Martin Baltimore

Martin 187 Baltimore
Martin Baltimore of the Royal Air Force
Type:	bomber
Design country:	United States
Manufacturer:	Glenn L. Martin Company
First flight:	June 14, 1941
Commissioning:	1941
Production time:	1941 to 1944
Number of pieces:	1575

The Martin 187 Baltimore was a light twin-engine bomber made by the US aircraft manufacturer Glenn L. Martin Company in 1941. Although offered as the A-23 to the USAAF , the machines were only available under the pro forma designation A-30 for export via the Lend lease agreement ordered. The main users were the Royal Air Force , the Fleet Air Arm , the Royal Canadian Air Force , the Royal Australian Air Force and the South African Air Force .

history

The aircraft was a successor to the Martin Maryland from 1939, which had also been completely transferred to the RAF. She was, however, slightly larger, had a deeper fuselage and was intended for export to Great Britain and France after the US Air Force did not put this model into service. After France surrendered on June 22, 1940, however, all aircraft were delivered to Great Britain under the lend lease agreement. The crew consisted of four men (pilot, navigator / bombardier, radio operator and gunner). In the rear fuselage were one or two movable machine guns as light defensive armament.

Martin A-30 Baltimore

The bombers were mainly used in the Mediterranean and North Africa as day and night bombers. After the public announcement of Italy's surrender on September 8, 1943, Free Italy - that part of the country that fought on the side of the Allies - also received a Baltimore squadron from British holdings, which the Aeronautica Cobelligerante Italiana (English abbreviation: ICBAF) " Stormo Baltimore ”.

production

Production by Martin Baltimore:

version	1941	1942	1943	1944	TOTAL
Mk. I	50				50
Mk. II	96	4th			100
Mk. III		250			250
A-30 / Mk. IIIA		251	30th		281
A-30A / Mk. IV			294		294
A-30B / Mk. V			351	249	600
TOTAL	146	505	675	249	1,575

variants

Baltimore Mk.I

50 aircraft built (1600 HP radial engine Wright GR-2600-A5B , four 7.7 mm MG in the wings, one 7.7 mm Vickers-K MG firing back up and rear down)

Baltimore Mk.II

100 aircraft built (like Mk.I, but Vickers-K-MGs in double mount)

Baltimore Mk.III

250 aircraft built (like Mk.II, but replacement of the two MGs in the back of the fuselage with Boulton-Paul turrets with four 7.7 mm Browning MGs)

Baltimore Mk.IIIA (A-30)

281 aircraft built (like Mk. III, but new Martin turret with two 12.7 mm machine guns)

Baltimore Mk.IV (A-30A)

294 aircraft built (modified bomb bay, loading with 454 kg bombs possible)

Baltimore Mk.V (A-30A)

600 aircraft built (1700 hp Wright R-2600-29 radial engine, replacement of all 7.7 mm MG with 12.7 mm MG)

Baltimore GR.VI (A-30C)

Version as a maritime patrol aircraft with extended fuselage and radar in the aircraft nose; two Mk.V's were converted into prototypes, 900 machines were canceled in April 1944

Almost all aircraft built in 1575 were delivered to the RAF, with some Mk.III and IIIA being lost during the crossing due to the sinking of the cargo ships.

Countries of operation

•  Australia
•  France
•  Greece
•  Italy
•  South African Union
•  United Kingdom : (Royal Air Force, Fleet Air Arm)
•  Turkey

Technical specifications

Parameter	A-30A Baltimore data
crew	4th
length	14.80 m
span	18.69 m
height	5.41 m
Wing area	50 m²
drive	two Wright R-2600 -10 Cyclone with 1,684 PS (1,239 kW) each
Top speed	491 km / h
Range	1,741 km
Service ceiling	7,100 m
Empty mass	7,013 kg
Takeoff mass	10,251 kg
Armament	four 7.7 mm Browning machine guns, 970 kg bombs

Web links

Commons : Martin Baltimore  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

• USAF Museum: Martin A-30 Baltimore

Individual evidence

1. ↑ 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. 241 ff.