Long-time aeroplane-maker Glenn L. Martin Company used the "Model 210" designation to cover several designs related to a United States Navy's (USN) carrierborne attack aircraft requirement. This requirement would eventually lead to the classic Douglas A-1 "Skyraider", which excelled in its role, but also spawned a myriad of proposed designs from various manufacturers. Among these was the Martin entry which, itself, branched out to cover "Model 210-1" (the focus of this article), "Model 210-1A", and the Model 210-2A - design work on the series was unveiled during August of 1943 was World War 2 (1939-1945) raged on.
The three designs differed as follows: Model 210-1 showcased twin Allison V-1710 liquid-cooled, inline piston engines while the Model 210-1A was essentially the same aircraft though set to carry a turbojet engine in the lower regions of its fuselage. The Model 210-2A was to house the Pratt & Whitney R-4360-13 "Wasp Major" and it was only this version of the three that was evolved to become the AM-1 "Mauler" in USN service - though production was cut short in favor of the Douglas Skyraider after 151 were completed.
Externally, the proposed Model 210-1 shared an uncanny resemblance with the early-war Bell P-39 "Airacobra" though obviously dimensionally larger. The single-seat cockpit, sporting a tear-drop-shaped clear-view canopy, was armored and situated slightly ahead of midships and over the straight-winged monoplanes. These wing members were low-mounted and tapered along both edges toward the rounded tips. The fuselage was streamlined from nose-to-tail with the latter showcasing a single, clipped vertical fin and low-set horizontal planes. For ground-running, or in this case deck-running, the aircraft was to have the same tricycle landing gear arrangement (two main legs, one nose leg - all-retractable), the main legs recessing into the wings and the nose leg collapsing rearwards towards fuselage centerline. The aircraft was drawn up with a running length of 51.4 feet and a wingspan reaching 51.11 feet.
The inclusion of two Allison inline engines was a unique design approach for this proposed attacker: the V-1710 inline engines were held in separate compartments, one positioned forward and the other positioned aft of the pilot's location. These would be used collectively to drive 2 x Three-bladed propeller units at the nose in "contra-rotating" fashion - maximizing drive power while also eliminating the natural torque of a single engine.
As with other naval-minded combat aircraft of the period, the Model 210-1 was to feature a folding-wing quality at its mainplanes, the members hinged outboard of the fixed, forward-firing armament.
This armament was to include 4 x 20mm autocannons buried in the wings, two guns to a wing member and installed just inboard of the wing-folding gear. In addition to this, the aircraft was drawn up with a torpedo-carrying capability, a 2,000lb Mk 13 torpedo series weapon could be slung under the belly. It is assumed that this attacker would also have carried aerial rockets and conventional drop bombs to assail various on-water or on-land targets as needed - a multirole nature was an inherent requirement of such combat aircraft types.
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(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)
✓Ground Attack (Bombing, Strafing)
Ability to conduct aerial bombing of ground targets by way of (but not limited to) guns, bombs, missiles, rockets, and the like.
✓Special-Mission: Anti-Ship
Equipped to search, track, and engage enemy surface elements through visual acquisition, radar support, and onboard weaponry.
✓Maritime / Navy
Land-based or shipborne capability for operating over-water in various maritime-related roles while supported by allied naval surface elements.
✓X-Plane (Developmental, Prototype, Technology Demonstrator)
Aircraft developed for the role of prototyping, technology demonstration, or research / data collection.
Length
51.3 ft (15.65 m)
Width/Span
51.1 ft (15.57 m)
Height
16.9 ft (5.15 m)
Empty Wgt
15,432 lb (7,000 kg)
MTOW
26,455 lb (12,000 kg)
Wgt Diff
+11,023 lb (+5,000 kg)
(Showcased structural values pertain to the base Martin Model 210 production variant)
Installed:
2 x Allison V-1710 liquid-cooled inline piston engine developing 1,200 horsepower (estimated) each and driving 2 x Three-bladed propeller units at the nose in contra-rotating fashion.
(Showcased performance specifications pertain to the base Martin Model 210 production variant. Performance specifications showcased above are subject to environmental factors as well as aircraft configuration. Estimates are made when Real Data not available. Compare this aircraft entry against any other in our database or View aircraft by powerplant type)
PROPOSED, FIXED, STANDARD:
4 x 20mm Automatic cannons (two cannons per wing inside of wing-folding mechanism).
PROPOSED, OPTIONAL:
1 x 2,000lb Aerial torpedo or equivalent in conventional drop bombs and possibly aerial rockets.
Supported Types
(Not all ordnance types may be represented in the showcase above)
Hardpoint Mountings: 3
Model 210 - Internal Company Designation for design series.
Model 210-1- Inline-powered version.
Model 210-1A - Model 210-1 with turbojet engine added to lower aft section of fuselage.
Model 210-2A - Radial-powered design to become the XBTM-1 "Mauler" prototype.
Ribbon graphics not necessarily indicative of actual historical campaign ribbons. Ribbons are clickable to their respective aerial campaigns / operations / aviation periods.
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