Chapter Thirty-Four Tank

  This unidentified team was naturally the team led by Liu Qi, from the residence of the 4th Division of India to 'Alemann', with the cooperation of General Matthew and Major Beck, the convoy passed through several checkpoints very smoothly.

  The convoy stopped again at the last checkpoint of the British Army Group Command in 'Ah Le Man'. The reason was simple, Liu Qi had taken a fancy to the 4 'Matilda' 2 tanks parked at the checkpoint. They were about to arrive at Monty's old nest. Liu Qi didn't expect that just relying on a small Major Matthew could cover himself breaking through this heavily guarded Army Command. So it was necessary to seize these 4 'Matilda' 2 tanks as assault weapons.

  The Matilda II is a good thing. The Matilda is the only tank in the world named after a woman. The characteristics of the Matilda II tank are that it has a 2-pound gun (caliber 40mm) on the turret, side skirts and mudguards on the hull, and increased armor thickness on all parts. The main armor thickness of the hull and turret is 75-78mm, secondary armor is 25-55mm, and some parts use frame structure to increase stiffness.

  In terms of internal structure, the "Matilda" 2 tank has another feature that uses two engines, with obvious advantages and disadvantages. The disadvantage is that it increases the volume of the power device, occupies precious space in the car, and there is a problem of synchronization coordination when the two machines work together. The only advantage is that when one engine is damaged or faulty, the other engine can move at low speed, maintaining some combat effectiveness. During World War II, the Soviet T-70 light tank and SU-76 self-propelled gun also adopted a twin-engine layout scheme. Undoubtedly, the twin-engine layout scheme on tanks has more disadvantages than advantages, with obvious signs of temporary improvisation. Tanks do not emphasize air safety like aircraft. After World War II, there were basically no twin-engine layouts on tanks.

  The main armament of the Matilda II was the 2-pounder (40 mm) tank gun with a barrel length of 52 calibers. Although not large in caliber, this weapon was effective against the armor of most Axis tanks in 1940–41. It could fire armour-piercing shot and high explosive shell; the latter was useful against unarmoured targets.

  During the North African campaign, German tanks and anti-tank guns were basically ineffective against this iron lady. Only Rommel's trump card 88mm anti-aircraft gun could penetrate its armor. Its unparalleled armor earned it the reputation of 'Queen of the Battlefield'. It is no wonder that the Matilda II tank was a heavy tank that gave Rommel a headache on the African battlefield.

  Don't look at the 'Matilda' 2-type tank as being very fierce, but Liu Qi looked down on it. For someone from a later generation who has seen the US M1A1 tank and Russia's T90 tank, the 'Matilda' 2-type tank is like a toy for children. However, under current circumstances, Liu Qi was not allowed to be picky.

  This checkpoint was composed of a battalion-sized force, including an anti-tank artillery company. It was also reinforced with a small detachment of Matilda 2 tanks. With such a composition, even if it were a peacetime infantry regiment that attacked, it would not be easy to take down quickly.

  But Liu Qi had his golden finger, Major General Matthew. A British major general was as unreachable to ordinary British soldiers as the stars in the sky. When Major General Matthew met with the highest commander of this checkpoint, a captain, at Liu Qi's request.

  When the lieutenant heard the major's speech at the assembly point, he couldn't help but feel a bit annoyed, thinking that the old man had so many useless words to say. However, facing the shiny gold star, he didn't have the courage to resist. So he immediately blew the assembly whistle. As a result, except for a few soldiers who were still standing guard on the road, everyone was assembled in an open space nearby, even the tank crew of the "Matilda" 2-type tank all emerged from their tanks and stood in the middle of the formation.

  Liu Qi saw the situation and waved his hand, and the German soldiers wearing British military uniforms all jumped off the vehicles and stood around the British with guns. While Kaito took a few people to the position of the sentry on the road.

  Then Liu Qi and the doctor brought Major Matthew to the front of the troops. Major Matthew, pale-faced, said: "Brave officers and soldiers of the great British Empire, your courage in fighting for your country is admirable. What I want to tell you is that now everyone put down their weapons. Because for you, the war is over. From now on, you will no longer have to face the German army and make fearless sacrifices."

  As soon as the general in front said they were to lay down their arms, these British soldiers all got into a hubbub. The commander of the British troops was alarmed and asked General Matthew, "General, what's going on? Why are we being told to lay down our arms?"

  Matthew glanced at Liu Qi and didn't say another word. Liu Qi calmly said, "Captain, please mind your attitude when speaking to the General."

  "Sorry, General," the captain said hastily to Matthew. "It's my fault, but you can't ask me to put down my weapons either. But you should know that we are only a dozen kilometers away from the army command headquarters. We are the last line of defense for the protection of the command center. So I refuse to execute your order."

  Liu Qi said he had seen foolish people, but never as foolish as this one. What's wrong with his brain? Was it kicked by a donkey or what? How could he be so stupid? Then he turned to the lieutenant and said, "Lieutenant, I forgot to introduce myself. I am Hans Andri, a colonel in the German SS. You are surrounded, our soldiers are all around you. If you do not order your men to surrender within one minute, I will command my troops to open fire on you." After finishing speaking, Liu Qi raised his hand and looked at his watch, while his other hand was held high in the air, waiting for the time to pass before giving the order to shoot.

  The German soldiers next to them also raised their weapons and aimed directly at the British soldiers in the middle of the field, waiting for Liu Qi's order to start attacking.

  The British captain finally realized that the troops were actually German and Italian soldiers in disguise. However, facing hundreds of rifles, the captain wisely removed his pistol and said to Liu Qi, "Colonel, no need to consider it, I surrender." The refreshing feeling was also felt by Liu Qi, who couldn't believe it.

  The book implies that British officers have always had an attitude of being content with their fate. They would not feel too much shame about being captured.

  In the early years of World War II, there were a large number of British officers captured by the German army in France. After being captured, they did not have the slightest awareness of being prisoners of war. Instead, they kept asking the German soldiers guarding them for this and that, making the German guards extremely annoyed. For these captured British military officers, it was like a vacation.

  Especially some British military staff, they would stand in front of the house on the big street and laugh loudly, not feeling uncomfortable at all. The only thing that bothered them was that the German propaganda agency and other officers and soldiers were taking pictures of them one after another, making them feel a little uncomfortable. Those staff members were all formal civil servants in the army, all well-educated, from rich families, and truly upper-class people in their own country.

  However, Hitler treated the captured British and American personnel relatively well. The living supplies allocated to them even exceeded those of ordinary German soldiers still fighting on the front lines.

  So, British officers were not afraid of being captured at all. Especially in North Africa, the elegant Rommel even ordered that all surrendered prisoners of war should not be mistreated. Basically, what German soldiers had, British soldiers who were captured also had, except for weapons, of course. What's more, when they encountered extreme water shortages, the Germans would rather not drink themselves than ensure that the captured personnel had water. As for the North African campaign, apart from Churchill and a few other British officers, everyone thought that losing to Rommel was not a shameful thing. Some officers even thought it was an honorable thing.

  Even military and political leaders after the war commented that the North African campaign was one of the cleanest wars in military history. The two armies clashed like medieval knights, both fighting for their country and faith. At heart, the Germans respected the British, just as they considered the Anglo-Saxons to be a branch of the Germanic people, and the British seemed to hold a similar view.

  Both sides were purely military, with Rommel and Montgomery as typical representatives. The German army had no SS, except for one exception, Liu Qi. As for the British army, they were always gentlemen. There was a story circulating between the two armies that after a German armored patrol ambushed a British unit, they immediately provided medical assistance to the wounded British soldiers and shared their precious water with them. Except for taking away the British cigarettes and weapons, nothing else was taken, and they were released immediately. The British responded with a solemn military salute.

  Liu Qi smoothly obtained all the heavy weapons of this regiment, including the 4 "Matilda" II tanks. It is impossible not to admire the quality of German and Italian soldiers. Although they were not tankers, they relied on their experience driving tractors in their hometowns and were able to start these four "Matilda" II tanks in no time. Although the tanks ran in a zigzag pattern, they generally followed the route of the convoy.

  Liu Qi ordered his subordinates to destroy all communication tools at the checkpoint, and then took away all the belts, shoes, and weapons of the British soldiers. Then, without assigning anyone to guard them, he let them rest in the tents on the spot. After doing all this, he pulled the only 4 40mm anti-aircraft guns on the checkpoint's position directly towards Ahleman.

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  Got up a bit late, upload can't be very timely. Sorry everyone.