I suppose it would be difficult to escape in a vehicle that one can chase down of foot,
Given that all sides were short of materiel, using abandoned, captured,munitions or whatever enemy equipment may be gained, to ones own benefit would be the order of the day. Even if there were field modifications needed, to weapons automotive, etc. these were more easily done than to get replacements through channels.(yeah, like that was going to happen. )
24 km/h full speed ahead was the top speed for the Matilda, so yes if were a good runner you probably would cath it up, and in the desert the hatch is likely to open, a couple of hand grenades…hmmm, no good for the crew.
Quote: “24 km/h full speed ahead was the top speed for the Matilda, so yes if were a good runner you probably would cath it up, and in the desert the hatch is likely to open, a couple of hand grenades…hmmm, no good for the crew.”
That is why the Allies developed the Anti-Tank bicycle. 
Hmmm, a burst with the besa mg and the bike is no more.
transporting the Matilda.
I do agree my friend, I used to sell surplus BESA ammo in my gun store, it was a hot load, to strong for some of the lesser rifles chambered for the 7.92x57 cartridge. I liked shooting the A.P. rounds, they did a fine job holing steel plates if they were not too thick, 3/8"- 1/2". I have a soft spot in my head for the matilda, one of the few English tanks I favor.
I have a soft spot in my head for the matilda, one of the few English tanks I favor.
My too, is one of the few ww2 british tanks that actually worth something. 
I used to sell surplus BESA ammo in my gun store, it was a hot load, to strong for some of the lesser rifles chambered for the 7.92x57 cartridge.
Uh…get a K-98K or a VZ-35 and you will be fine shooting hot loads until the end of the world.
Russian Matilda MK III kalinin 1942.
The 98K, or other such strength action was the only ones i would sell them for.the newer mauser actions MkX, Brno, etc. would as you say eat them till the end of the world, but some people with the old M1888 bolt rifles wanted them, and that was far too fragile a rifle for the Besa load. I would not recommend them in semi auto rifles, FN49, or even the German semi auto rifles in that caliber. So if any of you yahoos out there, have a rifle in 8mm, be careful what you feed it, I purposely destroyed an old raggedy 1888 by firing 10 rds of Besa thru it, the receiver did not blow out, but it did crack in a dangerous place, the front ring. The bolt also showed signs of over pressure, headspace was gone. I wish I had pics of it to show you all. One additional thing, the Reich produced ammunition in tropical loads, and arctic loads, (if I remember right) Tropical, used in very hot climates were loaded down, to reduce pressure spikes as the combustion was accelerated by the hot temps of the desert. Conversely, the arctic loads were hot loaded so they would function normally in the extremes of cold. The point here is if you live in a warm/hot climate, do not use arctic loads as they will burn too hot for safe use in some rifles. Regard this for any nationality of rifle, as I dont remember which country used this type ammo.
i heard about the tank i was a good tank
at the end of ww2 the british came up with a tank that could stand up to a tiger and a panzer.
it was called the comet tank
Uh… Yeah… I tried that too, got pwnd… Lol…
As I promised, The Matilda campaign in East Africa, extract of “The Matilda” by Bryan Perret:
To be continued soon.
Matildas in Somaliland, continues.
Final part:
That was an interesting story, thanks for the good read.
You are welcome.
That was a great read Panzerknacker, thanks for posting it!
The Matilda and the Churchill were two of my favourite British tanks! along with the Cromwell.
Thanks for the read PK, it’s cool to read articles from the little known theaters of the war.
Yes, that was my idea
And this is also rare, Matilda in US soil.
I’m suprised that the Americans were not very impressed. As it was a better tank than anything they had in September 1940.
Admitedly it was “snail” slow, but the gun was as good as any then mounted on a “Yank tank” & the armour much thicker.
Interestingly, Grampus went on to serve in North Africa i.i.r.c.
It was better armored than anything the the Us had in that time , for sure. But I guess since the tank was not suited for cavalry like penetrations it didnt fit in US tank doctrine.
I bet those double-deckers were jealous that they didn’t have two motors… B)