During the fighting of World War 2 (1939-1945), the prop-driven attack aircraft for the Allies reached its pinnacle as support from the air became particularly important in the drives on Rome, Berlin, and Tokyo. These multi-faceted machines were in high demand and were required against all manner of ground targets - trains, depots, ships and the like. For the United States, there proved no shortage of successful designs which included the classic Douglas A-26 "Invader" twin attacker and conversions of successful models such as the North American B-25 "Mitchell", another twin-engined type.
The Untied States Army Air Forces (USAAF) formed sizeable attack groups centered on twin-engined models supported by multiple crewmembers and broad weapon support. As the war progressed from the early stages of 1939 onwards, requirements for attackers evolved with it to the point that new designs were always being considered. In the middle of June 1943, the Glen L. Martin Company, no stranger to successful aircraft designs, drew up plans for a new USAAC attacker, the "Model 201", centered around a twin engine concept which was to seat its two powerplants inline - these driving a pair of four-bladed propellers at the nose in contra-rotating fashion.
The arrangement led to some inherent advantages in the design for the wings were not required to support dedicated engine nacelle structures, freeing these members for other vital components such as weaponry. Additionally, this allowed for reduced drag along the frontal areas of the aircraft (i.e. smaller profile), this having the potential in-built benefit of improved performance while also allowing for additional internal volume for fuel stores (made up of self-sealing fuel tanks via a "wet wing").
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.
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GROUND ATTACK
Ability to conduct aerial bombing of ground targets by way of (but not limited to) guns, bombs, missiles, rockets, and the like.
CLOSE-AIR SUPPORT
Developed to operate in close proximity to active ground elements by way of a broad array of air-to-ground ordnance and munitions options.
SPECIAL-MISSION: ANTI-SHIP
Equipped to search, track, and engage enemy surface elements through visual acquisition, radar support, and onboard weaponry.
INTELLIGENCE-SURVEILLANCE-RECONNAISSANCE
Surveil ground targets / target areas to assess environmental threat levels, enemy strength, or enemy movement.
X-PLANE
Aircraft developed for the role of prototyping, technology demonstration, or research / data collection.
63.3 ft (19.30 meters) Length
77.9 ft (23.75 meters) Width/Span
22,046 lb (10,000 kilograms) Empty Weight
40,267 lb (18,265 kilograms) Maximum Take-Off Weight
+18,221 lb (+8,265 kg) Weight Difference
2 x Allison V-3420 liquid-cooled inline piston engines developing 2,850 horsepower each and driving a pair of four-bladed propeller units at the nose in contra-rotating fashion. Propulsion
PROPOSED, FIXED:
12 x 0.50 caliber Browning M2 Heavy Machine Guns (HMGs) in wings (six to a wing) OR 6 x 20mm autocannons in wings (three to a wing).
2 x 0.50 caliber Browning M2 HMGs in powered tail turret.
PROPOSED, OPTIONAL, VARIABLE:
18 x Air-to-surface rockets under the wings.
1 x 4,000lb drop bomb in internal bay.
4 x 1,000lb drop bombs in internal bay.
6 x 500lb drop bombs in internal bay.
15 x 100lb drop bombs in internal bay.
2 x Mk 13-2 torpedoes in internal bomb bay.
18 Hardpoints
Model 201 - Base Project Designation; design brochure completed for 1943 but project work abandoned before the end of the year.
General Assessment
Firepower
Performance
Survivability
Versatility
Impact
Values are derrived from a variety of categories related to the design, overall function, and historical influence of this aircraft in aviation history.
Overall Rating
The overall rating takes into account over 60 individual factors related to this aircraft entry.
84
Rating is out of a possible 100 points.
Relative Maximum Speed
Hi: 500mph
Lo: 250mph
This entry's maximum listed speed (426mph).
Graph average of 375 miles-per-hour.
City-to-City Ranges
NYC
LON
LON
PAR
PAR
BER
BER
MOS
MOS
TOK
TOK
SYD
SYD
LAX
LAX
NYC
Operational range when compared to distances between major cities (in KM).
Max Altitude Visualization
Design Balance
The three qualities reflected above are altitude, speed, and range.
Aviation Era Span
Showcasing era cross-over of this aircraft design.
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