Martin PBM Mariner flying boat of World War II

Click on thumbnail images to enlarge

: PBM-3 Mariner code C-10 in flight during 1942-1943

: Prototype in flight

: Australian Mariner A70-12 in flight

: Amphibious aircraft XPBM-5A

: Martin XPBM-1 nose

: XPBM-1 with fixed tail

: Wrecked Mariner Iceland 19 February 1942

: VP-56 was among the earliest users of the PBM-1 Mariner. The aircraft, which can be observed in this instance, features Neutrality Markings on its nose. These markings were intended to appease those who were against America’s involvement in the escalating conflict in Europe.

: E8 “Belle of the Pacific” on board seaplane tender USS St. George

: PBM-5 seaplane Base 1945 2

: PBM-5 E2 hoisted aboard a seaplane tender

: PBM-5

: PBM-5 at seaplane Base 1945

: PBM-3S Norfolk

: PBM-3S Natal Brazil

: Unarmed transport version

: PBM-3S

: PBM-3S Mariner A70-5 Royal Australian Air Force

: PBM-3S

: PBM-3D

: PBM-3R 6-R-404

: PBM-3R January 1943

: PBM-3C NAS Banana River

: Martin PBM-3C 1943

: PBM-3 1942

: PBM-3 rear

: PBM-3 tail

: Front turret

: PBM-3 formation

: PBM-3 Engine Work

: PBM-3 takeoff

: PBM-1 VP-74

: PBM-1 VP-56

: PBM-1 VP-56

: PBM-1 VP-56

: Early test flight

: PBM-1 VP-55 in flight

: Silver early PBM-1

: Mariner Operational Training Unit

: PBM-1 Argentia Bay

: PBM-1 Argentia Bay

: PBM-1 Argentia Bay

: PBM-1 1941

: PBM-1 1259

: PBM-1 2 1941

: PBM with Refueling Tender in Marianas

: PBM plant at Baltimore

: PBM NAS Coronado 1943

: PBM NAS Bermuda

: PBM NAS Banana River 1943 2

: PBM NAS Banana River 1943

: Black C428 BuNo 45428 from VPB-26 in the foreground

: PBM Dry Lake near Tuscon, Arizona

: JX103 at Maritime Aircraft Experimental Establishment

: Radioman and navigator at work

: PBM in hangar at NAS Banana River 1943

: PBM Florida April 1943

: PBM PTO

: PBM being refueled in the Marianas in early 1945

: PBM Banana River Florida March 1943

: Florida 1943

: PBM Alameda

: NAS Guantanamo Bay

: Mariner fuselage

: Saipan base

: Mariner with British markings

: PBM-3D 2

: Mariners Saipan

: British Mariner JX109

: Martin PBM-1 74-P-4 of the VP-74 returns to East Coast 1942

: Transport Martin PBM-3R Mariner taking off 1942/43

: Early PBM-1 55-P-1 of the VP55 being hoisted on board the seaplane tender, 1941

: Martin PBM flight engineer station interior

: Martin PBM take off with Jet Assisted Take Off (JATO) 1945

: Martin PBM-5 Mariner “white 8” on beaching gear

: Martin PBM-3S Mariner “12” at NAS Norfolk 1943

: PBM-3S Mariner P-8 of the VP-8 on beaching gear at NAS Norfolk 1943

: Plexiglass domes of machine gun turrets being readied for PBM’s

: U.S. Navy crew and their Martin PBM-3D “white 37”

: PBM-3C Mariners on sssembly line in Baltimore Plant 1943

: Crew installs new propeller on Martin PBM at Marianas base

: Early Martin PBM-1 Mariner at Norfolk 1941

: Crew of downed Martin PBM-5 board life rafts off Korea 1945

: Female inspector checks PBM’s de icing equipment at Glenn Martin Plant 1943

: Martin PBM-5 and Coronado seaplanes at base in Marianas

: PBM-3C Mariner C-10 off NAS Norfolk, Virginia 1942 2

: Martin PBM-1 BuNo1253 of the VP-55 being hoisted on board the seaplane tender, 1941

: PBM-3S of VP-211 over shoreline of Rio as they return to base 1944 2

: PBM on patrol in Pacific 1944, color photo

: Anti-submarine aircraft PBM-3S of the VP-8 in water at NAS Norfol, Virginia 1943

: Seabees use pontoon lighter barge to move PBM-5 “C10” on Okinawa

: Flying boat PBM-3S at San Diego California 1944

: The XPBM-1, along with the accompanying support personnel, is getting ready for an early test flight. Support tenders are present, carrying the necessary equipment and personnel.

: Early PBM-1 55-P-1 of the VP55 being hoisted on board the seaplane tender, 1941 2

: PBM recsues crew of sinking PBM downed off Korea 1945

: PBM-3C Mariner “C-10” off NAS Norfolk, Virginia 1942

: Launching a PBM-1 at NAS Norfolk 1941

: Flying boat PBM-1 BuNo 1262 in flight, 1941

: PBM-1 Mariner 22 Florida 1943

: PBM-3D Bunny is on beaching gear

: PBM-3D flying boat with search radar housing above the forward fuselage anchored on the water

: Martin PBM-5 Mariner on water

: PBM-5 Mariner code E5 Okinawa

: Martin PBM-3 Mariner flying boats on final assembly line

: PBM-3R Mariner on a seaplane ramp 18 August 1942

: PBM Mariners Saipan

: PBM-3D Mariner taxiing in the waters off NAS Pensacola 25 October 1944

: Martin PBM-5 Mariner Saipan

: VB-2, the Mariner Operational Training Unit, was based at NAS Banana River in Florida. In this photograph, a group of two PBM-1s and PBM-3s, with different features, are captured together.

: PBM patrol bomber flying boat Bunny

: British PBM-3B Mariner Mk I serial JX103 of No. 524 Squadron at Oban October 1943

: Martin Mariner PBM-3D Makes Dry Landing in Arizona Desert 1944

: Martin PBM-5 Mariner hoisted aboard seaplane tender 1945

: PBM-3 H-243 Patrol Bomber on Mission

: Destroyed PBM Mariner code E4 Okinawa

: Beached radar fitted PBM-5 J047 of the VPB-27

: PBM Martin Mariner taking off with JATO

: PBM-3S Mariners of the VP-211 over shoreline of Rio as they return to base

: Martin PBM-5 Mariner code E10 from VPB-27 Patrols off Okinawa 1945

: PBM-5 Martin Mariners gets overhaul on seaplane tender 1945

: Destroyed PBM Mariner code E3 Okinawa

: PBM-3 Mariner making a rocket assisted take off from the waters off NAS Kaneohe September 1944

: PBM on the assembly floor at the Glenn L. Martin Company plant in Baltimore Maryland 1943

: PBM-1 Mariner taxis in the waters off NAS San Juan Puerto Rico 16 July 1945

: PBM-3 Mariner flying boat undergoing engine maintenance

: Martin PBM-1 Mariner assembly line December 1940

: Seaplane Tender Refuels PBM Mariner in the Marianas

: PBM-5 Mariner code E2 Dinah Might – nose art

: PBM-3 Mariner take-off 1942

: PBM-3S Mariner dropping a depth charges

: PBM-3 patrol bomber flying boat on mission

: Anti-submarine PBM-3S Mariner

: PBM-5 Mariner C428 with AN/APS-15 radar housing above the forward fuselage, Saipan

: Black PBM-5 Mariner code J2 of the VPB-26 Okinawa

: PBM-3 H-243 Patrol Bombers over Ocean

: Martin PBM-3D Mariner 10

Martin PBM Mariner was designed since 1937. As the successor to the earlier construction of Consolidated PBY Catalina and P3M. The prototype has completed its first flight on February 18, 1939. Aircraft serial began to be delivered in 1941. Mariner s initially became operational during the fall of 1940 with squadrons VP-55 and VP-56, based at Norfolk, then after combining as VP-74 in mid–1941, moved to a new base in Bermuda.
Manufacturer: Glenn L. Martin Co., Baltimore, Maryland.
Total produced: 1366 (all variants)

Variants

XPBM-1 (Model 162) prototype with BuNo. 0796
PBM-1 (Model 162) BuNo. 1246, 1248-1266 (21 built); 2 x R-2600-6 engines and retractable floats
XPBM-2 (Model 162) BuNo. 1247, one of the PBM-1. Experimental catapult-launched long-range strategic bomber, tested during 1941 but never placed
in production.
PBM-3 (Model 162B) BuNo.6455-6458, 6471-6498 (32 built)
XPBM-3E (Model 162B) BuNo. 6456 – prototype with AN/APS-15 radar
PBM-3R (Model 162B) unarmed transport version of PBM-3. 18 new build (BuNo.6459-6470, 6499-6504) + 31 converted from PBM-3.
PBM-3C (Model 162C), Mariner GR Mk I – patrol version with twin 12,7 mm (.50 in) machine guns in nose and dorsal turrets, and single guns in tail turret and waist positions. AN/APS-15 radar in radome behind cockpit and bomb bays 2×1814 kg (2x4000lb). BuNo. 6505-6754, 01650-01673 ( 274 built)
PBM-3B (Model 162C) ex-RAF Mariners GR Mk 1 after return to U.S. Navy
PBM-3S (Model 162C) anti-submarine aircraft with reduced armament (top turred was removed) and increased range. Engines with coolinf fins. 94 built (6693, 01674-01728, 48125-48163) + 62 conversions.
PBM-3D (Model 162D) patrol bomber with new engines R-2600-22 (1900 hp), increased armament (twin 12,7mm machine guns in nose, dorsal and tail turrets, plus two waist guns) and incresed armor protection. BuNo. 48124, 48164-48223, 45205- 45274, 45277-45404 (259 built).
PBM-4 (Model 162E) – cancelled version with two Wright R-3350 2700 hp (2015 kW) engines
PBM-5 (Model 162F) – Pratt & Whitney R-2800 engines (2100 hp, 1566 kW). Lengthened engine cowlings with new carburettor intake position. BuNo. 45275-45276, 45405-45444, 59000-59348, 84590-84789, 85136-85160, 98602-98615 ( 628 built).
PBM-5E – AN/APS-15 radar and other electronic equipment.
PBM-5A (Model 162G) amphibian version of PBM-5 with retractable nosewheel and main undercarriage in hull sided. New APS-31 radar with teardrop fairing. BuNo. 122067-122096, 122468-122471, 122602-122613 (36 built) + 4 conversions.
PBM-5M – Mariner used to monitor missile tests.
PBM-5N – all-weather variant. BuNo. 98606
PBM-5S – lightened anti-submarine variant of PBM-5
PBM-5S2 – improved anti-submarine aircraft with revised radar installation and huge searchlight.
PBM-5G – PBM-5 used by Coast Guard
XPBM-6 – concept

Powerplants

PBM-1: 2 x 1600 hp Wright R-2600-6 Twin Cyclone 14-cylinder air-cooled radial engines driving three-bladed, electric controllable-pitch metal propellers.
PBM-3D: 2 x 1900 hp Wright R-2600-22 Twin Cyclone 14-cylinder air-cooled radial engines driving three-bladed, electric controllable-pitch metal propellers.
PBM-5: 2 x 2100 hp Pratt & Whitney R-2800-22 Double Wasp 18-cylinder air-cooled radial engines driving four-bladed, electric controllable-pitch propellers.

Bibliography

PBM Mariner in Action – Bob Smith, Perry Manley; Squadron/Signal Publications – Aircraft Number 74
Pilot’s handbook of flight operating instructions PBM-5 airplanes
Flying Boats and Seaplanes since 1910, The Pocket Encyclopedia of World Aircraft in Color – John W. Wood
American Flying Boats and Amphibious Aircraft – E.R. Johnson
Golden Age of Flying-boats, Aeroplane Collectors’ Archive – Kelsey Publishing Group 2012
Flying boats of WWll, Aviation Archive – Kelsey Publishing Group 2015
Wings Of Fame – The Journal Of Classic Combat Aircraft – Volume 7
United States Navy Aircraft since 1911 – Gordon Swanborough, Peter M Bowers
Navy Air Colors: United States Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Aircraft Camouflage and Markings, Vol. 1, 1911-1945 – Thomas E. Doll, Barkley R. Jackson; Squadron/Signal Publications 6159
The Official Monogram U.S. Navy & Marine Corps Aircraft Color Guide, Vol 2: 1940-1949 – John M. Elliott, Monogram Aviation Publications 1989
R. Johnson – United States Naval Aviation, 1919-1941: Aircraft, Airships and Ships Between the Wars
Steve Ginter – Martin PBM Mariner, Naval Fighters number 97
Richard A. Hoffman – The Fighting Flying Boat: A History of the Martin PBM Mariner