1st Army Tank Brigade: Royal Tank Corps WWII

A12 Mk II Matilda, 42nd RTR, Operation Crusader December 1941 (Tamiya Kit with caunter camo)
The 1st Arny Tank Brigade in Operation Crusader was engaged in supporting Infantry assaults on coastal fortresses of Sollom and Bardia while the Armored divisions tangled with German and Italian Armor South of Tobruk. A year earlier, Matildas of the 7th RTR played a similar role in Operation Compass and proved unstoppable to the Italian defenders. With the arrival of the Germans in the Spring of 1941, the Matilda was not as invincible as it had once seemed. Rommel's 88mm flak and 50mm Pak 38 AT guns had proven able to deal with them. Crusader would be the swan song for the Matilda in North Africa and served in diminishing numbers in 1942 and 1943, mostly as flail tanks for mine clearing operations. The Matilda also saw service in Russia (lend lease) and the Far East with the Australian Army.  

A12 Mk II Matilda, 42nd RTR, Operation Crusader December 1941 (Tamiya Kit with caunter camo)
The 1st Arny Tank Brigade in Operation Crusader was engaged in supporting Infantry assaults on coastal fortresses of Sollom and Bardia while the Armored divisions tangled with German and Italian Armor South of Tobruk. A year earlier, Matildas of the 7th RTR played a similar role in Operation Compass and proved unstoppable to the Italian defenders. With the arrival of the Germans in the Spring of 1941, the Matilda was not as invincible as it had once seemed. Rommel's 88mm flak and 50mm Pak 38 AT guns had proven able to deal with them. Crusader would be the swan song for the Matilda in North Africa and served in diminishing numbers in 1942 and 1943, mostly as flail tanks for mine clearing operations. The Matilda also saw service in Russia (lend lease) and the Far East with the Australian Army.  

A12 Mk II Matilda, 42nd RTR, Operation Crusader December 1941 (Tamiya Kit with caunter camo)
The 1st Arny Tank Brigade in Operation Crusader was engaged in supporting Infantry assaults on coastal fortresses of Sollom and Bardia while the Armored divisions tangled with German and Italian Armor South of Tobruk. A year earlier, Matildas of the 7th RTR played a similar role in Operation Compass and proved unstoppable to the Italian defenders. With the arrival of the Germans in the Spring of 1941, the Matilda was not as invincible as it had once seemed. Rommel's 88mm flak and 50mm Pak 38 AT guns had proven able to deal with them. Crusader would be the swan song for the Matilda in North Africa and served in diminishing numbers in 1942 and 1943, mostly as flail tanks for mine clearing operations. The Matilda also saw service in Russia (lend lease) and the Far East with the Australian Army.  

A12 Mk II Matilda, 42nd RTR, Operation Crusader December 1941 (Tamiya Kit with caunter camo)
The 1st Arny Tank Brigade in Operation Crusader was engaged in supporting Infantry assaults on coastal fortresses of Sollom and Bardia while the Armored divisions tangled with German and Italian Armor South of Tobruk. A year earlier, Matildas of the 7th RTR played a similar role in Operation Compass and proved unstoppable to the Italian defenders. With the arrival of the Germans in the Spring of 1941, the Matilda was not as invincible as it had once seemed. Rommel's 88mm flak and 50mm Pak 38 AT guns had proven able to deal with them. Crusader would be the swan song for the Matilda in North Africa and served in diminishing numbers in 1942 and 1943, mostly as flail tanks for mine clearing operations. The Matilda also saw service in Russia (lend lease) and the Far East with the Australian Army.  

Valentine Mk II, 8th RTR, Operation Crusader December 1941 (AFV Club kit).
Operation Crusader marked the combat debut of the Valentine. The Valentine had been produced since mid 1940, accepted as practical simplified model using components of the cancelled A9, A10 cruiser tank models. In the Summer 1940, the new Valentine provided desperately needed tanks for Home Guard and training units in England after the loss of all the tanks sent to France to face the German Invasion in May 1940. Throughout 1941, there was a dire need for combat tanks in North Africa, but the British Armored Corp was not sure about the Valentine or how it should be used. Although it was faster than the (dreadfully slow) Matilda, it had the same armament but less armor and therefore was probably not a good replacement infantry tank. Conversely, it had the same 2 pdr gun of the cruiser tanks and better armor than the existing types in theater but due to its 15-mph max speed it seemed a poor cruiser tank replacement. The Valentine was a bit of an enigma but was finally sent to Egypt for operational trials in late 1941. Crusader showed the valentine to be extremely reliable (mechanically) and saw service as an infantry tank in increasing numbers for the remainder of the African Campaign.
Valentine tanks sawq service in Russia (lend lease) and the Far East. 

Valentine Mk II, 8th RTR, Operation Crusader December 1941 (AFV Club kit).
Operation Crusader marked the combat debut of the Valentine. The Valentine had been produced since mid 1940, accepted as practical simplified model using components of the cancelled A9, A10 cruiser tank models. In the Summer 1940, the new Valentine provided desperately needed tanks for Home Guard and training units in England after the loss of all the tanks sent to France to face the German Invasion in May 1940. Throughout 1941, there was a dire need for combat tanks in North Africa, but the British Armored Corp was not sure about the Valentine or how it should be used. Although it was faster than the (dreadfully slow) Matilda, it had the same armament but less armor and therefore was probably not a good replacement infantry tank. Conversely, it had the same 2 pdr gun of the cruiser tanks and better armor than the existing types in theater but due to its 15-mph max speed it seemed a poor cruiser tank replacement. The Valentine was a bit of an enigma but was finally sent to Egypt for operational trials in late 1941. Crusader showed the valentine to be extremely reliable (mechanically) and saw service as an infantry tank in increasing numbers for the remainder of the African Campaign.
Valentine tanks sawq service in Russia (lend lease) and the Far East. 

Valentine Mk II, 8th RTR, Operation Crusader December 1941 (AFV Club kit).
Operation Crusader marked the combat debut of the Valentine. The Valentine had been produced since mid 1940, accepted as practical simplified model using components of the cancelled A9, A10 cruiser tank models. In the Summer 1940, the new Valentine provided desperately needed tanks for Home Guard and training units in England after the loss of all the tanks sent to France to face the German Invasion in May 1940. Throughout 1941, there was a dire need for combat tanks in North Africa, but the British Armored Corp was not sure about the Valentine or how it should be used. Although it was faster than the (dreadfully slow) Matilda, it had the same armament but less armor and therefore was probably not a good replacement infantry tank. Conversely, it had the same 2 pdr gun of the cruiser tanks and better armor than the existing types in theater but due to its 15-mph max speed it seemed a poor cruiser tank replacement. The Valentine was a bit of an enigma but was finally sent to Egypt for operational trials in late 1941. Crusader showed the valentine to be extremely reliable (mechanically) and saw service as an infantry tank in increasing numbers for the remainder of the African Campaign.
Valentine tanks sawq service in Russia (lend lease) and the Far East. 

Valentine Mk II, 8th RTR, Operation Crusader December 1941 (AFV Club kit).
Operation Crusader marked the combat debut of the Valentine. The Valentine had been produced since mid 1940, accepted as practical simplified model using components of the cancelled A9, A10 cruiser tank models. In the Summer 1940, the new Valentine provided desperately needed tanks for Home Guard and training units in England after the loss of all the tanks sent to France to face the German Invasion in May 1940. Throughout 1941, there was a dire need for combat tanks in North Africa, but the British Armored Corp was not sure about the Valentine or how it should be used. Although it was faster than the (dreadfully slow) Matilda, it had the same armament but less armor and therefore was probably not a good replacement infantry tank. Conversely, it had the same 2 pdr gun of the cruiser tanks and better armor than the existing types in theater but due to its 15-mph max speed it seemed a poor cruiser tank replacement. The Valentine was a bit of an enigma but was finally sent to Egypt for operational trials in late 1941. Crusader showed the valentine to be extremely reliable (mechanically) and saw service as an infantry tank in increasing numbers for the remainder of the African Campaign.
Valentine tanks sawq service in Russia (lend lease) and the Far East. 

LVT-4 Amphibious Tractor (Buffalo), 11th RTR, 1st Army Tank Brigade, 79th Armored Division, Belgium or Holland, October/ November 1944.
This regiment had been selected for the top secret CDL (Canal Defense Light) in 1943 and arrived in Normandy in August 1944. In September, the CDL Grant Tanks were turned in and they received LVT Buffaloes to allow amphibious transportation of troop and materials in the Sheldt area (waterway approaches to the Port of Antwerp, Belgium and operations in Holland. The Regiment transferred to the 33rd Armored Brigade as the 1st Army Tank Brigade was disbanded in December 1944. The 11th RTR and their Buffaloes remained with the 33rd AB and the 79th AD until VE Day, taking part in the Rhine Crossings in Germany in the Spring of 1945. 

LVT-4 Amphibious Tractor (Buffalo), 11th RTR, 1st Army Tank Brigade, 79th Armored Division, Belgium or Holland, October/ November 1944.
This regiment had been selected for the top secret CDL (Canal Defense Light) in 1943 and arrived in Normandy in August 1944. In September, the CDL Grant Tanks were turned in and they received LVT Buffaloes to allow amphibious transportation of troop and materials in the Sheldt area (waterway approaches to the Port of Antwerp, Belgium and operations in Holland. The Regiment transferred to the 33rd Armored Brigade as the 1st Army Tank Brigade was disbanded in December 1944. The 11th RTR and their Buffaloes remained with the 33rd AB and the 79th AD until VE Day, taking part in the Rhine Crossings in Germany in the Spring of 1945. 

LVT-4 Amphibious Tractor (Buffalo), 11th RTR, 1st Army Tank Brigade, 79th Armored Division, Belgium or Holland, October/ November 1944.
This regiment had been selected for the top secret CDL (Canal Defense Light) in 1943 and arrived in Normandy in August 1944. In September, the CDL Grant Tanks were turned in and they received LVT Buffaloes to allow amphibious transportation of troop and materials in the Sheldt area (waterway approaches to the Port of Antwerp, Belgium and operations in Holland. The Regiment transferred to the 33rd Armored Brigade as the 1st Army Tank Brigade was disbanded in December 1944. The 11th RTR and their Buffaloes remained with the 33rd AB and the 79th AD until VE Day, taking part in the Rhine Crossings in Germany in the Spring of 1945. 

LVT-4 Amphibious Tractor (Buffalo), 11th RTR, 1st Army Tank Brigade, 79th Armored Division, Belgium or Holland, October/ November 1944.
This regiment had been selected for the top secret CDL (Canal Defense Light) in 1943 and arrived in Normandy in August 1944. In September, the CDL Grant Tanks were turned in and they received LVT Buffaloes to allow amphibious transportation of troop and materials in the Sheldt area (waterway approaches to the Port of Antwerp, Belgium and operations in Holland. The Regiment transferred to the 33rd Armored Brigade as the 1st Army Tank Brigade was disbanded in December 1944. The 11th RTR and their Buffaloes remained with the 33rd AB and the 79th AD until VE Day, taking part in the Rhine Crossings in Germany in the Spring of 1945.