While a serviceable and very capable aircraft in its own right, the Martin Mariner flying boat would never reach the popularity of the older Consolidated PBY Catalina.
The PBM held origins in private venture work undertaken by Glenn L. Martin Company. Prior to World War 2 in 1937, engineers designed what became the Model 162 as a successor to the aging line of Martin P3M flying boats in service since 1929 (78 were built). The Model 162 carrier a high-wing (gull wing, cantilevered) monoplane design with elevated twin-rudder tail unit. The nose section was stepped to accommodate the flight deck overlooking the nose and the nose proper contained a crewman's station. The fuselage utilized a boat-like hull for water-based landings and take-offs. Outboard pontoon floats (retractable) were set under each wing to stabilize the aircraft in rough waters. The crew numbered seven and included pilots, mission specialists and machine gunners.
On June 30th of that year, the company was granted a prototype contract to cover a sole XPBM-1 aircraft. To prove the design sound, company engineers fabricated a scale flyable model of their aircraft in the single-seat Model 162A "Tadpole Clipper". This offering carried just one engine, a Chevrolet type of 120 horsepower output. The full-sized prototype then followed to the air on February 18th, 1939.
Despite the United States Navy (USN) already having committed to the excellent Consolidated PBY Catalina (detailed elsewhere on this site), the XPBM was adopted as the PBM "Mariner" to work alongside it. In December, USN then contracted for twenty-one aircraft to the XPBM-1 standard.
Production-quality (PBM-1) versions of the aircraft were powered by 2 x Wright R2600-6 14-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engines of 1,600 horsepower each. These drove three-bladed propeller units. Their position on the high-mounted wings allowed for the necessary clearance of the water, particularly any salty spray that might occur during running actions. Performance included a maximum speed of 205 miles per hour, a range out to 3,000 miles and a service ceiling of 19,800 feet. Rate-of-climb was 800 feet-per-minute.
Overall length reached 79.9 feet with a wingspan of 118 feet and a height of 27.5 feet. Empty weight was 33,175lb against an MTOW of 56,000lb when loaded.
As a military-sponsored design, the PBM was outfitted with a defensive network of machine gun armament. This was made up of no fewer than 8 x 0.50 caliber Browning M2 heavy machine guns, two positioned at the nose, two in a dorsal position and two in a tail turret. Single machine guns were mounted to beam blisters to provide all-round coverage against incoming aerial threats. Internally, the aircraft was cleared to carry an munitions load of up to 4,000lb. This could include 2 x Mark 13 series torpedoes or conventional drop bombs or depth charges.
In the post-war period, Mariners continued to operate with Coast Guard units until replaced by more modern types. The USN continued to field the type into the Korean War (1950-1953) but the fleet was eventually superseded by the Martin P5M Marlin. The last Mariner flew in 1964 (Uruguay) before the line was retired from service for good.
With production spanning 1937 to 1949, a total of 1,366 Mariners were produced for the United States and its Allies - a modest sum in the scope of World War 2 but excellent nonetheless.
Martin developed or produced a slew of PBM-related aircraft following the initial PBM-1. The XPBM-2 was a conversion of a PBM-1 to be used in catapulting experiments. The PBM-3 brought about fixed pontoon floats and was powered by R2600-12 series engines of 1,700 horsepower output - 32 aircraft were built to this standard. The PBM-3R was an unarmed transport of which 31 were converted from the PBM-3 stock and a further 18 built to order. The PBM-3C was an improved maritime patroller and carried the AN/APS-5 radar fit in a radome aft of the flight deck. Some 274 of this standard were completed. The PBM-3B were ex-Royal Air Force Mariner GR.1A ("Mariner I") aircraft returned from Britain and placed back into USN service.
The PBM-3S became a dedicated submarine hunter sporting increased operational ranges at the expense of a reduced machine gun load. Ninety-four of this type were produced and 62 more were added through converted previous marks.
The PBM-3D was another patroller but outfitted with R2600-22 engines of 1,900 horsepower. Beam gun positions now featured twin-gun armament. Two-hundred fifty-nine of this mark were delivered.
The PBM-4 was a proposed variant to carry 2 x Wright R3350 series engines of 2,700 horsepower for improved performance but this mark was never furthered.
The PBM-5 saw production reach 628 units and carried 2 x Pratt & Whitney R3350 series engines of 2,100 horsepower each. This model had several subvariants in the improved PBM-5E (with better radar), the PBM-5S (an improved submarine hunter) and the PBM-5S2 (another improved submarine hunter, also with better radar). The PBM-5A was an amphibious version of the Mariner with retractable wheeled undercarriage. This saw production total 36 aircraft and a further four converted from other marks.
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Argentina; Australia; Netherlands; United Kingdom; United States; Uruguay
(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-Submarine Warfare (ASW)
Equipped to search, track, and engage enemy underwater elements by way of specialized onboard equipment and weapons.
✓Special-Mission: MEDical EVACuation (MEDEVAC)
Extraction of wounded combat or civilian elements by way of specialized onboard equipment and available internal volume or external carrying capability.
✓Special-Mission: Search & Rescue (SAR)
Ability to locate and extract personnel from areas of potential harm or peril (i.e. downed airmen in the sea).
✓Maritime / Navy
Land-based or shipborne capability for operating over-water in various maritime-related roles while supported by allied naval surface elements.
✓Transport
General transport functionality to move supplies/cargo or personnel (including wounded and VIP) over range.
✓VIP Service
Used in the Very-Important-Person (VIP) passenger transport role, typically with above-average amenities and luxuries as standard.
✓Intelligence-Surveillance-Reconnaissance (ISR), Scout
Surveil ground targets / target areas to assess environmental threat levels, enemy strength, or enemy movement.
✓Training (General)
Developed ability to be used as a dedicated trainer for student pilots (typically under the supervision of an instructor).
Length
79.8 ft (24.33 m)
Width/Span
118.0 ft (35.97 m)
Height
27.5 ft (8.38 m)
Empty Wgt
33,175 lb (15,048 kg)
MTOW
58,001 lb (26,309 kg)
Wgt Diff
+24,826 lb (+11,261 kg)
(Showcased structural values pertain to the Martin PBM-3D Mariner production variant)
(Showcased performance specifications pertain to the Martin PBM-3D Mariner 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)
STANDARD:
2 x 12.7mm machine guns in bow turret
2 x 12.7mm machine guns in dorsal turret
2 x 12.7mm machine guns in tail turret
1 x 12.7mm machine gun in left beam position
1 x 12.7mm machine gun in right beam position
OPTIONAL:
Up to 4,000 lb (3,630 kg) of bombs or depth charges (OR 2 x Mark 13 torpedoes).
Supported Types
(Not all ordnance types may be represented in the showcase above)
Hardpoint Mountings: 0
Model 162 - Company model designation
XPBM-1 - Single prototype; outfitted with 2 x R-2600-6 engines of 1,600 horsepower each.
PBM-1 - Initial production model; R-2600-6 engines; armament of 5 x 12.7mm machine guns; 21 examples completed.
XPBM-2 PBM-1 conversion for catapult testing
PBM-3 - Improved production model; R-2600-12 engines; 32 examples completed.
PBM-3R - Unarmed transport; 18 completed with 31 conversions (PBM-3 stock).
PBM-3C - Improved patrol platform; additional machine guns; AN/APS-15 series radar fitted; 274 completed.
PBM-3B - Ex-Royal Air Force Mariners in USN service.
PBM-3S - Dedicated submarine hunter; reduced machine gun load; 94 completed with 62 conversions.
PBM-3D - Patrol platform; R-2600-22 engines of 1,900 horsepower; additional machine guns; 259 completed.
PBM-4 - Proposed model with Wright R-3350 engines of 2,700 horsepower; not furthered.
PBM-5 - Model with Pratt & Whitney R-2800 engines of 2,100 horsepower; 628 examples completed.
PBM-5E - PBM-5 with improved radar fit
PBM-5S - Lighter weight submarine hunter
PBM-5S2 - Improved submarine hunter with improved radar fit.
PBM-5A - Amphibious variant with retractable undercarriage; 36 completed with four converted.
Mariner I - RAF variant
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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Argentina; Australia; Netherlands; United Kingdom; United States; Uruguay
