M22 Locust
Encyclopedia : M : M2 : M22 : M22 Locust
 Light Tank (Airborne) M22 in Negba, Israel. | |
| Light Tank (Airborne) M22 | |
|---|---|
| General characteristics | |
| Crew | 3 (Commander, gunner, driver) |
| Length | 3.93 m |
| Width | 2.16 m |
| Height | 1.82 m |
| Weight | 7.4 tonnes |
| Armour and armament | |
| Armour | 25 mm |
| Main armament | 37 mm M6 gun 50 rounds |
| Secondary armament | 1 x .30 Browning MG 2,500 rounds |
| Mobility | |
| Power plant | Lycoming O-435T 6-cylinder radial 192 hp (162 kW) |
| Suspension | Vertical volute spring |
| Road speed | 64 km/h |
| Power/weight | hp/tonne |
| Range | 217 km |
The Light Tank (Airborne) M22 was an American design of airmobile light tank used during World War II by the British forces, who gave it the name Locust. The crew of three consisted of the commander and gunner in the turret, and the driver in the hull. All non essential features were removed to save weight, so the vehicle lacked features such as gun stabilisation and powered traverse.
History
The M22 was developed in 1941 by the Marmon-Herrington Corporation as an air-transportable light tank. However, it could be airlifted only by the C-54 Skymaster, with turret removed and placed inside the fuselage and the tank hull suspended below the wing. As the British had the Hamilcar glider which was big enough to carry the M22 ready for battle, they took the vehicles over, and the British 6th Airborne Division used it in 1945 crossing the Rhine in Operation Varsity.Of 1,900 Locusts ordered, only 830 were delivered. Some were given to Egypt after the war and were used there until 1956.
Reference
- Leland Ness(2002)Janes World War II Tanks and Fighting Vehicles: A Complete Guide, Harper Collins, ISBN 000711228-9
See also
- List of "M" series military vehicles
- Tetrarch - A British built airportable tank
External links
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