Martin Baltimore

Country of Origin: United States | Type: Four crew light bomber

Introduction

Like the Martin Maryland before it, the Baltimore saw no service with its country of origin and was developed specifically to meet a British requirement for a replacement of the earlier aircraft. The Baltimore retained many of its predecessor's features including the wings and tail surfaces (albeit with a taller fin and rudder) in combination with a new deepened fuselage and more powerful Wright GR-2600 engines.

Orders

The first batch was ordered in May 1940 and the prototype Baltimore I flown on 14th June 1941. Deliveries began in October 1941 and all of the 1,575 built went to the RAF first (although two ships carrying Mks. III and IIIA aircraft were sunk en route), but many were passed on to other air forces including the RAAF and SAAF, which operated them in the North Africa and Mediterranean areas under RAF control. Deliveries ended in May 1944.

Features

The Baltimore Mk I and Mk II were powered by the GR-2600-A5B engine and differed only in defensive armament details; the Mk III had slightly more powerful GR-2600-19 engines and a power operated Boulton Paul four gun dorsal turret; the Mk IIIA was developed under Lend-Lease conditions and featured a Martin turret and two 0.50 inch machine guns. It was given the US designation A-30 before being handed over. The Mk IVA (A-30A) was similar, as was the Mk V (also designated A-30A), although it differed in having another engine upgrade to the GR-2600-29.

Operations

The Baltimore was operated exclusively in the North Africa and Mediterranean theatres, the first operational squadron forming in January 1942. It played a prominent role in the various campaigns waged by the Desert Air Force, operating by day and night from El Alamein to Tunisia, Sicily and Italy. Baltimores also flew anti shipping and photographic reconnaissance sorties, the former largely from bases in the Eastern Mediterranean and Gibraltar.

Other Operators

The Baltimore was also flown by Greek, Turkish, Free French and Co-Belligerent Italian forces, the latter flyng against Axis targets in Yugoslavia. The Baltimore remained in RAF service until the early months of 1946, one squadron operating them in Kenya.

Specification

Dimensions

Wingspan: 18.69 metres (61 feet 4 inches)
Length: 14.78 metres (48 feet 6 inches)
Height: 5.41 metres (17 feet 9 inches)

Powerplants

Mks I/II - two 1,600hp (1,193kW) Wright GR-2600-A5B 14-cylinder radials with three bladed propellers
Mks III/IIIA/IV - two 1,660hp (1,238kW) Wright GR-2600-19 14-cylinder radials with three bladed propellers
Mk V - two 1,700hp (1,268kW) Wright GR-2600-29 14-cylinder radials with three bladed propellers

Weights

Mk III - Empty: 6895kg (15,200lb)
Loaded: 10,433kg (23,000lb)

Armament

Mks I/II/III - four 0.303 inch machine guns in wings, two or four in dorsal turret, two ventral 0.303 inch machine guns plua provision for four fixed rear firing 0.303 inch machine guns
Maximum Bomb Load: 907kg (2,000lb)
Mks IIIA/IVA/V - two 0.50 inch machine guns in dorsal turret