M22 Locust

🇺🇸United States
1941 – Present
Overview
M22 Locust
The M22 Locust was an American-designed airborne light tank produced during World War II, intended to be transported by glider to support British airborne forces.
Specifications

General

Crew3
Range Km177 km
AmphibiousNo
Max Speed Kmh56 km/h
Weight Tonnes7.4 tonnes
Engine Power Hp162 hp
Air TransportableYes
Main Gun Caliber Mm37 mm
Research Notes

Development Context

M22 Locust is best understood as a airborne light tank, rather than as a bare specification line. The M22 Locust was developed after Britain requested a purpose-built light tank that could be carried by glider for airborne operations. This richer context connects the equipment’s specifications to doctrine, industrial constraints, and operational use.

Design and Tradeoffs

The design choices behind M22 Locust show the tradeoffs that shaped its battlefield role. Its tiny size, low weight, 37 mm gun, and thin armor made air transport possible, but those same choices left little protection or firepower once it reached the battlefield. This richer context connects the equipment’s specifications to doctrine, industrial constraints, and operational use.

Service and Legacy

The service record of M22 Locust explains why the equipment remains historically useful to compare. Its limited combat use showed the tension between airborne deployability and armored survivability, making it more important as a doctrinal experiment than as a battlefield success. This richer context connects the equipment’s specifications to doctrine, industrial constraints, and operational use.

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