Locust M22 Light Tank

The M22 Locust Light Tank was one of the first to be designed for airborne delivery, although its weight and dimensions did not really match available transport. Known as T9 in development, it was fast, maneuverable and had a very low silhouette. It departed from previous American tank designs in the sloping sides of the hull, the angular gun mantle, and the reinforcing bars on the suspension.

Locust M22 Light Tank, developed for Airborne operations
Locust M22 Light Tank, developed for Airborne operations.

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M-22 Light Tank (Airborne) Locust (G-148)

In February 1941, a British request for a Hamilcar-glider-borne light tank started development of what became the M22 Light Tank (Airborne), called the Locust. The US Army Ordnance Department chose a design by Marmon-Herrington Inc. (Indianapolis, IN) and ordered a prototype in May 1941. The prototype was completed by the end of the year, known as the Light Tank T9 (Airborne).

Due to wartime urgency the T9 went into production while problems were still unresolved. A T9E1 was produced in prototype to correct deficiencies noted in tests, while production of the T9 continued. A total of 830 units were built during 1943 and up to February 1944, all based on the T9. The T9/T9E1 was classified as Limited Standard and renamed M-22 Light Tank (Airborne), called Locust by the British. Despite its standardization, no US units were equipped with the tank other than for training. About 260 M22 Locust light tanks were sent to Britain under Lend-Lease and a few did reach British combat units before the end of World War II in 1945. Most were scrapped soon after the war, but a few continued service in the Egyptian Army.

Find additional photos and hi-res versions of the M-22 LocustLight Tank at the Olive-Drab Military Mashup.

Charactaristics of the M-22 Light Tank (Airborne) Locust

The general shape of the M-22 resembled a size-reduced M4 Sherman while the vertical volute spring suspension was based on the M3 Stuart. For airborne operations, it could be slung under a C-54 cargo plane, after removal of the turret, but this was too inefficient and never used.

Crew 3
Armament 37mm gun M5, .30-cal mg
Weight 16,000 lbs (7,257 kg)
Height 5 ft. 9 in. (1.75m)
Width 7 ft. 4 in. (2.23m)
Length 12 ft. 1 in. (3.93m)
Engine Lycoming 0-435-T 6 cyl 434cc gasoline
Horsepower 163bhp@2800rpm
Capacity 57 gallons (215L)
Transmission Manual 4 fwd/1 revc
Max Speed 35mph road (56kph)
Range 110 miles

The manuals for the T9E1 variant included:

  • TM 9-724 (Nov 1943) Light Tank T9E1
  • TM 9-1724A (6 August 1943) Engine and Engine Accessories
  • TM 9-1724B (1944) Power Train
  • TM 9-1724C Hull and Turret, Suspension and Track

M-22 Light Tank (Airborne) Locust Photo Gallery

Light Tank T9E1, standardized in 1944 as the M22 Locust
Light Tank T9E1, standardized in 1944 as the M22 Locust.

M-22 Light Tank (Airborne) Locust, emerging from a Hamilcar glider
M-22 Light Tank (Airborne) Locust, emerging from a Hamilcar glider.

T9E1 Light Tank, the development model for the limited standard M-22 Locust Airborne light tank, December 1942
T9E1 Light Tank, the development model for the limited standard M-22 Locust Airborne light tank, December 1942.