Matilda Black Prince – Premium Tank Review
Manufacturer: United Kingdom (1941, prototype)
Tier V Medium Tank
So… you want to command the Matilda Black Prince, eh? Well, listen up chaps, because this metal beast is no easy ride. A cunning commander will get his tank in the right position to unleash hell on the enemy, but make a mistake, and you’ll find yourself out of engagement range, or worse, blasted to scrap metal. I’m here to make sure that doesn’t happen.
- Is this you? Read on, and hopefully you will learn a few tips to avoid being wrecked again.
Firepower
A legacy of British tank doctrine, the 6-pdr guns are versatile weapons designed for engaging enemy armour while supporting the advance of infantry. In-game, this translates to a gun with a high rate of fire and average penetration; however, the damage per shot is not quite so spectacular. This is usually adequate for methodically picking apart most enemy tanks that you encounter, including most Tier V Mediums and TDs. You will have no trouble penetrating Tier III and IV tanks, as well as many of the less-armoured Tier V tanks. However, use caution when shooting at Tier V Heavies and other tanks with very thick armour, particularly the Soviet KV series; aim for weak spots to avoid any shells bouncing. It’s rare that you’ll encounter a high number of Tier VI tanks in one game, but basic knowledge of enemy weak spots should be sufficient.
Because the Matilda BP can only carry a mere 55 shells, it is strongly advised to conserve your ammunition, as the high rate of fire can see you deplete your magazine quickly if you’re not careful. For most situations, stock up on AP shells, and only take a few HE shells – this is down to personal preference. Gold APCR shells provide a significant boost to penetration, but the cost-effectiveness is still very much a choice for the player to make.
The turret offers very respectable gun depression and great gun elevation. Combining this comfortably wide arc with the faster turret traverse typical of most British tanks, lining up a shot should be easy even when angled around the slope of a hill. However, a word of caution; the tank’s unmodified aim time is just slightly longer than the reload time, so for maximum accuracy, it’s recommended to wait an extra fraction of a second before firing, if the situation permits.
- Taking aim. Make every shot count!
Armour
The Matilda Black Prince has exactly the same hull as its predecessor, the Tier IV Matilda. While on paper this may seem somewhat below-average for Tier V (75 mm), the front of the tank is surprisingly effective at bouncing weak or poorly-aimed shots, thanks to sloped panels. Angling is essential in any engagement to protect the tank from damage. Because the turret is placed slightly forward of the centre of the tank, this usually permits you to peek around cover while protecting your more vulnerable rear armour; taking engine damage can paralyse this already slow tank. The turret itself has armour almost as thick as the hull, which offers decent protection, but the boxy shape means it’s less likely to bounce shots. In particular, high-calibre shells hitting the rear of the turret can occasionally cause ammo rack damage, crippling the tank’s offensive capabilities. The side skirts have some thin spaced armour, which offer some extra protection for your tracks.
Having an above average hit point count (610 HP) means that you’re unlikely to be destroyed in one shot, except by well-aimed artillery and/or ammo rack explosions. This is enough health to take a few shots and keep on going, but by no means should you be soaking up damage for the team – that is the role of proper heavy tanks. If you’ve taken significant damage, this should serve as a warning that you need to relocate to a safer position, out of the line of fire of enemy tanks that are targeting you.
- Getting ready to roll across the desert sands.
Mobility
Arguably the single worst aspect of the Matilda Black Prince is its extremely weak engine. The only noticeable redeeming quality it has is the reduced chance of fire compared to most engines. However, if the engine is getting damaged, you probably have more serious and immediate issues than the possibility of an engine fire, and you need to eliminate the immediate threat. The weak power ratio means that attempting to go up even a shallow incline can reduce your speed to a crawl, and deep rivers or swamps can be a death sentence for the careless tank commander. While it is a relatively less mobile tank, the hull traverse isn’t too bad, allowing you to comfortably angle your armour. However, when turning around on a slope, it may be easier just to come to a stop, turn, and then accelerate again.
- Getting painted up with winter camouflage in the garage.
Auxiliary Equipment
The MBP’s radio has a signal range significantly higher than other British tanks of similar tiers, which helps compensate for the tank’s poor speed. For players who like to take on the role of “team leader”, this can be a useful tool in helping coordinate your allied tanks. The tank’s view range is about average; it’s not particularly short, but it’s not far enough to act as spotter for other tanks (unless they’re in close range).
As a Premium tank, the Matilda BP is no slouch for earning silver. Even if you are defeated, you will still make some money unless you’ve used a few consumables. This income margin is enough to support the use of the basic consumables on other tanks, or to help pay for temporary camouflage. On that note, it’s worth paying silver to buy camouflage on this tank, since you will be able to afford it, and every edge that you have over the enemy is important – just don’t rely on it to stay hidden forever. It’s also possible to use the tank for crew training, but exp generation isn’t always that fast, and it doesn’t have a seat for a Radio Operator.
For mounted equipment, the Wiki recommends Improved Vents, Gun Rammer, and Gun Laying Drive. This is decent advice, as it capitalises on the strengths of the MBP’s rapidly delivered firepower, and Vents are good for an overall performance boost. In terms of consumables, the standard set of Small Repair Kit, Small First Aid Kit, and Manual Fire Extinguisher should be sufficient for most battles.
- Make terrain work to your advantage.
Combat Tactics
The Matilda BP is very much a tank for the strategist. It rewards the patient hunter, but shackles speed fiend and underwhelms the juggernaut. Maintaining battlefield awareness is absolutely essential to ensure that your tank is kept out of the line of fire, as well as being deployed for maximum effectiveness of firepower. Not only is it important to keep track of the approximate disposition of your own team, but also try and predict what positions the enemy will take. What would you do if you were in their position? How might they be unpredictable? How can your tanks deploy to be tactically flexible yet effective at attacking / defending / taking an objective? Keep an eye on the minimap at all times. Plan your route while the timer is counting down to the start of the battle.
Being a “second line” tank means that early in the game, you must be moving up well behind a tank with more serious armour. Let enemy heavies duel each other while targeting enemy stragglers or flankers that might be trying take advantage of an ally distracted by a frontal assault. For prolonged fire fights, staying behind cover is absolutely essential as the tank’s bulky profile is not well suited to staying hidden once its position is revealed by firing. Note that your slow speed means that once you’ve picked your path to the objective / enemy base, it will be very difficult to relocate rapidly, so choose wisely – it is inadvisable to take a path alone. When playing defensively, choose positions where you can cover a wide area with your fast-turning turret, but remain protected by solid cover.
Enemy tanks that the MBP can comfortably engage include all Tier IV tanks and below, as well as Tier V light tanks and weakly-armoured TDs and medium tanks. Good penetration against these tanks combined with a fast rate of fire will make short work of anything that is exposed to your fire. Use caution when engaging Tier V mediums, as while they are unlikely to wipe you out in one shot, they can certainly do some damage. Beware of heavy tanks for the same reason, as they can simply put out more damage and survive more shots than you can; don’t attack one without support or unless it is already weakened. Do not forget to aim for weak points! Use extreme caution when approaching entrenched tank destroyers, as their high penetration will make short work of your armour and the large target that is the turret. Also take cover immediately if artillery shells are targeting you, since SPGs love to drop the hammer on slow-moving tanks, of which the MBP is a prime candidate.
Right… did you get all that? Don’t forget to read up on the Wiki (http://wiki.worldoftanks.com/Matilda_Black_Prince) for some hard numbers, and other player-written guides on the internet to help you succeed. Now get out there and show them what a proper British tank can do!
- Onwards to victory!
Afterword
The MBP, while it does share certain characteristics with other British tanks, is very much unique, and is not seen on the battlefield as often as other Tier V premium tanks due to the relative difficulty of using it effectively. While the MBP can be awkward and restrictive at first, successful use of the tank can be a very rewarding experience, as it truly challenges the tank commander to the fight to the best of their abilities. If you’re looking for an easy-to-drive premium tank, the Matilda Black Prince is not for you; but if you’re up for a challenge and have your wits about you, it is quite fun to play. If you have not used British tanks before, I strongly recommend playing up to the Tier IV Matilda medium tank first.
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