Martin B-10
B-10 | |
---|---|
B-10 being flown during a training session at Maxwell Field | |
Role | Bomber aircraft
|
Manufacturer | Glenn L. Martin Company |
Designer | Peyton M. Magruder |
First flight | 16 February 1932 |
Introduction | November 1934 |
Retired | 1949 (Royal Thai Air Force) |
Primary users | United States Army Air Corps Netherlands East Indies Air Force Turkish Air Force |
Produced | 1933–1940 |
Number built | 121 B-10 82 model 166 32 B-12 348 of all variants including 182 export versions |
Variants | Martin Model 146
|
The Martin B-10 was the first all-metal monoplane bomber to be regularly used by the United States Army Air Corps, entering service in June 1934.[1] It was also the first mass-produced bomber whose performance was superior to that of the Army's pursuit aircraft of the time.[2]
The B-10 served as the airframe for the B-12, B-13, B-14, A-15 and O-45 designations using Pratt & Whitney engines instead of Wright Cyclones. A total of 348 of all versions were built. The largest users were the US, with 166, and the Netherlands, with 121.
Design and development
The B-10 began a revolution in bomber design. Its all-metal monoplane airframe, along with its features of closed cockpits, rotating gun turrets (almost simultaneously with the 1933 British
The B-10 began as the Martin Model 123, a private venture by the
These innovations included a deep belly for an internal
The XB-10 delivered to the Army had major differences from the original aircraft. Where the Model 123 had
Following the success of the XB-10, a number of changes were made, including reduction to a three-man crew and addition of
Operational history
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United States
In 1935, the Army ordered an additional 103 aircraft designated B-10B. These had only minor changes from the YB-10. Shipments began in July
In February 1936, the US Army Air Corps used 13 B-10Bs of the
With its advanced performance, the Martin company fully expected that export orders for the B-10 would flood in. The U.S. Army owned the rights to the Model 139 design. Once the Army's orders had been filled in 1936, Martin received permission to export Model 139s, and delivered versions to several air forces. These included six Model 139Ws sold to
China
On 25 August 1937, as the air battles intensified in the early part of the Second Sino-Japanese War,[11] five Chinese Nationalist Air Force bombers of the 8th BG, 19th and 30th Squadrons consisting of three Heinkel He 111As and two Martin B-10s, flying from their base in Nanjing to Shanghai, successfully dropped their bombs on Japanese landing forces at Liuhe, Taicang, northwest of Shanghai. However, Japanese aircraft pursued the bombers and shot up two of the Heinkels, forcing them to crash land; two crew members were killed on the ground by Japanese aircraft strafing them.[12][13]
As the National Revolutionary Army of China fought desperately to hold onto their remaining positions in the Battle of Shanghai, the Chinese Air Force launched a major strike with a motley mix of aircraft against Japanese positions in Shanghai on 14 October 1937, consisting of three B-10s, two Heinkel He 111As, five Douglas O-2MCs, five Northrop Gammas, and three Curtiss Hawk IIIs from Nanjing in the late afternoon; in the evening, one bomber was launched every hour from Nanjing to attack Japanese positions in Shanghai until 03:00 on 15 October.
On 19 May 1938, two B-10s of the 2nd BG, 14th Squadron, led by Capt. Hsu Huan-sheng and Lt. Teng Yen-bo, successfully flew the first air raid on mainland Japan.
During an unescorted nighttime raid over Japan, the B-10s dropped 2 million leaflets, "alerting the conscience of the Japanese people against atrocities committed by the Japanese invasion and occupation of China", over the cities of Nagasaki, Fukuoka, Kurume, Saga, and others, while reconnoitering airbases, ports, warships and factories.[14][15][16][17][18]
Dutch East Indies
In the mid-1930s, the Netherlands government adopted a doctrine for defense of the
During the start of Pacific War, Dutch Martin units were as follows:[23]
- Ie Vliegtuiggroep (VLG-I) based on Tarakan and Patrouille Cooke of 2-VLG-I stationed at Samarinda II Airfield, Melak.
- IIe Vliegtuiggroep (VLG-II) based on Singosari Airfield, Malang which consisted of 1e Afdeling (1-VLG-II) with nine WH-3/3A with three additional reserves and three WH-2. During the war, four patrouille consisted of three aircraft plus a reserve were created from 1-VLG-II, with the crews mobilized from Kalidjati flight school.
- IIIe Vliegtuiggroep (VLG-III) based on Tjililitan Airfield, Batavia which consisted of 1e Afdeling (1-VLG-III) and 3e Afdeling (3-VLG-III), each equipped with nine WH-3/3A with two additional reserves, and 2e Afdeling (2-VLG-III) with nine WH-2 with two additional reserves. 7e Afdeling Bommenwerpers, a reserve unit mobilized on 15 December 1941, were placed under VLG-III and consisted of one WH-2, two WH-3 and six WH-3A.
In efforts to reinforce the British defense of the Malay Peninsula, the Dutch East Indies sent some ML-KNIL squadrons. Included were 22 Martin 139s from VLG-III that were organized into three squadrons, which arrived at Singapore on 9 December 1941. Due to a lack of coordination, British AA mistook the Dutch Martins for enemy aircraft and engaged them as they neared Singapore. The Martins were then stationed at Sembawang.[24] In early January 1942, Dutch Martins along with British Blenheim bombers sortied over the west coast of Malaya to halt the Japanese advance.[25] On 8 January, nine Martin and four Australian Hudson attacked a suspected Japanese seaplane tender anchored offshore in South China Sea, but the results were inconclusive. In the next day, nine Martin "quite successfully" bombed several Japanese ships unloading cargo at Kuantan.[26] Two Martins were shot down by the Japanese near Penang on 1 January, while a further four Martins were lost while attacking Japanese forces on the Muar River on 19 January. On the same day, Dutch fighter squadrons were withdrawn to Sumatra, while the Martins were also withdrawn to Java three days later.[27]
Thailand
Six B-10s formed the medium bomber force of the Royal Thai Air Force at the start of the 1940–1941 Franco-Thai War.[28] They flew several bombing missions during the war, with their first mission against Xieng Khuang, Laos and a nearby airfield on 15 December 1940,[29] with the last mission, against Sisophon in what is now Cambodia on 28 January at the very end of the Franco-Thai War.[30] Later on, B-10s had been assigned to the airfield in Phrae as a part of Phayap Army to invade Shan state.[31]
Turkey
After being delivered in September 1937, the Martin 139WTs were assigned to the 55th and 56th Tayyare Bölüğü (Aviation Squadrons) of the 9th Tayyare Taburu (Aviation Battalion).[32] During the Second World War, the aircraft were extensively deployed for surveillance over the Black Sea.[33] After being replaced by British Blenheims and Beauforts in 1944, the Martin 139WTs served as backup aircraft until 1946, when twelve of the sixteen remaining aircraft were still operational.[32]
Legacy
At the time of its creation, the B-10B was so advanced that General Henry H. Arnold described it as the airpower wonder of its day. It was half again as fast as any biplane bomber, and faster than any contemporary fighter. The B-10 began a revolution in bomber design, making existing bombers completely obsolete.[6]
Rapid advances in bomber design in the late 1930s meant that the B-10 was eclipsed by the time the United States entered World War II. The Model 139s in combat in China and South East Asia suffered the same disadvantages as the other early war medium bombers, i.e. not enough armour and guns, while it could not outrun the latest fighters.
An abortive effort to modernize the design, the
Variants
Martin Model 123
Private venture of Martin company, predecessor of the XB-10, served as prototype for the series, one built.[35]
- XB-907
- US Army designation for the Model 123 in evaluation,[35] with open cockpits and two Wright SR-1820-E, delivered April 1932.
- XB-907A
- Modified XB-907 after Martin returned it to U.S. Army for further operational trials,[6] with larger wingspan and two Wright R-1820-19.
- XB-10
- Designation of the prototype when purchased by the United States Army Air Corps, Modified XB-907A with enclosed cockpits and turret and single strut landing gear.[2][36]
Martin Model 139, 139A and 139B
Army Air Corps versions, 165 built.
- YB-10
- Model 139A, test and production version of the XB-10 with crew reduced to three members, and two 675 hp (503 kW) R-1820-25, 14 built, some flown temporarily as float planes.[7]
- YB-10A
- The YB-10A was different from a YB-10 only in its engines. It used Wright R-1820-31 turbo-supercharged radials, allowing it to attain speeds of 236 mph (380 km/h). This made it the fastest aircraft of the B-10 series. Despite this advantage, only one was built, as a test aircraft.[7]
- B-10
- According to one source, two additional aircraft ordered in 1936.[7]
- B-10B
- Model 139, main production version with two 775 hp (578 kW) R-1820-33 engines, 105 built, delivered August 1936.[7]
- B-10M
- According to one source this was, these were B-10Bs converted as target tugs.[7] According to Martin's own archive, this was the designation of the YB-10 after testing, then used for airmail and Alaska missions, 13 of the 14 built were still in service in April 1940.
- RB-10MA
- One former NEIAF Model 139WH-3A model impressed in July 1942 and flown from Australia to the United States.[7]
- YB-12
- Model 139B. With 250 or 500 US gallons (950 or 1,890 L) flotation chambers for safety on overwater flights, and two Pratt & Whitney R-1690-11 "Hornet" radial engines. These 775 hp (578 kW) engines gave similar performance to those on the B-10B (218 mph (351 km/h)), seven built, five still in service in April 1940.[7]
- (Y)B-12A
- The production version of the YB-12 with provision for a 365 US gal (1,380 L) fuel tank in the bomb bay, giving the B-12A a combat range of 1,240 mi (2,000 km), 25 built, 23 still in service in April 1940.[7]
- YB-13
- Re-engined version of the YB-10 powered by two 700 hp (520 kW) Pratt & Whitney R-1860-17 Hornet B radial engines. Ten were on order but cancelled before production started, not built.[7]
- XB-14
- To test the new 900 hp (670 kW) Pratt & Whitney YR-1830-9 "Twin Wasp" radial engines, one built which was converted back to YB-12 after testing.[7]
- A-15
- Proposed attack variant of the YB-10 with two 750 hp (560 kW) R-1820-25 engines, was never built. The contract fell to the A-14 Shrike.[37]
- YO-45
- With two 750 hp (560 kW) Wright R-1820-17, proposed high-speed observation role, one B-10 was beginning to be converted in 1934 and another in 1935 but both were stopped before being completed and were converted back into B-10s.
Model 139W and 166
The export versions, 100 built (182 including the Model 166, see below).
- Model 139WA
- Martin demonstrator for Argentina, later sold to Argentine Navy.
- Model 139WAA
- Export version for Argentine Army, 22 built, delivered April 1938.
- Model 139WAN
- Export version for the Argentine Navy, 12 built, delivered November 1937.
- Model 139WC and WC-2
- Export version for China, six and three built, delivered in February and August 1937.[1][38]
- Model 139WH
- Export version for the Netherlands, used in the Netherlands East Indies. Thirteen WH-1s, powered by 770 hp (570 kW) Cyclone GR-1820-F53 engines delivered from December 1936, followed by 26 WH-2s, with 875 hp (652 kW) GR-1820-G3 engines, delivered 1938.[39]
- Model 139WR
- Single demonstrator to the Soviet Union.[7][38]
- Model 139WSM and WSM-2
- Export version for Siam, three and three built, delivered in March and April 1937.[7]
- Model 139WSP
- Proposed licence built version to be built by CASA of Spain, production blocked by U.S. State Department.
- Model 139WT
- Export version for Turkey, 20 built, delivered September 1937.[1]
- Model 166
Final version, a.k.a. 139WH-3 and 139WH-3A, 82 built.
- Export version for the Netherlands, used in the Netherlands East Indies. Redesigned wings, nose and single 'glass house' canopy, bomb shackles between engines and fuselage, and better engines. The WH-3 had two 900 hp (670 kW) R-1820-G5 (40 built, delivered September 1938), the WH-3A had two 1,000 hp (750 kW) R-1820-G-105A (42 built, delivered March 1940). With the bomb shackles, the bomb load could be doubled for a shorter range. A total of 121 of all types were built for the Dutch.[7]
Operators
- Army Aviation Service received 22 Model 139WAA aircraft,[40]plus 1 fuselage for training.
- Argentine Navy – The Argentine Naval Aviation received 12 Model 139WAN and 1 Model 139WA aircraft.[41]
- invasion of Burma. It was given a further nine ex-Dutch aircraft by the Japanese in 1942. They remained in service until 1949.[45]
- Turkish Air Force received 20 Model 139W aircraft in September 1937.
- Soviet Air Forcebought one aircraft for evaluation.
Surviving aircraft
- The only surviving complete example is on display at the Kelly Air Force Base, Texas, in 1973–1976, and placed on display in 1976.[46]
- The wreck of a crashed Dutch Martin 166WH-3 in East Kalimantan, Indonesia was rediscovered during an expedition by local newspaper Berau Post in early August 2018, based on local villagers' story of a crashed aircraft on top of a mountain. The wreck is located on Gunung Besar, Long Keluh Village, Kelay District, Berau Regency.[47] Large parts of the wreck, such as the two engines, mid and rear fuselage, tail and elevators, and the right wing are still extant at the time of the expedition. According to a local villager, parts of the wreck have been looted by locals for decades. The aircraft's number, "M-574", was still visible amidst the moss in the wreck.[48][49][50] The "M-574" was reported missing during a mission over southeast Dutch Borneo on 5 January 1941.[51]
- Various parts of crashed B-10s, such as turrets and wings, were retrieved from the jungle of Borneo and were on display in the Militaire Luchtvaart Museum (Military Aviation Museum) at Soesterberg, the Netherlands.[52] Since the closure of the MLM, they are stored with the Nationaal Militair Museum, located on the former Soesterberg Air Base.
Specifications (B-10B)
Data from United States Military Aircraft Since 1909.[53]
General characteristics
- Crew: 3
- Length: 44 ft 9 in (13.64 m)
- Wingspan: 70 ft 6 in (21.49 m)
- Height: 15 ft 5 in (4.70 m)
- Wing area: 678 sq ft (63.0 m2)
- Empty weight: 9,681 lb (4,391 kg)
- Gross weight: 14,700 lb (6,668 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 16,400 lb (7,439 kg)
- Powerplant: 2 × Wright R-1820-33 Cyclone(F-3) 9-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engines, 775 hp (578 kW) each
- Propellers: 3-bladed variable-pitch propellers
Performance
- Maximum speed: 213 mph (343 km/h, 185 kn)
- Cruise speed: 193 mph (311 km/h, 168 kn)
- Range: 1,240 mi (2,000 km, 1,080 nmi)
- Service ceiling: 24,200 ft (7,400 m)
- Wing loading: 21.7 lb/sq ft (106 kg/m2)
- Power/mass: 0.105 hp/lb (0.173 kW/kg)
Armament
- Guns: 3 × 0.300 in (7.62 mm) Browning machine guns
- Bombs: 2,260 lb (1,025 kg)
See also
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
- Boeing Y1B-9
- Tupolev SB
Related lists
- List of bomber aircraft
- List of military aircraft of the United States
- List of aircraft of World War II
References
- ^ a b c Jackson 2003, p. 246.
- ^ a b c d Eden and Moeng 2002, p. 931.
- ^ Collier Trophy Is Presented to Martin, 1 June 1933.
- ^ a b "Flying Fish–Our Army's Newest Plane Hits Terrific Speeds (photo of Model 123, US Army designation XB-907, in flight)." Popular Science, October 1932. Retrieved: 22 December 2010.
- ^ a b "M-list." Aerofiles. Retrieved: 22 December 2010.
- ^ a b c Fitzsimons 1969, p. 1846.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Eden and Moeng 2002, p. 932.
- ^ Swanborough and Bowers 1964, p. 331.
- ISBN 978-1-4490-2386-7, pp. 41–42.
- ^ Anonymous, "Bombing Planes to Bring Food to Ice Victims," Chicago Tribune, 2 February 1936.
- ^ Sun, Lianggang. "Shanghai 1937 – Where World War II Began". SHANGHAI 1937: WHERE WORLD WAR II STARTED. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
- ^ "Martyr Chen Xiong-ji". air.mnd.gov.tw. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
- ^ "Martyr Yun Feng-zeng". air.mnd.gov.tw. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
- ^ Dunn, Richard L. "Illusive <sic> Target: Bombing Japan from China." warbirdforum.com, 2006. Retrieved: 16 May 2013.
- ^ Li & Li 1998, p. 265.
- ^ Xu 2001, p. 126.
- ^ Fenby 2009, p. 320.
- ^ Underwood 1942, p. 86.
- ^ Casius 1983, pp. 1–2.
- ^ Casius 1983, p. 2.
- ^ Casius 1983, p. 3
- ^ Shores, Cull & Izawa 1992, pp. 59–60
- ^ Oktorino 2019, pp. 42
- ^ Oktorino 2019, pp. 82–83
- ^ Oktorino 2019, pp. 84–85
- ^ Oktorino 2019, pp. 93 & 96
- ^ Oktorino 2019, pp. 99
- ^ a b Young 1984, p. 23.
- ^ Young 1984, pp. 27–28
- ^ Young 1984, p. 33
- ^ เชียงใหม่กับภัยทางอากาศ. National Library of Chiang Mai (in Thai). Retrieved 23 June 2023.
- ^ a b "MARTIN 139 WT B10 .. 1923 - 1950 Period TUAF AIRCRAFTS [sic] 1923 -1950 dönemi Turk HvKK UCAKLARI". www.tayyareci.com. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
- ^ Oryx. "From Martin 139 To Kızılelma: 85 Years Of Turkish Bombers". Oryx. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
- ^ David D Gravermoen B-10 - The Martin Bomber
- ^ a b Fitzsimons 1967/1969, p. 1845.
- ^ "Photo of XB-10." Archived 2011-07-22(Date mismatch) at the Wayback Machine 10af.afrc.af.mil. Retrieved: 17 July 2011.
- ^ Swanborough and Bowers 1964, p. 332.
- ^ a b Baugher, Joe. "Martin B-10". American Military Aircraft, 11 July 1999. Retrieved: 13 June 2010.
- ^ Casius 1983, pp. 2–3, 6.
- ^ Ay, Carlos (15 August 2013). "Catálogo Ilustrado de Aeronaves de la Fuerza Aérea Argentina". Gaceta Aeronautica (in Spanish). Retrieved 31 May 2014.
- ^ "Donation of the Martin B-10." Archived 2007-10-26 at the Wayback Machine National Museum of the United States Air Force. Retrieved: 13 June 2010.
- ^ Andersson 2008, p. 275
- ^ "Photos as well as paintings of ROC". Archived from the original on 20 October 2013. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
- ^ Shores, Cull and Izawa 1992, pp. 38, 56.
- ^ Casius 1983, p. 20.
- ^ "USAF Fact Sheet Martin B-10." Archived 2007-10-26 at the Wayback Machine National Museum of the United States Air Force. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
- ^ Coordinates 1°52′38.5″N 116°52′24.3″E / 1.877361°N 116.873417°E
- ^ "Menguak Misteri Gunung Pesawat: Nama Diambil dari Pesawat yang Jatuh". berau.prokal.co (in Indonesian). 17 August 2018. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
- ^ "Pesawat di Gunung Itu Diduga Martin B-10". berau.prokal.co (in Indonesian). 17 August 2018. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
- ^ "Misteri Gunung Pesawat di Kabupaten Berau". tintakaltim.com (in Indonesian). 26 March 2019. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
- ^ "Accident Martin 166 WH-3 M-574, 05 Jan 1941". aviation-safety.net. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
- ^ "Martin B-10" (in Dutch). Archived 2010-10-23 at the Wayback Machine Netherlands Military Aviation Museum. Retrieved 22 December 2010.
- ^ Swanborough and Bowers, 1964, p. 333.
Sources
- Andersson, Lennart (2008). Encyclopedia of Aircraft and Aviation in China until 1949. Taipei, ROC: AHS of ROC. ISBN 978-957-28533-3-7.
- Bridgwater, H.C. and Peter Scott. Combat Colours Number 4: Pearl Harbor and Beyond, December 1941 to May 1942. Luton, Bedfordshire, UK: Guideline Publications, 2001. ISBN 0-9539040-6-7.
- Casius, Gerald. "Batavia's Big Sticks." ISSN 0143-5450.
- "Collier Trophy Is Presented to Martin By Roosevelt for New Airplane Design." New York Times, 1 June 1933.
- Eden, Paul and Soph Moeng, eds. The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. London: Amber Books Ltd., 2002. ISBN 0-7607-3432-1.
- Fenby, Jonathan (2009). Chiang Kai Shek: China's Generalissimo and the Nation He Lost. Da Capo Press. ISBN 978-0786739844.
- Fitzsimons, Bernard, ed. The Illustrated Encyclopedia of the 20th Century Weapons and Warfare. New York: Purnell & Sons Ltd., 1969, First edition 1967. ISBN 0-8393-6175-0.
- Glenn L. Martin Aviation Museum. Martin Aircraft Specifications.
- Gravermoen, David D. B-10 - The Martin Bomber. Spartanburg: Dakar Publishing ISBN 978-0996993203.
- Jackson, Robert. The Encyclopedia of Military Aircraft. London: Parragon Publishing, 2003. ISBN 1-4054-2465-6.
- Ledet, Michel (April 2002). "Des avions alliés aux couleurs japonais" [Allied Aircraft in Japanese Colors]. Avions: Toute l'Aéronautique et son histoire (in French) (109): 17–21. ISSN 1243-8650.
- Ledet, Michel (May 2002). "Des avions alliés aux couleurs japonais". Avions: Toute l'Aéronautique et son histoire (in French) (110): 16–23. ISSN 1243-8650.
- Li, Xiaobing; Li, Hongshan, eds. (1998). China and the United States: A New Cold War History. University Press of America. ISBN 9780761809784.
- Oktorino, Nino (2019). Duel Para Elang - Pertempuran Udara di Atas Hindia Belanda (in Indonesian). Jakarta: PT Elex Media Komputindo. ISBN 9786230000997.
- Shores, Christopher; Cull, Brian and Yasuho Izawa. Bloody Shambles: Volume One: The Drift to War to the Fall of Singapore. London: Grub Street, 1992. ISBN 0-948817-50-X
- Swanborough, F. Gordon and Peter M. Bowers. United States Military Aircraft Since 1909. New York: Putnam, 1964. ISBN 0-85177-816-X.
- Taylor, John W. R. "Martin B-10". Combat Aircraft of the World from 1909 to the Present. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1969. ISBN 0-425-03633-2.
- Xu, Guangqiu (2001). War Wings: The United States and Chinese Military Aviation, 1929–1949. Greenwood Press. ISBN 9780313320040.
- Underwood, J. Barton (November 1941). "America Plays Its Part in the Chinese Air Force". Flying and Popular Aviation. Vol. 29, no. 5. ISSN 0015-4806.
- Young, Edward M. "France's Forgotten Air War". ISSN 0143-5450.
Further reading
- Núñez Padin, Jorge Felix; Benedetto, Fernando C. (2007). Núñez Padin, Jorge Felix (ed.). Martin 139W en Argentina. Serie en Argentina (in Spanish). Vol. Nº1. Buenos Aires, Argentina: Fuerzas Aeronavales. Archived from the original on 13 March 2016. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
External links
- National Museum of the U.S. Air Force fact sheet on the Martin B-10
- Martin Bombers ~ American Combat Planes of the 20th Century by Ray Wagner Archived 27 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine
- "Phantom Raiders of the Air" Popular Mechanics, June 1935, pp. 888–889, cutaway drawing in flight showing crew stations
- The short film 15 AF HERITAGE – HIGH STRATEGY – BOMBER AND TANKERS TEAM (1980) is available for free viewing and download at the Internet Archive.