Martin MB-1 / Glenn Martin Bomber

Reconnaissance / Bomber Biplane Aircraft

United States | 1918

"Only nine Martin MB-1 series bombers were completed before the end of hostilities in World War 1."

High-angled right side front view of the Martin MB-1 bomber over Washington, D.C.

Power & Performance
Those special qualities that separate one aircraft design from another. Performance specifications presented assume optimal operating conditions for the Martin MB-1 / Glenn Martin Bomber Reconnaissance / Bomber Biplane Aircraft.

2 x Liberty 12-A engines developing 400 horsepower each.
Propulsion

104 mph
168 kph | 91 kts
Max Speed

12,247 ft
3,733 m | 2 miles
Service Ceiling

390 miles
627 km | 339 nm
Operational Range

Structure
The nose-to-tail, wingtip-to-wingtip physical qualities of the Martin MB-1 / Glenn Martin Bomber Reconnaissance / Bomber Biplane Aircraft.

3 or 4
(MANNED)
Crew

44.1 ft
13.44 m
O/A Length

71.5 ft
(21.79 m)
O/A Width

14.7 ft
(4.48 m)
O/A Height

10,223 lb
(4,637 kg)
MTOW

Armament
Available supported armament and special-mission equipment featured in the design of the Martin MB-1 / Glenn Martin Bomber Reconnaissance / Bomber Biplane Aircraft .

STANDARD:
2 x 7.62mm Lewis machien guns in bow position
2 x 7.62mm Lewis machine guns in upper rear fuselage.
1 x 7.62mm Lewis machine gun in lower rear fuselage.

OPTIONAL:
Up to 2,000lb of ordnance

Variants
Notable series variants as part of the Martin MB-1 / Glenn Martin Bomber family line.

MB-1 - Martin Company Designation / Military Designation.

GMB "Glen Martin Bomber" - United States Army Air Service designation for MB-1 series.

GMT "Glenn Martin Transcontinental" - Fitted with fuel tanks for increased range.

GMC "Glen Martin Canon" - Fitted with 1 x 37mm cannon replacing bow-mounted 7.62mm machine gun.

GMP "Glenn Martin Passenger" - Accommodations for up to 10 passengers; redesignated to T-1.

MBT "Martin Bombers - Torpedo" - Torpedo Bomber Variant; used by the United States Navy.

MT "Martin Torpedo" - Used by the United States Navy; based on MB-1 system with wing assembly of MB-2 bombers; redesignated to TM-1.

T-1 - GMP Redesignation

TM-1 - MT Redesignation

MB-1 / NBS-1 - "Improved" MB-1 Model Series

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 05/15/2018 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site; No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

The Martin MB-1 (also known as the "Glenn Martin Bomber") became the first American-designed heavy bomber type to be purchased in quantity in the First World War, becoming the mainstay of the United States Army Air Service (USAAS) for a time. The system was a two-engine bomber of indigenous creation (previous US bombers were simply license production derivatives of European origin) and was designed by the Glenn Martin Company. In the end, only nine full-operational systems would become available by war's end but the type would soldier on until being replaced in 1920 by the more capable Martin MB-2 series.

Power was derived from two Liberty 12-A engines mounted between the upper and lower wing assemblies. Each engine developed a reported 400 horsepower and straddled the fuselage where three to four crewmembers were called upon to man the various open-cockpit stations. Armament was defensive and was made up of no fewer than 5 x 7.62mm machine guns in various positions about the fuselage including the bow nose mount. Offensive firepower consisted of up to 2,000lbs of ordnance. The undercarriage was of a fixed type and consisted of four wheels. First production examples were received in October of 1918.

The MB-1 was designed to replace the Handley-Page O/400 bomber series of British design and the Caproni bomber series of Italian design. The MB-1 came about at a time when the United States depended heavily on the purchase of foreign designs or all-out completed production models to maintain a workable military presence so the arrival of the MB-1 was quite a historic footnote for the nation. The system was called upon to fulfill the primary role of reconnaissance platform with a secondary role as a dedicated bomber. It would serve only a few short years in a military capacity before being replaced in frontline service by the aforementioned MB-2 series, which was in essence a further developed version of the MB-1 series.

A few modified MB-1 models existed and are worthy of note. These include an MB-1 with a 37mm cannon mounted in the 7.62mm bow-mount machine gun position. This particular MB-1 is designated as the GMC for "Glenn Martin Canon" and known by the serial AS62951. Additionally, the MB-1 with serial AS39059 sported a third Hispano-Suiza engine in the nose. A ten-passenger model existed as the GMP ("Glen Martin Passenger"). The MB-1 also served for a time as a mail carrier plane in the form of the T-1 in the post-war years.

Content ©MilitaryFactory.com; No Reproduction Permitted.

Operators
Global customers who have evaluated and/or operated the Martin MB-1 / Glenn Martin Bomber. Nations are displayed by flag, each linked to their respective national aircraft listing.

Total Production: 22 Units
Contractor(s): Glenn Martin Company (Martin) - USA

[ United States ]

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Image of the Martin MB-1 / Glenn Martin Bomber

High-angled right side front view of the Martin MB-1 bomber over Washington, D.C.

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Right side profile view of a Martin MB-1 bomber

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Front left side view of a Martin MB-1 bomber in October of 1918

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Rear right side view of a Martin MB-1 bomber

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Lending a hand - three ground crew members ready engine number one of a Martin MB-1 bomber

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Front view of a Martin MB-1 bomber; note 37mm cannon armament in front tub

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Front view of a three-engined Martin MB-1 bomber

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Front right side view of a three-engined Martin MB-1 bomber

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Left side profile view of a three-engined Martin MB-1 bomber

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Going Further...
The Martin MB-1 / Glenn Martin Bomber Reconnaissance / Bomber Biplane Aircraft appears in the following collections:

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