PBM Mariner

Click the thumbnails to enlarge them

Amphibious aircraft XPBM-5A

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

Anti-submarine PBM-3S Mariner

Australian Mariner A70-12 in flight

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

Black C428 BuNo 45428 from VPB-26 in the foreground

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

British Mariner JX109

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

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

Crew installs new propeller on PBM at Marianas base

Crew installs new propeller on Martin PBM at Marianas base

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

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

Destroyed PBM Mariner code E3 Okinawa

Destroyed PBM Mariner code E4 Okinawa

E8 "Belle of the Pacific" on board seaplane tender USS St. George

Early Martin PBM-1 Mariner at Norfolk 1941

PBM-1 of the VP55 being hoisted on board the seaplane tender

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

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

Early test flight

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

Florida 1943

Flying boat PBM-1 BuNo 1262 in flight, 1941

PBM-3S on beaching gear at San Diego California 1944

Flying boat PBM-3S at San Diego California 1944

Front turret

JX103 at Maritime Aircraft Experimental Establishment

Launching a PBM-1 at NAS Norfolk 1941

Mariner fuselage

Mariner Operational Training Unit

Mariner with British markings

Mariners Saipan

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

Martin PBM flight engineer station interior

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

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

PBM-1 of the VP-74 returns to East Coast 1942

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

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

Martin PBM-1 Mariner assembly line December 1940

Martin PBM-3 Mariner flying boats on final assembly line

Martin PBM-3C 1943

Martin PBM-3D Mariner 10

Martin PBM-3S Mariner "12" at NAS Norfolk 1943

Martin PBM-5 and Coronado seaplanes at base in Marianas

Martin PBM-5 Mariner "white 8" on beaching gear

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

Martin PBM-5 Mariner hoisted aboard seaplane tender 1945

Martin PBM-5 Mariner with search radar housing above the forward fuselage

Martin PBM-5 Mariner on water

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

Martin PBM-5 Mariner Saipan

Martin XPBM-1 nose

NAS Guantanamo Bay

PBM Alameda

PBM Banana River Florida March 1943

PBM being refueled in the Marianas in early 1945

PBM Dry Lake near Tuscon, Arizona

PBM Florida April 1943

PBM in hangar at NAS Banana River 1943

PBM Mariners Saipan

PBM Martin Mariner taking off with JATO

PBM NAS Banana River 1943

PBM NAS Banana River 1943 2

PBM NAS Bermuda

PBM NAS Coronado 1943

Flying boat PBM on patrol in Pacific 1944

PBM on patrol in Pacific 1944, color photo

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

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

PBM patrol bomber flying boat Bunny

PBM plant at Baltimore

PBM PTO

PBM recsues crew of sinking PBM downed off Korea 1945

PBM with Refueling Tender in Marianas

PBM-1 1259

PBM-1 1941

PBM-1 2 1941

PBM-1 Argentia Bay

PBM-1 Mariner 22 Florida 1943

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

PBM-1 VP-55 in flight

PBM-1 VP-56

PBM-1 VP-74

PBM-3 1942

PBM-3 Engine Work

PBM-3 formation

PBM-3 H-243 Patrol Bomber on Mission

PBM-3 code H-243 Patrol Bombers over Ocean

PBM-3 H-243 Patrol Bombers over Ocean

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

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

PBM-3 Mariner flying boat undergoing engine maintenance

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

PBM-3 Mariner take-off 1942

PBM-3 patrol bomber flying boat on mission

PBM-3 rear

PBM-3 tail

PBM-3 takeoff

PBM-3C Mariner off NAS Norfolk, Virginia 1942

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

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

PBM-3C Mariners on sssembly line in Baltimore Plant ’43

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

PBM-3C NAS Banana River

PBM-3D

PBM-3D 2

PBM-3D Bunny is on beaching gear

PBM-3D Mariner flying boat anchored on the water

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

PBM-3D Mariner 37 taxiing in the waters off NAS Pensacola 25 October 1944

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

PBM-3R 6-R-404

PBM-3R January 1943

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

PBM-3S

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

PBM-3S Mariner dropping a depth charges

Anti-submarine aircraft Martin PBM-3S of the VP-8 at NAS Norfolk 1943

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

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

PBM-3S Natal Brazil

PBM-3S Norfolk

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

PBM-5

PBM-5 at seaplane Base 1945

PBM-5 E2 hoisted aboard a seaplane tender

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

PBM-5 Mariner code E2 „Dinah Might” with AN/APS-15 radar

PBM-5 Mariner code E2 Dinah Might - nose art

PBM-5 Mariner code E5 Okinawa

PBM-5 Martin Mariners gets overhaul on seaplane tender 1945

PBM-5 seaplane Base 1945 2

Plexiglass domes of machine gun turrets being readied for Mariners

Plexiglass domes of machine gun turrets being readied for PBM's

Prototype in flight

Radioman and navigator at work

Saipan base

Seabees use pontoon lighter barge to move PBM-5 on Okinawa

Seabees use pontoon lighter barge to move PBM-5 "C10" on Okinawa

Seaplane Tender Refuels PBM Mariner in the Marianas

Silver early PBM-1

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.

Transport aircraft PBM-3R Mariner taking off 1942/43

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

U.S. Navy crew and their Martin PBM-3D "white 37"

Unarmed transport version

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.

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.

Wrecked Mariner Iceland 19 February 1942

XPBM-1 with fixed tail

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 2x1814 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