The fuselage was deep and rounded at its edges, contoured well for aerodynamic efficiency. At the nose sat the engines with their respective propellers fitted on individual spinner sections. The cockpit (seating two of its three crewmembers) was positioned just aft of the engines and covered by the usual framed approach popular during the time. The slender aircraft continued aft towards the tail where a single-finned rudder was fitted with low-mounted horizontal planes - these members featuring noticeable dihedral. The mainplanes were mid-mounted along the sides the fuselage, tapering towards their respective tips (which were rounded). Long-running flap control surfaces were seated at the trailing edges with ailerons carried outboard of these. The mainplanes, like the tailplanes, were given slight dihedral. For ground-running, a rather modern tricycle undercarriage (wholly retractable) would be used.
As an attacker type, the Model 201 would be outfitted with no fewer than 12 x 0.50 Browning Heavy Machine Guns (HMGs), six to a wing leading edge, giving formidable frontal firepower against any ground target. These were fixed and forward-firing installations controlled by the pilot. In place of these weapons could be 6 x 20mm autocannons, fitted as three to a wing, offering even greater firepower potential for the period. At the tail of the aircraft was proposed an emplacement for a powered turret housing 2 x 0.50 Browning HMGs to cover the aircraft's vulnerable rear (managed by a dedicated machine gunner). At the fuselage, internally, was space set aside for a modest bomb bay would carry either conventional drop ordnance or additional fuel stores (the latter for extended operational ranges). Bomb loadouts ranged from a single 4,000lb (or 4 x 1,000 pounders) weapon to 15 x 100lb drop weapons. Alternatively, for anti-ship sorties, the aircraft would be cleared to carry 2 x Mk 13-2 torpedoes. Furthermore, underwing hardpoints could support up to 18 x Air-to-surface rockets.
All this was to give the Model 201 excellent straightline performance, control and attack strength. It would be capable of assaulting all manner of targets below it through its fixed armament or drop bombs, laying waste to whatever was in its path. However, despite its promising nature, the Model 201 was not accepted (and therefore not furthered) by USAAF authorities for additional development as current in-service systems proved more than capable of seeing the war through. This led to the project being abandoned by Martin even before the end of 1943.
As designed, Martin engineers estimated their attacker to have a maximum speed of 425 miles-per-hour and reach altitudes of 23,000 feet. Rate-of-climb was near 3,100 feet-per-minute. Range (with its full war load) was 2,740 miles. Structurally, the Model 201's length would reach 63.3 feet with a span of 78 feet. Gross weight was estimated at 40,265lb.
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