M22 Locust (T9E1) Airborne Tank (British Version)

The British needed light tanks suitable for air transport and commissioned the USA to develop and produce them.
In early 1943, the Marmon Herrington Company produced an experimental T9 prototype, but mechanical problems delayed development until the end of the year.
Following the development of the M22, a total of 830 units were produced and 260 units were delivered to the British Airborne Forces.
This small tank was named “Locust”.
The Locusts in service in Britain were transported by the huge Hamilcar glider, which could carry two Universal Carriers or an M22.
In October 1944, the British Army's 6th Airborne Armored Reconnaissance Regiment replaced its original Tetrarchs light tanks with Locust small tanks.
The British Army took part in “Operation Campus” across the Rhine in March 1945 with eight M22 “Locusts”.
However, many of them were damaged during landing and only two of them were able to reach the expected objective of the operation.
After the war, the tanks were either scrapped or passed on to users in other countries. The “Locust” weighed only 7.5 tons and could reach a speed of 65 kilometers per hour.
Their armament and equipment consists of a 37 mm M6 gun and a coaxial .30 Browning machine gun.

Plastic model kit

• with photo-etched parts

Scale 1:35

unbuilt / unpainted

Paint and glue not included