Young Pak 38 crew adds another kill ring to their barrel near knocked out Soviet Tanks in 1942

A young Pak 38 crew adds another kill ring to their barrel near British-made Matilda II T.46008 knocked out on the Eastern Front in the Summer of 1942

The Red Army received 918 of the 1,084 Matildas sent to the USSR. The Soviet Matildas saw action as early as the Battle of Moscow and became fairly common during 1942. Unsurprisingly, the tank was found to be too slow and unreliable. Crews often complained that snow and dirt were accumulating behind the "skirt" panels, clogging the suspension. The heavy armour on the Matilda was comparable to that of the Red Army's KV-1 heavy tanks, but the Matilda had nowhere near the firepower of the KV. Most Soviet Matildas were expended during 1942 but a few served on as late as 1944. The Soviets modified the tanks with the addition of sections of steel welded to the tracks to give better grip.

T.46008 sports a lateral penetrating hit as well as an apparent impact from a shell than glanced off the muzzle.