Martin PBM-3 / PBM-5 Mariner

The Martin PBM-3 / PBM-5 Mariner was a World War 2 era flying boat used in the maritime. The Mariner first appeared in 1937 and it first flew in 1939 as the Martin Model 162 project, giving birth to the prototype XPBM-1 as a twin engine flying boat with a high-mounted monoplane gull wing. Martin designed a “splash” with their PBY Catalina flying boat series in operation with the United States Navy.

It had twin tail rudders, retractable stabilizing floats and a deep hull-like fuselage. Its earlier versions featured 2 x Wright Cyclone R-2600-6 radial engines which produced a total output of 1,600 horsepower. Just a year after it came into the WW2 scene, it became a mainstay of the Naval Air Transport Service as it was the first aircraft to provide a vital link between Hawaii and the South Pacific. The PBM-3 was the first in the series to feature fixed floats; a lengthened engine nacelle also added to this model series allowed for a greater external ordnance load to be carried.

A crew of 7 to 9 men could be accommodated in the Martin PBM-3 / PBM-5 Mariner. Armament consisted of a twin 12.7 mm gun mounting at the bow, tail and dorsal positions with an additional 2 x 12.7 mm machine guns at the beam (waist) positions firing through hatches. The bomb load was a pretty respectable 8,000 pounds (PBM 3D). The PBM-3 eventually became the first widely-produced and modified model in the series with unarmed transport and passenger transport derivatives joining the base production model. It had an appropriate and consistent surface detail which was engraved and raised. This was a product of thoughtful engineering to join wing to fuselage and horizontal tail surfaces. It also featured fixed under wing floats. About 1,700 aircraft were produced which included various variants. They were used by both the American and the British forces.Despite being of a more modern design and an equally capable performer, the Mariner was never able to gather the top spot which was always with the Catalina series aircraft.

Specifications

Crew: 7 to 9
Allied Codename: Martin Mariner
Type: 2-era flying boat
Design: Martin Mariner
Engine(s): 2 x Wright Cyclone R-2600-22 14-cylinders air-cooled radial engines developing 1,900hp each.
Max Speed: 211mph (340kmh; 184kts)
Max Range: 2,240miles (3,605km)
Ceiling: 19,800ft (6,035m; 3.7miles)
Length: 79.82ft (24.33m)
Height: 27.49ft (8.38m)
Empty Weight: 33,175lbs (15,048kg)
MTO Weight: 58,001lbs (26,309kg)
Armaments: 2 x 12.7mm machine guns in bow turret
2 x 12.7mm machine guns in dorsal turret
2 x 12.7mm machine guns in tail turret
1 x 12.7mm machine gun in left beam position
1 x 12.7mm machine gun in right beam position
Up to 8,000lbs (3,629kg) of bombs