Editing Battle of Crete (section)

====British Commonwealth====
British and Commonwealth troops used the standard [[Lee–Enfield]] rifle, [[Bren light machine gun]] and [[Vickers machine gun|Vickers medium machine gun]]. The British had about 85 artillery pieces of various calibres, many of them captured Italian weapons without sights.<ref>{{harvnb|MacDonald|1995|p=153}}.</ref> [[Anti-aircraft warfare|Anti-aircraft]] defences consisted of one light anti-aircraft battery equipped with 20&nbsp;mm automatic cannon, split between the two airfields. The guns were camouflaged, often in nearby olive groves, and some were ordered to hold their fire during the initial assault to mask their positions from German fighters and [[dive-bomber]]s. The British had nine [[Matilda II]]A infantry tanks of "B" Squadron, [[7th Royal Tank Regiment]] (7th RTR) and sixteen [[Light Tank Mk VI|Light Tanks Mark VIB]] from "C" Squadron, [[3rd King's Own Hussars]].<ref name="Antill 2005 24">{{harvnb|Antill|2005|p=24}}.</ref>

The Matildas had 40&nbsp;mm [[Ordnance QF 2 pounder]] guns, which only fired [[armour-piercing round]]s – not effective anti-personnel weapons. (High explosive rounds in small calibres were considered impractical).<ref name="Antill 2005 24"/> The tanks were in poor mechanical condition, as the engines were worn and could not be overhauled on Crete. Most tanks were used as mobile [[Bunker#Pillbox|pillboxes]] to be brought up and dug in at strategic points. One Matilda had a damaged turret crank that allowed it to turn clockwise only. Many British tanks broke down in the rough terrain, not in combat. The British and their allies did not possess sufficient [[Universal Carrier]]s or trucks, which would have provided the mobility and firepower needed for rapid counter-attacks before the invaders could consolidate.<ref name="Antill 2005 24"/>