M22 Locust
From Free net encyclopedia
The M22 Light Tank 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.
Contents |
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 1900 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
External links
| American armored fighting vehicles of World War II |
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| Light tanks |
| M2 Light Tank | M3/M5 Stuart | M22 Locust | M24 Chaffee | Marmon-Herrington CTLS |
| Medium and heavy tanks |
| M2 Medium Tank | M3 Lee | M4 Sherman | M26 Pershing |
| Self-propelled artillery |
| M7 Priest | M8 Scott | M12 Gun Motor Carriage | M40 GMC M3 Gun Motor Carriage | M16 Multiple Gun Motor Carriage |
| Tank destroyers |
| M10 Wolverine | M18 Hellcat | M36 Jackson |
| Armored half-tracks |
| M2 Half Track Car | M3 Half Track Personnel Carrier M4 Mortar Carrier | M5 Half Track Personnel Carrier |
| Amphibious vehicles |
| Landing Vehicle Tracked | DUKW |
| Armored cars |
| M8 Greyhound | M3 Scout Car | M20 Armored Utility Car T17 Deerhound / Staghound | T18 Boarhound |
| Experimental vehicles |
| M38 Wolfhound | M6 Heavy Tank | T-28 Tank/T-95 GMC | T14 Heavy Tank |
| American armored fighting vehicle production during World War II |