablement protégée de vernis acrylique brillant, j’ai appliqué une couche de peinture à l’huile couleur Paynes Grey bien diluée. Cette étape ayant déjà fait ressortir la plupart des détails, je n’ai eu qu’à faire quelques pinwashes supplémentaires.

Coupole

Tamiya suggère de peindre le périscope en noir, et les pistons liés aux portes de l’écoutille en noir et rouge-brun. Mais, en visionnant une vidéo de Nicholas Moran, j’ai eu la surprise de voir non pas deux pistons noirs pour chaque porte, mais seulement un, bien brillant. En cherchant un peu plus, je suis tombé sur des photos d’usine montrant un périscope à la couleur claire.

Grâce aux photos en haute résolution de l’excellent ouvrage de Robert Forczyk, Desert Armour: Tank Warfare in North Africa, trouvé par après, j’ai pu mieux discerner ces détails:

Périscope pâle et un piston
Un seul piston
Deux pistons matelassés?

J’ai finalement trouvé dans un ouvrage polonais datant de 2021, une superbe vue de la coupole du commandant:

Source: Ledwoch (2021), Matilda, p. 18

Sur l’image suivante, on voit très bien le périscope, non pas noir, mais bien d’une couleur claire. Il semble cependant d’un autre modèle que celui des images précédentes. Notamment, il y manque les poignées noires aux bouts arrondis. On constate également que les pistons de ce côté ne sont pas matelassés, et que les cylindres du bas paraissent en effet noirs…

Source: British Battle Tanks: British-Made Tanks of World War II, p. 31

Équipage

Pages connexes

Bibliographie

  • FLETCHER, David (1994) Matilda Infantry Tank 1938 – 45. Osprey, 48 p.
  • FLETCHER, David (2017) British Battle Tanks: British-Made Tanks of World War II. Bloomsbury, 280 p.
  • FORCZYK, Robert (2023) Desert Armour: Tank Warfare in North Africa: Beda Fomm to Operation Crusader, 1940-41. Osprey, 337 p.
  • FORD, Ken (2010) Operation Crusader 1941: Rommel in Retreat. Osprey, 96 p.
  • GRANT, Neil (2017) British Tank Crewman 1939-45. Osprey,
  • KIROFF, Jürgen et collab. (2017) Real Colors of WWII. AK Interactive, 208 p.
  • LEDWOCH, Janusz (2021) Matilda. Tank Power vol. XLII, no. 267., 84 p.
  • PORTER, David (2009) Western Allied Tanks, 1939-45. Amber Books, 192 p.
  • SMITH, Alistair (2013) Images of War – Rommel’s Army in the Desert, 224 p.
  • TUCKER-JONES, Anthony (2011) Images of War – Armoured Warfare in the North African Campaign. Pen & Swords, 293 p.

Vidéographie

Webographie

Wikipedia

Notes

  1. Source: Mike Starmer via theminiaturespage.com
  2. The late arrival of 42 R.T.R.
  3. Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Crusader_orders_of_battle
  4. Matilda Operation Crusader 1941
  5. Steve Zaloga (2009)
  6. Ou « POW can », pour « Petrol, Oil and Water can »
  7. Mélange de vert foncé et de noir

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