2. - The British Army's most successful tank in the opening campaigns of the Second World War. - The Matilda II was designed to provide close support for infantry. Its slow speed was compensated by thick armour and a 2-pounder gun capable of dealing with enemy tanks and fortified positions. - Development began in the 1930s and the first batch of Matilda IIs were just entering service when war broke out in September 1939. They performed with distinction during the Battle of France in 1940, and later i North Africa during 1940-41. - Its supremacy was ended with the arrival of superior German equipment in 1941. The Afrika Korps's Weapons, especially the 88mm Flak gun, made the Matilda appear slow, undergunned and inadequately armoured. The tank was Withdrawn from North Africa in 1942. - Later versions were built with other additions, such as flamethrowers.
4. As in most wars, the WWII was won by numbers and weapons. The tank was developed by the British during WWI, and quickly grew to become the most important weapon of war. Further developed in the years between the wars and during WWII, the British tank was invincible until it was overtaken by the Germans' inginious tanks, which quickly came to dominate the war. Tanks like this, the German Tiger I, weighted over 62 tonnes and travelled at 38 km/h.
5.
6. The tanks proved so successful that even now, half a decade later, tanks are still used frequently or are continuesly made in case of a war should break out It is assumed that about 5.1 mio. vehicles were used during WWII, and about half of these were tanks.
