Malta Tanks (Royal Tank Regiment)



The Malta Tanks was a unit designation for an independent Royal Tank Regiment (RTR) unit made of a mixture of British tank types deployed to Malta in World War II.

Role and deployment
The first armoured unit destined for Malta was organised in 1940. The unit was formed with strength of five officers and 62 other ranks; and was attached to 44th Royal Tank Regiment prior to its embarkation for Malta; the unit was part of Malta Command.

On 28 November 1940 1 Independent Troop, 44 RTR (commanded by Captain R E H Drury) arrived on Malta on Convoy R.45. The troop's heavy equipment included:
 * Four Matilda II infantry tanks (named 'Faulknor', 'Gallant', 'Greyhound' and 'Griffin')
 * Two Light Tank Mk VIB
 * Four motorcycles
 * Four Bedford OXD 30-cwt lorries
 * Two 15-cwt trucks
 * One 15-cwt water bowser
 * One 'Car Utility'.

In 1942 the tanks of A Squadron 6th Royal Tank Regiment (which had sailed from Alexandria) arrived on the island. By 30 June 1942 the British armour was organised thus:
 * One troop of Vickers Light Tanks
 * Two troops of cruiser tanks
 * One troop of Matilda tanks

A Squadron 6 RTR group was made up of three officers (Major S D G Longworth, Lt K J H Macdonald and 2Lt J Stiddard and 79 other ranks.

On 21 December 1942 A Squadron, 6 Royal Tank Regiment amalgamated with the Malta Tank Troop and was reported as “Malta Tanks” with effect from this date. The whole unit remained under Central Infantry Brigade for administration. Malta Tanks was commanded by Major S D G Longworth. X Squadron had set sail with 13 A13 Cruiser tanks but five were lost when the ship carrying them struck a mine and sank. Other tanks (Valentines) also arrived in 1942.

The unit never became larger than 19 vehicles and did not see action. It spent the war patrolling, boosting morale across central Malta and acting as tugs removing damaged aircraft from runways.

Equipment
Malta Tanks was equipped with five types of tank during its time on the Island.