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Information About

M22 Locust




name=M22 ''Locust''
  Caption M22 Locust in Negba, Israel
  Length 393 m
  Width 216 m
  Height 182 m
  Weight 74 tonnes
  Suspension Vertical volute spring
  Speed Road 64 km/h
  Range 217 km
  Primary 37 mm M6 gun
  Secondary 1 x 30 Browning MG
  Armour 25 mm
  Engine Lycoming O-435T 6-cylinder radial
  Crew 3
  Engine Power 192 hp (162 kW)
  Pw Ratio hp/tonne



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.


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




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