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| Martin B-26 Marauder | ||
|---|---|---|
Martin B-26 Marauder | ||
| Description | ||
| Role | Medium Bomber | |
| Crew | 7 | |
| First Flight | November 25, 1940 | |
| Entered Service | ||
| Manufacturer | Martin | |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 58ft 1in | 17.09m |
| Wingspan | 71ft 0in | 21.64m |
| Height | 20ft 4in | 6.20m |
| Wing area | ft² | m² |
| Weights | ||
| Empty | lb | kg |
| Loaded | lb | kg |
| Maximum takeoff | lb | kg |
| Powerplant | ||
| Engines | Two Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp 18-cyl air-cooled radials | |
| Power | 2000hp | kW |
| Performance | ||
| Maximum speed | 283mph | km/h |
| Combat range | 1,100miles | km |
| Ferry range | miles | km |
| Service ceiling | 19,800ft | m |
| Rate of climb | ft/min | m/min |
| Wing loading | lb/ft² | kg/m² |
| Power/Mass | hp/lb | kW/kg |
| Avionics | ||
| Avionics | ||
| Armament | ||
| Guns | 6-7 defensive machine guns, 4 forward-firing machine guns in later versions | |
| Bombs | up to 4,000lb (3,000lb internally, plus underwing hardpoints) | |
| Missiles | ||
| Rockets | ||
| Other | ||
The B-26 Marauder was a twin-engine medium bomber of the Second World War. 5,157 were produced between February of 1941 and March of 1945. Of these, 522 saw service with the Royal Air Force and the South African Air Force. The rest saw service in the United States Army Air Force in both Europe and the Pacific.
The USAAC issued a specification for a twin-engined medium bomber in 1939. Six months later, Martin presented a design on paper, which was accepted with an order for production before a prototype even flew. The first flight was November 25, 1940.
The B-26 was fast (317mph), and had better performance than the contemporary B-25 Mitchell, but it's relativly small wing area and high wing loading made for tricky high-speed landings and long takeoff runs, and it was a difficult aircraft to fly. The Marauder was nicknamed "Widow Maker" by it's pilots due to the high number of accidents. The rate of accidents eventually led to halting production while a commission of inquiry (led by then-Senator Harry Truman) was appointed to look into the problem. The result was the B-26B (1,183 built), with a six-foot increase in wingspan among other changes. Speed dropped below the 300mph mark. Production resumed, but the B-26 remained tricky to fly and unpopular with crews throughout it's life.
Like the B-25, the B-26 had been designed for medium-altitude bombing, but the war brought medium bombers down to treetop level, and later versions of the B-26 were equipped with a side-mounted battery of forward-firing machine guns for strafing ground targets.
The B-26 was phased out of USAAF service even before the war ended; their last mission was flown in May of 1945, and besides a few that were turned over to France and one that was shipped back to Martin, the rest were scrapped.
Company designation Model 179
USAAF designations: B-26, B-26A to G
RAF designations: Marauder I through III
| Related content | |
|---|---|
| Related Development | |
| Similar Aircraft | |
| Designation Series | |
| Related Lists |
List of military aircraft of the United States - List of bomber aircraft |
| List of Aircraft | Aircraft Manufacturers | Aircraft Engines | Aircraft Engine Manufacturers Airlines | Air Forces | Aircraft Weapons | Missiles | Years in Aviation |
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