Which tanks are this two?

[dov]

Hallo

Both pictures are taken 1940 in France. From my father in law.

 

 

 

Maybe somone knows which types this tanks are?

 

Happy modelling

[Bullbasket]

Don't know about the first one, but the second one is I believe, a Matilda Mk.1.

 

John.

[TallBlondJohn]

Second is a Matilda 1 (A11), the first is maybe some sort of Vickers 6 tonner - an export model perhaps?

[JackG]

As stated, the second photo is undoubtedly the Matilda I.

 

The first one was tricky to find,  It certainly had turret characteristics of the Czech designed LT vz.35 (or 35(t) in German service), but the running gear has different details.   So it appears to be the predecessor  LT vz.34.   Wiki states the Germans acquired 22 of these when they occupied Czechoslovakia.  No records show them being actually used in combat, but the photo in the opening posts appears to say otherwise.

 

https://www.tanks-encyclopedia.com/ww2/czech/Skoda_CKD_LT-Vz-34.php

 

 

Edited December 20, 2022 by JackG

[TallBlondJohn]

Good spot. Heaven knows what it was doing in France. As the armament has been (rather roughly) removed maybe its an artillery tractor or spotter?

[Peter Browne]

FC Modeltrend do a 1/35 3D printed resin kit (albeit an expensive one) of the A11 in minimal parts which gets a good review by Brett Green:

 

http://www.missing-lynx.com/reviews/britain/fcmodeltrendmatildaireviewbg_1.html

[Ken-l]

The were connections between Schneider (the SOMUA parent company) and the Skoda works in Czechoslovakia: I believe some design ideas were being shared. The suspension system patented by Aleksei Surin is thought to be the basis for that employed by the Somua S-35. Could it be that one or more were purchased by the French to test against the S-35, which was coming off the production line at the same time? The Czechs were exporting tanks right up until the German invasion of March 1939 though I have never seen sales to France mentioned

[Ken-l]

hi dov,

 

I have since come across another image of the same Czech vehicle (same registration # and background), though it claims to be on display in Vienna

 

 

 

[Stef N.]

I was sure someone had done one of the Matildas as it is distinctive. A rather good one too.

 

[JackG]

That Czech tank being on display makes more sense.   It explains why the lack of German crosses, and still retains the original serial, as well as the type of camouflage scheme, not something used by the Wehrmacht  in 1940. 

 

Edited December 21, 2022 by JackG

[Kingsman]

The 2 LT34 photos are certainly the same tank in the same place.  But is it Vienna or France?  I suspect this is a public display of foreign military equipment captured by German forces.  Something like that seems more probable in Greater Germany than the occupied territories and I can't see French people wanting to pose for photos with symbols of their oppressor - so my bet would be Vienna.

[JackG]

The opening poster is Austrian, and assuming his father in law is the same, and living in Austria at the time, that could very well be where both photos were taken.   Even the brick of the building behind the Matilda appears the same.

[dov]

The location of the pictures taken is unknown. France battlefield photos were in this pile. No writing at the back. I asume they are taken after the fall of France. Untill 1943 autumn time.

Happy modelling