Martin Maryland
| Martin A-22 Maryland | |
|---|---|
 Royal Air Force Martin A-22 |
|
| Type: | bomber |
| Design country: | |
| Manufacturer: | |
| First flight: |
February 1939 |
| Commissioning: |
1940 |
| Number of pieces: |
496 |
The Martin A-22 Maryland was a light twin-engine bomber built in 1939 by the US aircraft manufacturer Glenn L. Martin Company .
development
In March 1938, the United States Army Air Corps requested a bomber capable of carrying 1200 lb (545 kg) of weapons 1200 miles (1900 km) at a speed of over 200 mph (320 km / h) (Circular Proposal Number 38-385). Martin submitted the Model 167 in 1939 , with other offers from Bell , Stearman , Douglas and North American . Douglas won the tender with the A-20 Havoc .
Since the Royal Air Force had no interest in the Martin 167 either, the aircraft would certainly not have been built if France had not urgently needed modern bombers. On January 26, 1939, France ordered 215 machines, designated as Martin 167A-3 , from Martin as Martin 167F .
It was a relatively fast bomber and reached a maximum speed of around 508 km / h. The crew consisted of three men. In the middle of the fuselage sat a machine gun turret and the aircraft nose was glazed. The bombardier was in the nose in front of the cockpit. The 167F first flew in August 1939.
Due to the arms embargo at the beginning of World War II , many aircraft were suspended for two months before they were delivered to Europe. After the defeat of France in June 1940, the RAF 62 167F took over and put it into service as the Martin Maryland Mk I. Between December 1940 and June 1941 another 150 Maryland Mk II were delivered, which only had more powerful engines.
commitment
France received its aircraft through its North African depots. The deliveries were made via Casablanca . After the German invasion of France began on May 10, 1940, they flew a total of 418 sorties by June 24, 1940, with 18 machines being lost. After the capitulation of France, the Vichy regime took over the machines. However, 22 were still flown to Great Britain by the French crews.
The Maryland is one of the few aircraft that fought on both sides. The Vichy regime used the machines in June 1941 against British forces in Syria and in November 1942 when the Allies landed in North Africa . The French 167F flew after World War II.
The RAF used the Maryland almost exclusively in the Mediterranean area. Squadrons 8, 39, 69, 203, 223 and 554 used the Maryland as reconnaissance aircraft, while Squadrons 12, 21 and 24 of the South African Air Force used the machines as bombers. The RAF retired the machines in 1942, the SAAF in 1943.
production
Production by Martin Maryland:
| version | 1939 | 1940 | 1941 | TOTAL | comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| XA-22 | 1 | 1 | |||
| F-1 | 115 | 115 | France | ||
| F-2 | 27 | 73 | 100 | France | |
| F-3 / B-3 | 130 | 130 | France; 88 to UK as Maryland Mk. I | ||
| B-4 | 22nd | 128 | 150 | UK as Maryland Mk. II | |
| TOTAL | 143 | 225 | 128 | 496 |
Versions
- XA-22
- Prototype, a machine was built.
- 167F
- Series version built for France with 900 hp R-1830-37, 215.
- Maryland Mk I.
- 62 167Fs acquired from Great Britain and 22 ex-French ones.
- Maryland Mk II
- Mk. I with 1050 hp R-1830-S3C4-G, 150 were built.
Technical specifications
| Parameter | Data of the Maryland Mk. II |
|---|---|
| crew | 3 |
| length | 14.2 m |
| span | 18.7 m |
| Wing area | 49.9 m² |
| height | 5.0 m |
| Empty mass | 4802 kg |
| Takeoff mass | 6939 kg |
| Top speed | 508 km / h |
| Service ceiling | 9450 m |
| Range | 2092 km |
| Engine | two Pratt & Whitney R-1830 -SC3G with 1,050 PS (772 kW) each |
| Armament | six .303 (7.7 mm) machine guns, 970 kg bombs |
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Statistical Digest of the USAF 1946 , p. 100 ff .; Butler, Phil: Air Arsenal North America. Aircraft for the Allies 1938-1945. Purchases and Lend-Lease, Hinckley 2004, p. 236 f.