Difference between revisions of "M22"

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== Description ==
 
== Description ==
−
''In the description, the first part needs to be about the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the ground vehicle in the game. Insert the screenshot of the vehicle. If the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, they will immediately understand what kind of vehicle it is talking about.''
+
<!--''In the description, the first part needs to be about the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the ground vehicle in the game. Insert the screenshot of the vehicle. If the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, they will immediately understand what kind of vehicle it is talking about.''-->
 +
The '''Light Tank M22 ''Locust'' ''' is a Rank II American light tank with a battle rating of 1.7 (AB) and 2.0 (RB/SB). It was one of the first American tanks to be released with the American ground tree in [[Update 1.45 "Steel Generals"]]. One of the tiniest tank in the game, the Locust is able to maneuver some of the smaller areas on the battlefield to get a clean shot on an opponent.
  
 
== General info ==
 
== General info ==
 
=== Survivability and armour ===
 
=== Survivability and armour ===
−
''Describe armour protection. Note the most well protected and key weak areas. Appreciate the layout of modules as well as the number and location of crew members. Is the level of armour protection sufficient, is the placement of modules helpfull for survival in combat?''
+
<!--''Describe armour protection. Note the most well protected and key weak areas. Appreciate the layout of modules as well as the number and location of crew members. Is the level of armour protection sufficient, is the placement of modules helpfull for survival in combat?''
  
−
''If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.''
+
''If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.''-->
 +
'''Armour Type:'''
 +
* Rolled homogeneous armour
 +
* Cast homogeneous armour (Gun mantlet)
 +
{| class="wikitable"
 +
|-
 +
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
 +
|-
 +
| Hull || 12.7 mm (64-65°) ''Front glacis'' <br> 25.4 mm (7-62°) ''Lower glacis'' <br> 25.4 mm (9-85°) ''Driver's port'' || 9.5 mm (34-51°) ''Top'' <br> 12.7 mm ''Bottom'' || 12.7 mm (11-15°)|| 9.5 mm
 +
|-
 +
| Turret || 25.4 mm (25-36°) ''Turret front'' <br> 25.4 mm (22-53°) ''Gun mantlet'' || 25.4 mm (3-6°) || 25.4 mm || 9.5 mm
 +
|}
 +
'''Notes:'''<br>
 +
* Suspension wheels are 15 mm thick, the bogies and tracks are 10 mm thick.
 +
* Belly armour is 12.7 mm thick.
  
 
=== Mobility ===
 
=== Mobility ===
−
''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and maneuverability as well as the maximum speed forward and backward.''
+
<!--''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and maneuverability as well as the maximum speed forward and backward.''-->
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 +
|-
 +
!colspan="3" | Mobility characteristic
 +
|-
 +
! Weight (tons)
 +
!colspan="1" | Add-on Armor<br>weight (tons)
 +
!colspan="1" | Max speed (km/h)
 +
|-
 +
|rowspan="2" | 7.4 || colspan="1" rowspan="2" | N/A || colspan="1" | 63 (AB)
 +
|-
 +
|56 (RB/SB)
 +
|-
 +
!colspan="3" | Engine power (horsepower)
 +
|-
 +
!colspan="1" | Mode
 +
!Stock
 +
!Upgraded
 +
|-
 +
|''Arcade''
 +
|297
 +
|366
 +
|-
 +
|''Realistic/Simulator''
 +
|169
 +
|192
 +
|-
 +
!colspan="3" | Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
 +
|-
 +
!colspan="1" | Mode
 +
!Stock
 +
!Upgraded
 +
|-
 +
|''Arcade''
 +
|40.13
 +
|49.46
 +
|-
 +
|''Realistic/Simulator''
 +
|22.84
 +
|25.95
 +
|-
 +
|}
  
 
== Armaments ==
 
== Armaments ==
 
=== Main armament ===
 
=== Main armament ===
−
''Give the reader information about the characteristics of the main gun. Assess its effectiveness in a battle based on the reloading speed, ballistics and the power of shells. Do not forget about the flexibilty of the fire, that is how quickly the cannon can be aimed at the target, open fire on it and aim at another enemy. Add a link to the main article on the gun: <code><nowiki>{{main|Name of the weapon}}</nowiki></code>. Describe in general terms the ammunition available for the main gun. Give advice on how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage.''
+
<!--''Give the reader information about the characteristics of the main gun. Assess its effectiveness in a battle based on the reloading speed, ballistics and the power of shells. Do not forget about the flexibilty of the fire, that is how quickly the cannon can be aimed at the target, open fire on it and aim at another enemy. Add a link to the main article on the gun: <code><nowiki>{{main|Name of the weapon}}</nowiki></code>. Describe in general terms the ammunition available for the main gun. Give advice on how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage.''-->
 +
{{main|M6 (37 mm)}}
  
−
=== Additional armament ===
+
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
−
''Some tanks are armed with several guns in one or more turrets. Evaluate the additional weaponry and give advice on its use. Describe the ammunition available for additional weaponry. Give advice on how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage. If there is no additional weaponry remove this subsection.''
+
|-
 +
! colspan="6" | [[M6 (37 mm)|37 mm M6]]
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="4" rowspan="1" style="width:5em" |Capacity
 +
! rowspan="1" | Gun <br> Depression
 +
! rowspan="1" | Gun <br> Elevation
 +
|-
 +
| colspan="4" | 50 || -10° || 30°
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="6" | Turret rotation speed (°/s)
 +
|-
 +
! style="width:4em" |Mode
 +
! style="width:4em" |Stock
 +
! style="width:4em" |Upgraded
 +
! style="width:4em" |Prior + Full crew
 +
! style="width:4em" |Prior + Expert Qualif.
 +
! style="width:4em" |Prior + Ace Qualif.
 +
|-
 +
| ''Arcade'' || 12.2 || 16.9 || 20.5 || 22.7 || 24.1
 +
|-
 +
| ''Realistic'' || 12.2 || 14.35 || 17.42 || 19.27 || 20.5
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Stock
 +
! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Prior + Full crew
 +
! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Prior + Expert Qualif.
 +
! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Prior + Ace Qualif.
 +
|-
 +
| 3.77 || 3.33 || 3.07 || 2.90
 +
|-
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
 
 +
===== Ammunition =====
 +
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
 +
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics
 +
|-
 +
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
 +
! rowspan="2" class="unsortable" | Type of <br /> warhead
 +
! colspan="6" | '''Penetration''' '''''in mm''''' '''@ 90°'''
 +
|-
 +
! 10m
 +
! 100m
 +
! 500m
 +
! 1000m
 +
! 1500m
 +
! 2000m
 +
|-
 +
| M74B1 || AP || 90 || 89 || 69 || 50 || 37 || 27
 +
|-
 +
| M63 Shell || HE || 2 || 2 || 2 || 2 || 2 || 2
 +
|-
 +
| M51B1/B2 || APC || 79 || 78 || 69 || 59 || 51 || 43 
 +
|-
 +
|}
 +
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
 +
! colspan="10" | Shell details
 +
|-
 +
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
 +
! rowspan="2" |Velocity <br /> in m/s
 +
! rowspan="2" |Projectile<br />Mass in kg
 +
! rowspan="2" | ''Fuse delay''
 +
''in m:''
 +
! rowspan="2" | ''Fuse sensitivity''
 +
''in mm:''
 +
! rowspan="2" | ''Explosive Mass in g<br /> (TNT equivalent):''
 +
! rowspan="2" | ''Normalization At 30° <br> from horizontal:''
 +
! colspan="3" | ''Ricochet:''
 +
|-
 +
! 0%
 +
! 50%
 +
! 100%
 +
|-
 +
| M74B1 ||883 || 0.87 || N/A || N/A || N/A || -1° || 47° || 60° || 65° 
 +
|-
 +
| M63 Shell || 807 || 0.73 || 0.1 || 0.5 || 38 || +0° || 79° || 80° || 81°
 +
|-
 +
| M51B1/B2 || 883 || 0.87 || N/A || N/A || N/A || +4° || 48° || 63° || 71° 
 +
|-
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
===== [[Ammo Racks|Ammo racks]] =====
 +
[[File:Ammoracks M22.png|right|thumbnail|[[Ammo Racks|Ammo rack]] of the M22 Locust|300px]]
 +
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
 +
|-
 +
! class="wikitable unsortable" |Full<br /> ammo
 +
! class="wikitable unsortable" |1st<br />  rack empty
 +
! class="wikitable unsortable" |2nd<br />  rack empty
 +
! class="wikitable unsortable" |3rd<br />  rack empty
 +
! class="wikitable unsortable" |Visual<br /> discrepancy
 +
|-
 +
|| '''50''' ||  34 ''(+16)'' || 17 ''(+33)'' || 1 ''(+49)'' ||style="text-align:center" | No
 +
|-
 +
|}
  
 
=== Machine guns ===
 
=== Machine guns ===
−
''Offensive and anti-aircraft machine guns not only allow you to fight some aircraft, but also are effective against lightly armoured vehicles. Evaluate machine guns and give recommendations on its use.''
+
<!--''Offensive and anti-aircraft machine guns not only allow you to fight some aircraft, but also are effective against lightly armoured vehicles. Evaluate machine guns and give recommendations on its use.''-->
 +
{{main|Browning (7.62 mm)}}
 +
1 x 7.62 mm [[Browning (7.62 mm)|M1919A4]] machine gun (coaxial)
  
 
== Usage in the battles ==
 
== Usage in the battles ==
−
''Describe the tactics of playing in the vehicle, the features of using vehicles in the team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view but give the reader food for thought. Describe the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).''
+
<!--''Describe the tactics of playing in the vehicle, the features of using vehicles in the team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view but give the reader food for thought. Describe the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).''-->
 +
Perhaps the best word to describe this tank is -- tiny -- it really is, no other tank is as small as the ''Locust'' (save the [[ASU-57]]). This is a pro and a con, which we will cover in a second. The ''Locust'' is a light tank and thus is never really meant to go up against other tanks in the game. This severely limits the opponents you are able to face against "fairly" in this tank as your small size also means the crew is compacted into a small area and a crew knockout is very easy to do onto you, so in order to beat the odds, some trickery has to be put into play...
 +
 
 +
===Tactics===
 +
Just about any vehicle is a threat, except those only with machine guns, such as the [[4M_GAZ-AAA|4M GAZ-AAA]]. Either way if one should find an enemy vehicle just use the blistering pace that this tank has to run away and find another space to flank from the side of the enemy. Also do not forget to research the enemy tanks to know which enemy you can penetrate.
 +
 
 +
* '''Run and Gun'''<br>
 +
The ''Locust'' is really fast, and although its handling can be hard at maximum speed, this can be exploited in any terrain with sufficient cover in order to get to the enemy flanks and subdue them. The tiny size of the tank helps by presenting a smaller target to the enemy, and allows the usage of smaller cover not typically used by an average tank of the rank. With fast maneuvering and sneaky movements across terrains, you can proceed unchecked and surprise the enemy from the sides.
 +
 
 +
* '''Get in Close'''<br>
 +
The riskier tactic, but it may work if done well, is to just get right up onto the enemy tank. The Locust, as stressed repeatedly, is ''tiny'' and though this makes it easier for you to be knocked out, that also means you can exploit some of the other tanks weaknesses, like say their gun depression. Get up right on that tank, point blank on the sides, you will find that (most) enemies will not be able to even move their gun down to hit you if you stay close to them. Use this opportunity to find weak points on their side or rear armour and fire away until a penetration and a subsequent knock out. Its a risky tactic, but will feel glorious and proud for your tiny tank.
 +
 
 +
*'''Reconnaissance'''<br>
 +
With [[Update 1.75 "La Résistance"]], the M22 Locust gains access to the [[Scouting]] mechanic. This allows the M22 to hide in a point with good sight-lines and spot any targets you see. This tactic works best if you get up-tiered or squad up with Tank Destroyers in order to extend their range.
 +
 
 +
===Modules===
 +
Aim for "Parts" and "FPE" to help with combat survivability in case you ''do'' get hit, but are not knocked out. Emphasis should be put on speed in order to maximize the Locust's utility as a light tank.
  
 
=== Pros and cons ===
 
=== Pros and cons ===
−
''Summarize and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in a bulleted list. Do not use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - they have a substitution in the form of softer "inadequate", "effective".''
+
<!--''Summarize and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in a bulleted list. Do not use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - they have a substitution in the form of softer "inadequate", "effective".''-->
−
 
 
 
'''Pros:'''
 
'''Pros:'''
−
*
+
* Enormous hp/ton ratio, allowing fast acceleration.
−
 
+
* Great speeds across flat terrain.
 +
* Extremely low profile; tanks without a lot of gun depression can't shoot at you at close range
 +
* The gun has no trouble penetrating tanks at its BR range.
 +
* Easy to turn a complete 180° at low speed and at a stop.
 
'''Cons:'''
 
'''Cons:'''
−
*
+
* High acceleration and speed make tank handling rather difficult unless familiar with specs.
 +
* Handling becomes sluggish at higher speeds, noticeably in Gear 3.
 +
* Small crew of 3 confined in tiny space, no spare crew members to take over incapacitated ones, a penetrating shot can take out two of them easily.
 +
* Weak armour; will only stop 12.7 mm rounds, and sometimes not even.
 +
* Due to its low suspension, it may get stuck in soft or uneven ground.
 +
* Strange driving issue, in arcade, that causes the ''Locust'' to shudder, wobble, and not accelerate at a constant rate.
  
 
== History ==
 
== History ==
−
''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the ground vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too big, take it to a separate article, taking a link to an article about the vehicle and adding a block "/historical reference" (example: https://wiki.warthunder.com/Name-vehicles/historical reference) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to include links to sources at the end of the article.''
+
<!--''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the ground vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too big, take it to a separate article, taking a link to an article about the vehicle and adding a block "/historical reference" (example: https://wiki.warthunder.com/Name-vehicles/historical reference) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to include links to sources at the end of the article.''-->
 +
===Development===
 +
The development of this tank began in late 1941 as a request from the British military for an airmobile light tank that could travel on a glider. The British airborne forces used gliders as a mean to transport troops and equipments, and by 1941 the gliders were rated to be able to carry a tank weighing about 5.5 tons in a 300 to 350 miles flight. The British had a light tank design, the ''[[Tetrarch_Mk_I|Mk. VII Tetrarch]]'', but it was not built for the focus of airborne operations so the request was made for a purely-built airborne light tank to replace the Tetrarch, and for the tank to be made not in Britain due to constraints in industrial capacity.
 +
 
 +
The request to the Americans called for a tank weighing between 9-10 tons with a 37 mm cannon and a coaxial machine gun with a crew of three. The tank was to have a maximum speed of 64 km/h (40 mph) and could operate in a 320 km radius (200 miles). The turret and front armour thickness was to be between 40-50 mm and the sides 30 mm thick. US Ordnance Department requested three companies, General motors, J. Walter Christie, and Marmon-Herrington to design a suitable tank, of which the Marmon-Herrington design was accepted. The design was made into a prototype in late 1941 and was designated the ''Light Tank T9''. This design had a crew of three and weighed 7.4 tons, with a 37 mm gun and coaxial machine gun, plus two more machine guns on the right side of the bow. The turret was powered and had a gun stabilizer. The tank was powered by a 162 hp six-cylinder Lycoming engine and the armour thickness was 12.5 mm on the entire hull side of the tank while the sloped area on the sides of the hull were 9.5 mm thick. The tank could go up to 40 mph (64 km/h) with the engine. The T9 was built to be mounted on a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_C-54_Skymaster Douglas C-54 Skymaster] plane, but it could still fit into a glider due to its dimensions and weight. The tank underwent a few changes, such as improvement in the tank suspension and removal of the two machine guns on the bow, the gun stabilizer, and the power traverse on the turret to reduce the weight. The result was designated the ''Light Tank T9E1''. Production was meant to start somewhere in 1942, but issues in the design change and factories caused the production to be delayed until April 1943. The tanks were produced from then until 1945, with a total unit of 830.
 +
 
 +
The tank was specified the '''Light Tank M22''' at some time in 1943, but this classified it as a "limited standard" equipment due to some faults discovered. Testings showed that loading the M22 tank on a C-54 plane required lots of time and complex equipments, plus the plane had to be landed on an airfield to be unloaded. The durability and reliability of the M22 was also brought into question, concerned that these factors would make it unsuitable for airborne operations and that the design was effectively obsolete. The M22 never saw service in American combat units except for training, and even with the establishment of two units with the M22s, they saw no combat due to America's lack of investment in airborne tanks. The British on the other hand believed that the M22 would be adequate at its role so adopted it as the ''' ''Locust'' ''', giving the name '''Light Tank M22 ''Locust'' ''' to the tank.
 +
 
 +
===Combat usage===
 +
The British usage in World War II had the airborne light tanks used in 1st and 6th Airborne Division as the Light Tank 'C' Squadron. Although the M22 Locust started replacing the Tetrarch before the initiation of Operation Overlord, the Tetrarch was still used until October 1944, when a restructuring retired all Tetrarch and replaced them with Locusts. The 6th Airborne Division was involved in Operation Varsity in 1945, where eight Locusts were loaded onto Hamilcar gliders and flown to the battlefield on March 24. Of the eight Locusts sent, six landed intact, but two never reached their rendezvous point due to enemy action or mechanical breakdown. Of the four remaining Locusts, only two were undamaged at the rendezvous point. The tanks were deployed at a fortified area, where they engage German troops while being supported by an infantry company, the Locusts were forced to withdraw after the heavy losses in infantry denied them support. The four tanks and what is left of the infantry were finally relieved by the 44th Royal Tank Regiment and the rest of the 6th Airborne Division. Operation Varsity was the only operation the Locust would ever see action in World War II.
 +
 
 +
The M22 ''Locust'', while serving rather well as an airborne tank, was reported to be obsolete by January 1946 by the War Office in Britain. New designs were to take over the Locust's role in the airborne formations. What's left of the ''Locusts'' in British inventory were given to foreign militaries. Belgium used some as command tanks in their armoured regiments. America received a few back and were converted into agricultural tractors. Egypt used the Locusts in a large number to replace their aging tank models from the interwar period, these saw service in the 1948 Arab-Israeli War.
 +
 
 +
Today, sixteen M22 Locusts are known to have survived, though many have replica turrets. Of the batch, only three are known to be in running condition.
  
 
== Media ==
 
== Media ==
Line 42: Line 231:
  
 
== Read also ==
 
== Read also ==
−
''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example,''
+
<!--''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example,''
 
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''
 
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''
 
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''
 
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''
−
''ETC.''
+
''ETC.''-->
 +
* [http://the.shadock.free.fr/Surviving_M22_Locusts.pdf Surviving M22 Locusts] (PDF)
  
 
== Sources ==
 
== Sources ==
Line 51: Line 241:
 
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
 
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
 
* ''other literature.''
 
* ''other literature.''
 +
 +
{{USA light tanks}}

Revision as of 21:20, 30 September 2018

Rank 7 USA
F-5C Pack
M22
us_m22_locust.png
M22
USA flag.png USA
I Rank
Battle rating:
AB RB SB
1.7 2.0 2.0
Class:
Research:4 000 Specs-Card-Exp.png
Purchase:2 100 Specs-Card-Lion.png
Show in game

Description

The Light Tank M22 Locust is a Rank II American light tank with a battle rating of 1.7 (AB) and 2.0 (RB/SB). It was one of the first American tanks to be released with the American ground tree in Update 1.45 "Steel Generals". One of the tiniest tank in the game, the Locust is able to maneuver some of the smaller areas on the battlefield to get a clean shot on an opponent.

General info

Survivability and armour

Armour Type:

  • Rolled homogeneous armour
  • Cast homogeneous armour (Gun mantlet)
Armour Front (Slope angle) Sides Rear Roof
Hull 12.7 mm (64-65°) Front glacis
25.4 mm (7-62°) Lower glacis
25.4 mm (9-85°) Driver's port 		9.5 mm (34-51°) Top
12.7 mm Bottom 		12.7 mm (11-15°) 9.5 mm
Turret 25.4 mm (25-36°) Turret front
25.4 mm (22-53°) Gun mantlet 		25.4 mm (3-6°) 25.4 mm 9.5 mm

Notes:

  • Suspension wheels are 15 mm thick, the bogies and tracks are 10 mm thick.
  • Belly armour is 12.7 mm thick.

Mobility

Mobility characteristic
Weight (tons) Add-on Armor
weight (tons) 		Max speed (km/h)
7.4 N/A 63 (AB)
56 (RB/SB)
Engine power (horsepower)
Mode Stock Upgraded
Arcade 297 366
Realistic/Simulator 169 192
Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
Mode Stock Upgraded
Arcade 40.13 49.46
Realistic/Simulator 22.84 25.95

Armaments

Main armament

Main article: M6 (37 mm)
37 mm M6
Capacity Gun
Depression 		Gun
Elevation
50 -10° 30°
Turret rotation speed (°/s)
Mode Stock Upgraded Prior + Full crew Prior + Expert Qualif. Prior + Ace Qualif.
Arcade 12.2 16.9 20.5 22.7 24.1
Realistic 12.2 14.35 17.42 19.27 20.5
Reloading rate (seconds)
Stock Prior + Full crew Prior + Expert Qualif. Prior + Ace Qualif.
3.77 3.33 3.07 2.90


Ammunition
Penetration statistics
Ammunition Type of
warhead 		Penetration in mm @ 90°
10m 100m 500m 1000m 1500m 2000m
M74B1 AP 90 89 69 50 37 27
M63 Shell HE 2 2 2 2 2 2
M51B1/B2 APC 79 78 69 59 51 43
Shell details
Ammunition Velocity
in m/s 		Projectile
Mass in kg 		Fuse delay

in m:

Fuse sensitivity

in mm:

Explosive Mass in g
(TNT equivalent): 		Normalization At 30°
from horizontal: 		Ricochet:
0% 50% 100%
M74B1 883 0.87 N/A N/A N/A -1° 47° 60° 65°
M63 Shell 807 0.73 0.1 0.5 38 +0° 79° 80° 81°
M51B1/B2 883 0.87 N/A N/A N/A +4° 48° 63° 71°
Ammo racks
Ammo rack of the M22 Locust
Full
ammo 		1st
rack empty 		2nd
rack empty 		3rd
rack empty 		Visual
discrepancy
50 34 (+16) 17 (+33) 1 (+49) No

Machine guns

Main article: Browning (7.62 mm)

1 x 7.62 mm M1919A4 machine gun (coaxial)

Usage in the battles

Perhaps the best word to describe this tank is -- tiny -- it really is, no other tank is as small as the Locust (save the ASU-57). This is a pro and a con, which we will cover in a second. The Locust is a light tank and thus is never really meant to go up against other tanks in the game. This severely limits the opponents you are able to face against "fairly" in this tank as your small size also means the crew is compacted into a small area and a crew knockout is very easy to do onto you, so in order to beat the odds, some trickery has to be put into play...

Tactics

Just about any vehicle is a threat, except those only with machine guns, such as the 4M GAZ-AAA. Either way if one should find an enemy vehicle just use the blistering pace that this tank has to run away and find another space to flank from the side of the enemy. Also do not forget to research the enemy tanks to know which enemy you can penetrate.

  • Run and Gun

The Locust is really fast, and although its handling can be hard at maximum speed, this can be exploited in any terrain with sufficient cover in order to get to the enemy flanks and subdue them. The tiny size of the tank helps by presenting a smaller target to the enemy, and allows the usage of smaller cover not typically used by an average tank of the rank. With fast maneuvering and sneaky movements across terrains, you can proceed unchecked and surprise the enemy from the sides.

  • Get in Close

The riskier tactic, but it may work if done well, is to just get right up onto the enemy tank. The Locust, as stressed repeatedly, is tiny and though this makes it easier for you to be knocked out, that also means you can exploit some of the other tanks weaknesses, like say their gun depression. Get up right on that tank, point blank on the sides, you will find that (most) enemies will not be able to even move their gun down to hit you if you stay close to them. Use this opportunity to find weak points on their side or rear armour and fire away until a penetration and a subsequent knock out. Its a risky tactic, but will feel glorious and proud for your tiny tank.

  • Reconnaissance

With Update 1.75 "La Résistance", the M22 Locust gains access to the Scouting mechanic. This allows the M22 to hide in a point with good sight-lines and spot any targets you see. This tactic works best if you get up-tiered or squad up with Tank Destroyers in order to extend their range.

Modules

Aim for "Parts" and "FPE" to help with combat survivability in case you do get hit, but are not knocked out. Emphasis should be put on speed in order to maximize the Locust's utility as a light tank.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Enormous hp/ton ratio, allowing fast acceleration.
  • Great speeds across flat terrain.
  • Extremely low profile; tanks without a lot of gun depression can't shoot at you at close range
  • The gun has no trouble penetrating tanks at its BR range.
  • Easy to turn a complete 180° at low speed and at a stop.

Cons:

  • High acceleration and speed make tank handling rather difficult unless familiar with specs.
  • Handling becomes sluggish at higher speeds, noticeably in Gear 3.
  • Small crew of 3 confined in tiny space, no spare crew members to take over incapacitated ones, a penetrating shot can take out two of them easily.
  • Weak armour; will only stop 12.7 mm rounds, and sometimes not even.
  • Due to its low suspension, it may get stuck in soft or uneven ground.
  • Strange driving issue, in arcade, that causes the Locust to shudder, wobble, and not accelerate at a constant rate.

History

Development

The development of this tank began in late 1941 as a request from the British military for an airmobile light tank that could travel on a glider. The British airborne forces used gliders as a mean to transport troops and equipments, and by 1941 the gliders were rated to be able to carry a tank weighing about 5.5 tons in a 300 to 350 miles flight. The British had a light tank design, the Mk. VII Tetrarch, but it was not built for the focus of airborne operations so the request was made for a purely-built airborne light tank to replace the Tetrarch, and for the tank to be made not in Britain due to constraints in industrial capacity.

The request to the Americans called for a tank weighing between 9-10 tons with a 37 mm cannon and a coaxial machine gun with a crew of three. The tank was to have a maximum speed of 64 km/h (40 mph) and could operate in a 320 km radius (200 miles). The turret and front armour thickness was to be between 40-50 mm and the sides 30 mm thick. US Ordnance Department requested three companies, General motors, J. Walter Christie, and Marmon-Herrington to design a suitable tank, of which the Marmon-Herrington design was accepted. The design was made into a prototype in late 1941 and was designated the Light Tank T9. This design had a crew of three and weighed 7.4 tons, with a 37 mm gun and coaxial machine gun, plus two more machine guns on the right side of the bow. The turret was powered and had a gun stabilizer. The tank was powered by a 162 hp six-cylinder Lycoming engine and the armour thickness was 12.5 mm on the entire hull side of the tank while the sloped area on the sides of the hull were 9.5 mm thick. The tank could go up to 40 mph (64 km/h) with the engine. The T9 was built to be mounted on a Douglas C-54 Skymaster plane, but it could still fit into a glider due to its dimensions and weight. The tank underwent a few changes, such as improvement in the tank suspension and removal of the two machine guns on the bow, the gun stabilizer, and the power traverse on the turret to reduce the weight. The result was designated the Light Tank T9E1. Production was meant to start somewhere in 1942, but issues in the design change and factories caused the production to be delayed until April 1943. The tanks were produced from then until 1945, with a total unit of 830.

The tank was specified the Light Tank M22 at some time in 1943, but this classified it as a "limited standard" equipment due to some faults discovered. Testings showed that loading the M22 tank on a C-54 plane required lots of time and complex equipments, plus the plane had to be landed on an airfield to be unloaded. The durability and reliability of the M22 was also brought into question, concerned that these factors would make it unsuitable for airborne operations and that the design was effectively obsolete. The M22 never saw service in American combat units except for training, and even with the establishment of two units with the M22s, they saw no combat due to America's lack of investment in airborne tanks. The British on the other hand believed that the M22 would be adequate at its role so adopted it as the Locust , giving the name Light Tank M22 Locust to the tank.

Combat usage

The British usage in World War II had the airborne light tanks used in 1st and 6th Airborne Division as the Light Tank 'C' Squadron. Although the M22 Locust started replacing the Tetrarch before the initiation of Operation Overlord, the Tetrarch was still used until October 1944, when a restructuring retired all Tetrarch and replaced them with Locusts. The 6th Airborne Division was involved in Operation Varsity in 1945, where eight Locusts were loaded onto Hamilcar gliders and flown to the battlefield on March 24. Of the eight Locusts sent, six landed intact, but two never reached their rendezvous point due to enemy action or mechanical breakdown. Of the four remaining Locusts, only two were undamaged at the rendezvous point. The tanks were deployed at a fortified area, where they engage German troops while being supported by an infantry company, the Locusts were forced to withdraw after the heavy losses in infantry denied them support. The four tanks and what is left of the infantry were finally relieved by the 44th Royal Tank Regiment and the rest of the 6th Airborne Division. Operation Varsity was the only operation the Locust would ever see action in World War II.

The M22 Locust, while serving rather well as an airborne tank, was reported to be obsolete by January 1946 by the War Office in Britain. New designs were to take over the Locust's role in the airborne formations. What's left of the Locusts in British inventory were given to foreign militaries. Belgium used some as command tanks in their armoured regiments. America received a few back and were converted into agricultural tractors. Egypt used the Locusts in a large number to replace their aging tank models from the interwar period, these saw service in the 1948 Arab-Israeli War.

Today, sixteen M22 Locusts are known to have survived, though many have replica turrets. Of the batch, only three are known to be in running condition.

Media

An excellent addition to the article will be video guides, as well as screenshots from the game and photos.

Read also

Sources

Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:

  • topic on the official game forum;
  • other literature.


USA light tanks
LVT  LVT(A)(1) · ○LVT(A)(1) · LVT(A)(4)
M2  M2A2 · M2A4 · M2A4 (1st Arm.Div.)
M3/M5 Stuart  M3 Stuart · M3A1 Stuart · M3A1 (USMC) · M5A1 · M5A1 TD · ▃Stuart VI (5th CAD)
M22 Locust  M22
M24 Chaffee  M24 · M24 (TL)
M18 Hellcat  M18 GMC · M18 "Black Cat" · Super Hellcat
M41 Walker Bulldog  M41A1
M551 Sheridan  M551 · M551(76)
M3 Bradley  M3 Bradley · M3A3 Bradley
Wheeled  M8 LAC · T18E2 · M1128 · M1128 Wolfpack
Other  M8A1 GMC · T92 · T114 · HSTV-L · CCVL · XM8 · XM800T · AGS

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