Martin B-10/B-12
After failing in a number of bomber design competitions in the 1930s, the Glenn L. Martin company designed and built an advanced bomber project as a private venture. This aircraft was known as the Martin 123, and when tested by the U.S. Army in 1932 it was given the experimental designation XB-907. After modifications (which included better engines and the installation of a front gun turret, the first to be installed in a U.S. bomber) this aircraft proved to be faster than any of the U.S. fighters of the time. In 1933 the Army contracted for 48 aircraft to be built under the designation XB-10. The production version (Martin 139) began to enter service in 1934. This all-metal monoplane bomber carried a crew of four or five in three separate cockpits. It remained in service with the USAAC until it was replaced by Boeing B-17d and Douglas B-18s in the late 1930s. 189 examples were built for export, with 120 going to the Netherlands East Indies. These were amongst the first U.S.-built bombers to see operational service at the beginning of WWII.
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USAF archives on this aircraft, click
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Additional information on this aircraft
can be found at Wikipedia
here.
(updated February 2009)
Martin B-10/B-12
Type: light bomber Crew: 4-5 Armament: three .30 inch machine guns in nose (1 each in the nose and rear turrets, 1 in ventral gun position) up to 2,260 lbs. of bombs Specifications: Length: 44' 9" (13.64 m) Height: 15' 5" (4.70 m) Wingspan: 70' 6" (21.49 m) Wing area: 678 sq. ft (62.99 sq. m) Empty Weight: 9,681 lb (4391 kg) Max Weight: 16,400 lb (7439 kg) max at takeoff Propulsion: No. of Engines: 2 Powerplant: Wright R-1820-33 Cyclone 9 radial Horsepower: 775 hp each Performance: Range: 1240 miles (1996 km) Cruise Speed: 193 mph ( 311 km/h) Max Speed: 213 mph ( 343 km/h) at 6,000 ft Ceiling: 24,200 ft (7375 m)
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