US M22 “Locust” Airborne Tank (T9E1)

In late 1942, the US Army responded to a British request by developing a small tank that could be transported by aircraft.
But the USA itself also urgently needs such combat vehicles for its airborne troops.
Before officially entering production in late 1943, the T9 light tank prototype suffered from various mechanical problems.
The first units to be supplied with M-22 tanks as experimental units were the US Army's 151st Armored Airborne Brigade and 28th Armored Airborne Battalion.
These tanks were transported using C 54 transport aircraft in a very special way: the entire tank was strapped to the lower part of the fuselage, while the turret was hidden in the fuselage.
What is interesting, however, is that in order to implement this concept, troops had to be deployed to occupy the enemy airport before these tanks could be landed.
During this time, a small number of M22s were sent to the French theater for use by the U.S. Sixth Army, but they were never used in real operations.
The M22 was armed with a 37 mm gun, but was considered obsolete by the time it entered service.
It could reach a speed of 65 kilometers per hour, but suffered from propulsion problems.
Most M22s were scrapped after the war.
Some of the surviving M22s were delivered primarily to Egypt in 1946, and smaller numbers were used by Belgium and Israel.

Plastic model kit

• with photo-etched parts

Scale 1:35

unbuilt / unpainted

Paint and glue not included