Matilda wth Cromwell turret...

[robunos]

Does any one have any information on this....?
The consensus over on the Airfix Tribute forum where I came across it ,is that it's genuine, but I'm unsure...

ATF thread here :- http://airfixtributeforum.myfastforum.org/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=37928

Original source here : -http://panzerserra.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/matilda-ii-infantry-tank-a12-with-a2427.html


cheers,
Robin.

 

[CostasTT]

Stephen Zaloga's Osprey New Vanguard book on the Matilda also has this picture. He mentions the experiment of fitting a turret from the A24 Cavalier tank (the immediate predecessor of the A27L Centaur and A27M Cromwell) as a means of upgunning the tank. Note the built-up hull roof to accommodate the 57" turret ring. Zaloga also mentions that it was curious why the A24/27 turret was selected, as the A22 Churchill mounted a 6-pdr (and later a 75mm) gun in a turret with a turret ring diameter of 54", same as the Matilda. Of course, the Russians, not concerned with balancing the gun in accordance with the British fire-on-the-move doctrine of the time, went ahead and fitted their own ZiS-5 76,2mm gun into a standard Matilda turret with a new mantlet.

 

[Rickshaw]

Fletcher IIRC makes the point that it was a completely different turret to the Cavalier. Superficially similar but that's all. If you look closely, you'll see it is subtly different, lower and wider.

 

[CostasTT]

I just mentioned what was in the book.