MALTA WW2 TANK FUND

During WW2 Malta had a small tank force made up from five types of British tanks - Matilda, Vickers Light Tank, Cruiser Tank A9, Cruiser tank A13 and the Valentine tank. These were sent out at different intervals to boost the defence of the island against an AXIS invasion. In 1943, more tanks arrived mostly U.S. made but this time in preparation for the invasion of Sicily - Operation Husky. Since then tanks became a rarity on the island. Now after some 70 years Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna - the Malta Heritage Trust has acquired two original tanks: a Matilda and an M3 Stuart tank to place on display at its new Military Vehicles Museum Exhibition part of the Lascaris War Rooms in Valletta. The overall cost of the two tanks is nearly €300,000. But thankfully the bulk of this sum has already been raised through corporate sponsorships, private donations and individual contributions plus a bank loan which we now need to pay back to complete the project. The crowdfunding is to raise the last part of the funding which amounts to 10%. All details will be published as soon as the project is completed.are funded solely through donations and the Trust needs to pay back the bank loan taken on them. It also needs to raise more funding to build a permanent shelter and display space for the same right next to the Lascaris War Rooms in Valletta, Malta. The addition of the tanks and the new museum display space will go a long way to commemorate the unsung tank crews who at the height of World War Two have contributed towards the defence of Malta and will also greatly augment the overall visitor experience at the war rooms. In case that the asked amount is exceeded the Trust will channel the funds to acquire a third armoured vehicle for the collection which could be a Bren Gun carrier, M3 Lee Grant tank,, M4 Sherman tank or M7 Priest self-propelled artillery in that order. Thank you for your generosity.