General Zod (Chad) and I were bouncing some ideas around in a live chat this evening on the subject of the M22 Locust. It all started with his post about what he should take up for his next project. The original idea I had shared came when I was looking at the M22 Locust in profile and realized the Locust turret looked a lot like the low-bustle turret of the M4 Sherman except smaller. From that the ideas expanded to cover the one suggested to General Zod in his own topic about using the turret from the M8 Scott Howitzer Motor Carriage on the M22 Locust hull to create a lower profile 75mm HMC for airborne and air-landing forces that could be carried by gliders and cargo aircraft of that time period.
So for the purpose of consolidation of the various ideas discussed between Chad and myself, I provide the following ideas:
Fire support -
M22 Locust hull with the turret from the M8 Scott 75mm HMC (Howitzer Motor Carriage). If the M22 could handle the recoil of the 37mm gun then it should be able to handle the recoil forces of the 75mm howitzer.
Improved light tank -
M22 Locust hull with a 1:48th scale T23 type turret from an M4A3 (76) suitably modified on top for 1:35th scale hatches that could then mount a 57mm size gun in the enclosed turret. Though in real life this might not be possible I think it would be an excellent looking what-if concept for someone that has the time and resources to build it.
Air defense or reconnaissance -
M22 Locust hull fitted with the Mk 17 machine gun mount (
as used on the PT boats) to create an air defense vehicle. The Mk17 machine gun mount was tested on the
M5 Stuart light tank hull for anyone wondering about the practicality of the idea. The M3 Stuart was fitted with the M45 Machine Gun Mount (aka Quad Mount). The Yugoslavian Partisians modified Stuarts to carry the 20mm FlaK 38 Vierling and the 75mm PaK 40.
Infantry carrier and command vehicle -
M22 Locust hull with turret removed and the superstructure from the M20 Armored Car attached to create a small compartment to hold troops and a .50 Browning machine gun in a rotating ring mount. As a command vehicle it would carry the necessary radio communications equipment for command and control. As an infantry carrier it might be able to carry one infantry squad or if the hole in the hull was made larger and more rectangular in shape, maybe a few more will fit inside.
Mortar carrier -
M22 Locust hull fitted with 3.0" Mortar (UK) or the 81mm Mortar (US) to create a tracked Motorized Mortar Carrier (MMC). The T9E2 81mm Motorized Mortar Carrier was developed from the M22 Locust and tested but did not go into production. So what if it had gone into production? Certainly worth considering. As to how the mortar was mounted, I guess that is up to the person that takes this idea and tries to build it.
Bulldozer and artillery prime mover -
M22 Locust hull fitted with a bulldozer blade kit. Apparently the M5 Stuart was modified to mount a bulldozer blade (no idea which M-number blade kit) and the turret was usually removed for this purpose. So what if the Locust was produced as an artillery prime mover and engineer vehicle with a bulldozer blade mounted and the turret removed. Granted the payload would be limited by the space available to carry a small amount of ammunition and equipment for the piece being towed. If the Stuart could be turned into a prime mover for certain types of artillery I see no reason to not consider something similar for the Locust as a what if artillery prime mover and engineer vehicle.
Recoilless rifle carrier -
M22 Locust armed with two or four recoilless rifles in an arrangement similar to that found on the
M50 Ontos.
Cold war reconnaissance vehicle -
M22 Locust fitted with a 20mm or 30mm cannon to serve as an airborne armored reconnaissance vehicle. Perhaps mounting the turret from the Fox or Scimitar on the Locust hull?
Cold war fire support vehicle -
M22 Locust fitted with a 76mm low-velocity gun from the Alvis Saladin or the Scorpion light tank. Maybe mount the Saladin or Scorpion turret on the Locust hull?
Feel free to contribute your own ideas for what if vehicles based on the Locust.
*The JED Site appears to be back up and running. No idea how long it will last but enjoy it while you can. Here is the link to
JED Site index page.