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Image Licensing : Matilda II tanks under construction at Swindon Work in 1941
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Matilda II tanks under construction at Swindon Work in 1941
In September 1941, three Matilda II tanks were photographed leaving AE shop on Rectank wagons. The tanks are incomplete and are presumably ready to be transported elsewhere for final assembly. These tanks were just 3 of nearly 3, 000 such tanks produced by heavy manufacturing companies throughout Britain between 1939 and 1943. They were heavily armoured vehicles used by the British Infantry, most prominently in the North Africa Campaign, where their success earned them the nickname, Queen of the Desert. STEAM - Museum of the Great Western Railway.
Media ID 19929725
Filename: 15.jpg
Size: 2764 x 1868 (1.4MB)
Date: 10th March 2014
Source: STEAM Museum of the GWR
Unique Reference Number: W8 075 & HWW2-1 068
Swindon Works Tank World War 2
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> The Railway at War > Second World War
> Swindon Works > Locomotive Works > A Shop
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In this evocative photograph from Swindon Works during World War II, three Matilda II tanks are seen under construction, poised for transportation. The year is 1941, and these incomplete tanks, with their distinctive angled armor and imposing presence, are ready to be moved elsewhere for final assembly. Swindon Works, a significant hub for heavy manufacturing in Britain during the conflict, played a pivotal role in producing nearly 3,000 of these formidable vehicles between 1939 and 1943. The Matilda II tanks were a vital component of the British military arsenal, with their heavily armored bodies providing crucial protection for infantry units. The Matilda II tanks, affectionately known as the "Queen of the Desert," earned this nickname through their successful deployment in the North African Campaign. These tanks' robust design and impressive capabilities proved invaluable in the harsh desert conditions, making them a formidable force against enemy forces. In this image, the tanks are seen leaving the AE shop, likely bound for the final stages of assembly. The Recktank wagons, visible in the background, were used to transport the tanks to their next destination. The scene encapsulates the industrious spirit and determination of the British manufacturing sector during World War II, as they worked tirelessly to produce the vital equipment needed to support the war effort.
