P5M Marlin
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| P5M/P-5 Marlin | |
|---|---|
 US Coast Guard Martin P5M-2G Marlin |
|
| Type | Patrol aircraft |
| Manufacturer | Glenn L. Martin Company |
| Maiden flight | 1948 |
| Introduction | 1952[1] |
| Retired | 1967[1] |
| Status | Retired |
| Primary users | United States Navy United States Coast Guard French Navy |
| Number built | 285 |
| Developed from | PBM Mariner |
The Martin P5M Marlin (P-5 Marlin after 1962), built by the Glenn L. Martin Company of Middle River, Maryland, was a twin engined piston powered flying boat entering service in 1951 and serving into late 1960s in service with the United States Navy for naval patrol. It also served in the U.S. Coast Guard and with the French Navy. 285 were produced overall.
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[edit] Development
Built as evolutionary successor to the PBM Mariner, it had better engines, improved hull form, and more conventional tail. The XP5M Marlin prototypes were based on the last PBM-5 Mariners, the company designation being Model 237. It would be heavily improved again leading to the P5M-2 (Model 237B), which was redesignated SP-5B. A number of P5M-1 models were also used for training, designated TP-5A (after 1962).
[edit] Design
The Marlin was designed as a gull-winged aircraft to lift the engines and propellers high above the spray. Power was by two Wright R-3350 radial engines. The rear hull did not lift sharply from the water at the tail, instead rising up steadily, a Martin innovation; this gave the aircraft a longer base of flotation and reduced "porpoising" over waves.
The prototype had nose and tail turrets with twin 20 mm cannon in each, as well as a dorsal turret with two 0.5 in (12.7 mm) M2 Browning machine guns. The cockpit area was the same as the Mariner's. It first flew in May 30, 1948.[2]
The first of 167 production P5M-1 aircraft was produced in 1951, flying on June 22, 1951.[2] Changes from the prototype included a raised flight deck for improved visibility, the replacement of the nose turret with a large radome for the AN/APS-44 search radar, the deletion of the dorsal turret, and new, streamlined wing floats. The engine nacelles were lengthened to provide room for weapons bays in the rear.
The P5M-1 was followed by 116 P5M-2 planes. These had a T-tail to put the tail surfaces out of the spray, a AN/ASQ-8 MAD boom at the rear of the tail-tip, no tail guns, better crew accommodation and an improved bow to reduce spray during takeoff and landing.
[edit] Operational history
[edit] US Coast Guard
Seven P5M-1Gs and four P5M-2Gs were built for the United States Coast Guard for air-sea rescue service, but the service found the planes difficult to maintain and surplus to requirements. They were given to the Navy, which used them as trainers since they had no provision for armament.
[edit] French Navy
The French Navy took delivery of ten ex-USN Marlins in 1959 to replace Short Sunderlands in maritime patrol service, based out of Dakar, Senegal in West Africa. They were returned five years later.
[edit] Variants
- XP-5M
- Prototype converted from a PBM Mariner with modified hull.[3]
- P5M-1
- Production model for the United States Navy, 160 built, later re-designated P-5A.[3]
- P5M-1G
- Modified P5M-1 for the United States Coast Guard, seven conversions, later returned to the Navy as P5M-1T.[3]
- P5M-1S
- Modified P5M-1 with upgraded electronic and anti-submarine equipment, eighty conversion later re-designated SP-5A.[3]
- P5M-1T
- Seven former USCG P5M-1Gs returned to Navy as crew trainers and one former P5M-1, later re-designated TP-5A.[3]
- P5M-2
- Updated production model, 108 built for the US Navy and 12 built for the French Navy, United States aircraft later re-designated P-5B.[3]
- P5M-2S
- Most P5M-2s were modified with upgraded electronic and anti-submarine equipment, later re-designated SP-5B.[3]
- P5M-2G
- Four P5M-2s built for the USCG, later transferred to US Navy as P5M-2s.[3]
- P-5A
- P5M-1 re-designated in 1962.[4]
- SP-5A
- P5M-1S re-designated in 1962.[4]
- TP-5A
- P5M-1T re-designated in 1962.[4]
- P-5B
- P5M-2 re-designated in 1962.[4]
- SP-5B
- P5M-2S re-designated in 1962.[4]
[edit] Operators
[edit] Survivors
One P-5 is at the National Museum of Naval Aviation at NAS Pensacola, Florida. It is currently in poor condition but is scheduled for partial and, eventually, full restoration. The restoration is being financed by the museum and by the Mariner/Marlin Association.
[edit] Specifications (P5M-2)
Data from United States Navy Aircraft since 1911 [5]
General characteristics
- Crew: 11
- Length: 100 ft 7 in (30.7 m)
- Wingspan: 117 ft 2 in (35.7 m)
- Height: 32 ft 9 in (10.0 m)
- Wing area: 1,406 ft² (130.1 m²)
- Empty weight: 50,485 lb (22,900 kg)
- Loaded weight: 72,600 lb (33,000 kg[citation needed])
- Max takeoff weight: 85,000 lb (38,600 kg)
- Powerplant: 2× Wright R-3350-32WA radial engines, 3,450 hp (2,570 kW) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 218 knots (404 km/h, 251 mph)
- Cruise speed: 130 knots (242 km/h, 150 mph)
- Range: 1,783 NM (3,300 km, 2,050 miles)
- Service ceiling 24,000 ft (7,300 m)
- Rate of climb: 1,200 ft/min (6.1 m/s)
- Wing loading: 60.5 lb/ft² (287 kg/m²)
- Power/mass: 0.081 hp/lb (0.13 kW/kg)
Armament
- 4x 2,160 lb (980 kg) torpedoes or
- 4x 2,000 lb (907 kg) mines or bombs or
- 8x 1,000 lb (454 kg) mines or
- 16x 500 lb (227 kg) bombs or
- 16x 330 lb (150 kg) depth charges or
- 1x Mk.90 "Betty" nuclear depth charge
Avionics
- AN/APS-44 radar
[edit] See also
Related development
- PBM Mariner
- P7M Submaster
Comparable aircraft
Related lists
[edit] References
[edit] Notes
[edit] Bibliography
- Andrade, John, U.S.Military Aircraft Designations and Serials since 1909, Midland Counties Publications, 1979, ISBN 0 904597 22 9
- Roberts, Michael D. Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons: Volume 2 The History of VP, VPB, VP(HL) and VP(AM) Squadrons. Washington DC: Naval Historical Centre, 2000.
- Swanborough, Gordon and Bowers, Peter M. United States Navy Aircraft since 1911. London:Putnam, Second edition 1976. ISBN 0 370 10054 9.
- The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985), 1985, Orbis Publishing, Page 2420
[edit] External links
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