Martin Baltimore

Encyclopedia : M : MA : MAR : Martin Baltimore

Martin A-30 Baltimore.

The Bristol Baltimore was a light two-engined attack-bomber built by the Glenn L. Martin Company. Although wholly American designed and built with a USAAF designation of A-30 it was never used in combat by the US forces, but saw service with the British Royal Air Force, the British Fleet Air Arm, the Royal Canadian Air Force, the Royal Australian Air Force, and the South African Air Force.

The crew was four: pilot, navigator/bomb aimer, radio-operator and dorsal-gunner. The radio operator could also man a ventral gun position.

Contents

1 History
2 Production and Variants
3 Service
4 Operators
5 Specifications (Baltimore V)
6 References
7 Related content

History

The Baltimore was developed from the Martin 167 Maryland (A-22 Maryland), with a deeper fuselage, for the French and British forces. When France fell, the RAF took on the full order.

Production and Variants

Baltimore I - 50 aircraft built

Fitted with 1,600 hp Wright GR-2600-A5B radial piston engines. Armament was one O.030-inch (7.7-mm) Vickers K machine gun.

Baltimore II - 100 aircraft built

As with the Mk I; twin 0.030-inch (7.7-mm) Vickers K machine gun.

Baltimore III - 250 aircraft built

Modified Mk II design with a powered dorsal turret supplied by Boulton Paul in the UK with 4 Browning machine guns. .

Baltimore IIIA - 281 aircraft built

Ordered by USAAF and supplied under Lend-lease to the RAF, two 0.50-inch (12.7-mm) machine guns in the Martin dorsal turret. Designated A-30 by the USAAF.

Baltimore IV - 294 aircraft built

USAAF order, lend-lease to RAF. Four 0.303-inch (7.7-mm) Brownings machine guns in the wings. Designated A-30A by the USAAF.

Baltimore V - 600 aircraft built

USAAF order, Upgraded with two 1,700 hp Wright R-2600-29 radial piston engines. Wings fitted with 0.50-inch (12.7-mm) machine guns.

All 1575 built were delivered to the RAF.

Service

The Baltimores were sent to the Mediterranean and North Africa for action there with the RAF The Baltimore saw limited Fleet Air Arm service with aircraft transferred from the RAF in the Mediterranean to equip a squadron in 1944. After the capitulation of Italy in 1943 an Italian-manned squadron was equipped with ex-RAF Baltimores, becoming the co-belligerent Stormo Baltimore

Operators

Australia, France, Greece, Italy, South Africa, United Kingdom (Royal Air Force, Fleet Air Arm), Turkey.

Martin Baltimore

History

Production and Variants

Service

Operators

Specifications (Baltimore V)

References

Related content