M22 Light Tank, Locust
With Littlejohn adapter
M22 Tracks and Tools:
US Ordnance Dept.
Based on the development of airborne forces by the Germans and Russians, the US Army decided in February 1941 that it should have airborne forces with armor support. General Motors, Christie, and Marmon-Herrington were asked to submit designs in May 1941.1 Marmon-Herrington Corp. was selected and worked with the U.S. Army Ordnance Department Tank Engineering Division.
The first prototype was delivered in late 1941 and designated the Light Tank T9 (Airborne).
T9E1:
US Ordnance Dept.
In January 1942, 2 pilot models designated T9E1 were ordered. The shape of the turret was altered, the power traverse, gyrostabilizers and bow MGs were not installed to save weight. These were tested by the 28th Airborne Tank Battalion.
500 were ordered in April 1942 before service tests had begun. Eventually 1,900 were ordered but due to design changes and manufacturing problems only 830 were delivered.5
The Ordnance Committee redesignated it Limited Standard in September 1944.
It was built with a welded hull and cast turret. The engine was located on the right side in the rear of the hull. The power train was located in the front and consisted of a fixed-ratio transfer case, a 4-speed transmission, and controlled differential.
The turret could be moved and four brackets were mounted above the suspension on the hull to allow for the tank to be attached to a C-54 cargo airplane.
The gun was mounted in a Combination Gun Mount, M53.
The 37 mm gun can fire a 1.9 lb AP shell with a muzzle velocity of 2,600'/sec.6
The driver's hatch could be fastened open for driving in non-combat areas. A detachable windshield with cover was also provided. Two hatches in the roof of the turret and and escape hatch in the hull provided exit points.
Never used in combat by US forces.5 No suitable glider or aircraft to transport it. Some were supplied to Egypt after the war.1
Suspension
There were two bogie assemblies that contained two wheels each side that used volute springs with two support rollers.5 The idler trailed on the ground in the rear.
British Use:
Some had a Littlejohn adaptor installed which increased the barrel length.1
British used them in the Normandy landings.6
The British named it Locust and used it in the 6th Airborne Division in the Rhine crossing on March 22, 1945.1 Were carried in the Hamilcar glider.
Used with the Tetrarch during the Rhine crossing on March 24, 1945.5
| M22 | |
|---|---|
| Crew | Commander, gunner, driver.2 31,2,3,5,6 |
| Physical Characteristics | |
| Weight | 16,400 lb2,3, 17,024 lb 7.3 tons1, 7.4 tons5, 7.5 tons4, 8.5 tons6 7,439 kg1 |
| Length w/gun | 12.9'6, 12' 11"1,2,3,5 3.94 m1,4 |
| Length w/o gun | |
| Height | 5' 4"5, 5' 8"1, 5' 8.5"3, 6' 1"2, 6.1'6 1.74 m1, 1.85 m4 |
| Width | 7' 1"2, 7' 3.75"3, 7' 4"1,5, 7.5'6 2.16 m4, 2.23 m1 |
| Width over tracks | |
| Ground clearance | 9.5"6, 10" |
| Ground contact length | 8' 8", 109"6 |
| Ground pressure | 6.7 psi6, 7.03 psi, 7.2 psi |
| Turret ring diameter | 47.5" |
| Armament | |
| Main | 37 mm M61,2,4 37 mm3,5 37 mm M6, L/536 |
| Secondary | |
| MG | 1: MG3 7.62 mm (.30 cal) MG1 .30 cal Browning M1919A4, coaxial .30 cal Browning MG2 .30 cal MG, coaxial4 .30" Browning MG5 .30 cal MG M1919A4, coaxial6 |
| Side arms | Tripod M2 .30 cal MG 3: .45 cal M3 submachine guns Grenades |
| Quantity | |
| Main | 501,2,6 |
| Secondary | |
| MG | 2,5001,2,6 |
| Side arms | .45 cal: 450 Grenades: 12 |
| Armor Thickness | 0.75" - 1"3 Front: 1"6, 254 Side: 0.4"6, 254 |
| Hull Front, Upper | 1" |
| Hull Front, Lower | 1" |
| Hull Sides, Upper | 0.75" |
| Hull Sides, Lower | 0.5" |
| Hull Rear | 0.5" |
| Hull Top | 3/8"@90° |
| Hull Bottom | 0.5""@90° |
| Turret Front | 0.6"6, 1" Mantlet: 0.6"6 |
| Turret Sides | 1"6 |
| Turret Rear | 0.75", 1" |
| Turret Top | 0.75"@90° |
| Engine (Make / Model) | Lycoming 0-435T1,2 Lycoming3,5 |
| Bore / stroke | |
| Cooling | Air3,5,6 |
| Cylinders | 63, 6 horizontally opposed6 |
| Capacity | |
| Net HP | 1623,4,5,6 |
| Power to weight ratio | |
| Compression ratio | |
| Transmission (Type) | 4 forward, 1 reverse6 |
| Steering | Controlled differntial6 |
| Steering ratio | |
| Starter | Electric6 |
| Electrical system | |
| Ignition | |
| Fuel (Type) | |
| Octane | |
| Quantity | 55 gallons, 57 gallons6 |
| Road consumption | 2.5 mpg6 |
| Cross country consumption | |
| Performance | |
| Traverse | 360°2, hand6 |
| Max speed | 40 mph1,2,6 64 kph1, 67 kph4 |
| Cross country speed | 27 mph, 30 mph2, 35 mph3 |
| Road radius | 135 miles1,2,6 217 km |
| Cross country radius | |
| Turning radius | 20 |
| Elevation limits | -10° to +30°2 |
| Fording depth | 3' 2"2, 3' 6"6 |
| Trench crossing | 5' 5"2 |
| Vertical obstacle | 12.4"6, 1' 0.5"2, 1' 4" |
| Climbing ability | 32° (63%) slope6 |
| Suspension (Type) | Two bogie assemblies that contained two wheels each side that used volute springs with two support rollers5 Vertical volute springs6 |
| Wheels each side | 46 |
| Return rollers each side | 26 |
| Tracks (Type) | Dry pin6 |
| Length | |
| Width | 11.25"2, 11.5"6 |
| Diameter | |
| Number of links | 1066 |
| Pitch | 3.1"6 |
| Tire tread | |
| Track centers/tread | 5.4'6, 5.9'6, 5' 10.5"2 |
| Production | 4/1942 -3/1945: 8301 4/1943 - 2/1944: 8305 Marmon-Herrington5,6 |
Sources:
- The Encyclopedia of Tanks and Armored Fighting Vehicles - The Comprehensive Guide to Over 900 Armored Fighting Vehicles From 1915 to the Present Day, General Editor: Christopher F. Foss, 2002
- British and American Tanks of World War Two, The Complete Illustrated History of British, American, and Commonwealth Tanks 1933-1945, Peter Chamberlain and Chris Ellis, 1969
- Tanks of the World, 1915-1945, Peter Chamberlain, Chris Ellis, 1972
- Jane's World War II Tanks and Fighting Vehicles The Complete Guide, Leland Ness, 2002
- Tanks of World War II, Duncan Crow, 1979
- Tank Data, Aberdeen Proving Grounds Series, 1968?
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