No prototypes of the Martin Model 179 were ordered for the project that led to the classic Martin B-26 Marauder medium-class, twin-engined bomber aircraft for the USAAC.
In the early part of 1939, the United States Army Air Corps (USAAC) drew up plans for a new generation of medium bomber types that were rather recently embodied by the Douglas B-18 "Bolo" and B-23 "Dragon" forms (the Dragon essentially becoming an evolution of the Bolo). The Specification of March 1939 called for a twin-engined form flying at speeds of 300 miles-per-hour out to a range of 2,000 miles all the while carrying a bomb load of up to 3,000lb.
The requirement was eventually fulfilled by two of the more classic design forms of World War 2 - the North American B-25 "Mitchell" (the NA-62) and the Martin B-26 "Marauder" (the Model 179). Both excelled in their given roles and the designs were considerably evolved from their original offerings to help fulfill wartime requirements.
However, before the Model 179 would become the excellent B-26, it underwent a period of constant change. As early as July 1939, the aircraft was a twin-engined design of portly appearance with a deep, rounded fuselage. The fuselage's nosecap was completely glazed over and the cockpit (also heavily framed) was stepped (consistent with the final-form, in-service B-26 still to come). The aircraft was given a twin-rudder fin tail unit set slightly ahead of the tapered, terminating end of the fuselage. The wing mainplanes sat shoulder-mounted atop the fuselage and each carried an underslung engine nacelle, the engines used to drive four-bladed propeller units with oversized spinners. The undercarriage was a rather modern tricycle formation in which the main legs retracted into the engine nacelles and the nose leg into the underside of the forward fuselage. A crew of five would make up the operators required for the various onboard systems including pilots, flight engineer, bombardier, and gunners.
As proposed, the Model 179 had an overall length of 57.4 feet with a wingspan of 65 feet and a height of 14.8 feet. MTOW was rated at just over 29,000lb.
Power would come from 2 x Pratt & Whitney (PW) R-2800-5 air-cooled radial piston engines of 1,850 horsepower output or 2 x Wright R-2600 radials of 1,700 horsepower. This arrangement was to supply the medium bomber with a maximum speed of up to 325 miles-per-hour out to a range of 3,000 miles and operating at altitudes up to 26,500 feet - all exceeding the USAAC original requirements. The warload reached 2,000lb and this could be pushed as high as 2,400lb.
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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.
✓X-Plane (Developmental, Prototype, Technology Demonstrator)
Aircraft developed for the role of prototyping, technology demonstration, or research / data collection.
Length
57.3 ft (17.45 m)
Width/Span
65.0 ft (19.80 m)
Height
14.9 ft (4.54 m)
MTOW
29,123 lb (13,210 kg)
(Showcased structural values pertain to the base Martin Model 179 production variant)
Installed:
2 x Pratt & Whitney R-2800-5 air-cooled radial piston engines developing 1,850 horsepower OR 2 x Wright R-2600 air-cooled radial piston engines developing 1,700 horsepower each driving four-bladed propeller units.
(Showcased performance specifications pertain to the base Martin Model 179 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:
Various defensive positions armed with machine guns including a dorsal, nose, and tail mounting.
Up to 3,000lb of internally-held drop-ordnance to include conventional drop bombs of various sizes (1 x 2,000lb; 2 x 1,000lb; 8 x 600lb; 8 x 300lb).
Supported Types
(Not all ordnance types may be represented in the showcase above)
Hardpoint Mountings: 0
Model 179 - Base Project Designation; no prototypes ordered/constructed; to become the in-service B-26 "Marauder" following evaluation and revisions.
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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