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United States' Martin PBM Mariner1,2
Martin PBM Mariner flying boat:
Martin PBM Mariner flying boat:
Martin PBM Mariner flying boat:
Martin PBM Mariner flying boat:
Design
The United States Navy in 1937 put forth a request for a new flying boat.1,2
Radar
The radar was located above the cockpit in a streamlined fairing.1
Engines
The PBM's engines were mounted high on the gull wings to help keep them out of the salt water spray.1
Wings
The wings were gull shaped.1 There were fixed floats on the ends that allowed for a staple take off in rough seas.1
Tail
The tail plane was dihedral.2 The fins were canted inwards.2
Prototype
Martin made a 3/8 scale model that was flown before the full scale prototype.1,2 It had a Chevrolet engine and a crew.1
The Martin XPBM-1 Mariner prototype first flew on February 18, 1939.1,2
Production
Deliveries of the PBM-1 began in 1941.2
Production concluded in 1949.1,2
- XPBM-1: 12
- PMB-1: 202
- XPBM-2: 12
- PBM-3B / Mariner GR.I: 322
- PBM-3C: 2742
- PBM-3D: 2012
- PBM-3R: 502
- PBM-3S: 1562
- XPBM-5: 22
- PBM-5: 6312
- XPBM-5A: 12
- PBM-5A: 362
- Total: 1,4052
Variants
- XPBM-1: Prototype.2 Had Wright R-2600-6 (1,600 HP) engines.2 The outrigger floats were retractable.2 The tail surfaces were flat.2
- PBM-1: First production model.2
- PBM-3: Outriggers were fixed.2 Engine nacelles were lengthened.2
- PBM-3B / Mariner GR.I: Delivered to RAF Coastal Command in August 1943.2
- PBM-3C: More armor protection.2
- PBM-3D: Increased armament.2 Self sealing fuel tanks.2 Radar.2
- PBM-3R: Transport.2 Unarmed.2 Could carry 20 passengers.2
- PBM-3S: Anti submarine warfare.2
- PBM-5: Had retractable landing gear in the fuselage.1 Radar equipped.2
- PBM-5A: Retractable tricycle landing gear.2 Mostly used by United States Coast Guard.2
- PBM-5E: New radar.2
- PBM-5G: Coast Guard use.2
- PBM-5S: Anti submarine warfare.2
Usage
The Martin PBM Mariner was a replacement for the Consolidated PBY Catalina.1
During World War II Australia, Britain, and the United States used the Mariner.2 Many countries used the Mariner into the 1950s.1
Rocket Assisted Take Off (RATO)
The United States Navy first used RATO on a stranded PBM in the Colorado River.1
United Kingdom
The British returned the 27 Mariners that they had without using them in combat.1 They had them only 6 weeks.2
U-Boat Destroyer
On June 30, 1942 was a PBM Mariners first kill when Lieutenant Richard E. Schreder sank U-158 near Bermuda.1
On August 6, 1943 seven PBMs sank U-615 near Aruba.1
By the end of World War II, PBM Mariners sank twelve U-Boats.1
Australia
In 1943 Australia received 122 PBM-3R transports.2 These were used from Australia to New Guinea from mid 1944.2
| Martin PBM Mariner2 | Martin PBM-3B Mariner2 | Martin PBM-3C Mariner2 | Martin PBM-3D Mariner1 | Martin PBM-5 Mariner2 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Patrol flying boat2 Transport flying boat2 |
Flying boat1 | |||
| Crew | 7 or 82 | 7 or 81 | |||
| Engine (Type) | 2: Wright R-2600-12 Cyclone2 | 2: Wright R-2600-12 Cyclone2 | 2: Wright R-2600-22 Cyclone piston1,2 | 2: Wright R-2600-342 | |
| Cylinders | Radial 142 | Radial 142 | Radial1 | ||
| Cooling | |||||
| HP | 1,700 each2 | 1,700 each2 | 1,900 each1,2 | 2,100 each2 | |
| Propeller blades | 4 each2 | 4 each2 | 4 each1,2 | 4 each2 | |
| Dimensions | |||||
| Span | 118'2 35.97 m2 |
118'1 35.97 m1 |
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| Length | 80'2 24.38 m2 |
80'1 24.38 m1 |
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| Height | 27' 6"2 8.38 m2 |
27'1 8.23 m1 |
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| Wing area | 1,407 ft2 1 130.71 m2 1 |
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| Weight | |||||
| Empty | 32,378 lb2 14,687 kg2 |
33,106 lb1 15,017 kg1 |
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| Loaded | 58,000 lb2 26,309 kg2 |
57,878 lb1 26,253 kg1 |
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| Performance | |||||
| Speed | 211 mph2 340 kph2 |
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| Speed @ 1,700' / 520 m |
210 mph1 338 kph1 |
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| Speed @ 13,000' / 3,962 m |
198 mph2 319 kph2 |
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| Cruising speed @ 1,700' / 520 m |
188 mph1 303 kph1 |
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| Climb | 410'/minute2 125 m/minute2 |
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| Service ceiling | 16,900'2 5,151 m2 |
19,800'2, 20,000'1 6,035 m2, 6,095 m1 |
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| Range | 2,137 miles2 3,439 km2 |
2,235 miles1, 2,240 miles2 3,597 km1, 3,605 km2 |
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| Combat range | 722 miles1 1,162 km1 |
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| Armament | |||||
| Nose turret | 2: 0.5" MG2 | 2: 12.7 mm MG1 | |||
| Dorsal turret | 2: 0.5" MG2 | 2: 12.7 mm MG1 | |||
| Waist positions | 2: 0.5" MG2 | 2: 12.7 mm MG1 | |||
| Tail turret | 2: 0.5" MG2 | 2: 12.7 mm MG1 | |||
| Bombs, torpedoes, or depth charges under the engine nacelles | 1,646 lb1, 8,000 lb2 3,629 kg2 |
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| Bombs or depth charges | 2,000 lb2 907 kg2 |
Sources:
- Aircraft of WWII, General Editor: Jim Winchester, 2004
- Aircraft of WWII, Stewart Wilson, 1998
