The Martin MB-1 was an American large biplane bomber designed and built by the

Glenn L. Martin Company The Glenn L. Martin Company—also known as The Martin Company from 1957-1961—was an American aircraft and aerospace manufacturing company founded by aviation pioneer Glenn L. Martin, and operated between 1917-1961. The Martin Company produc ...

for the United States Army Air Service in 1918. It was the first purpose-built bomber produced by the United States. In 1921 Martin produced its KG.1 variant of the MB-1, with ten purchased by the Navy as torpedo bombers under the designation MBT. After two were purchased, the designation was changed to Martin MT.

Development

In response to a requirement from the Air Service for a bomber that was superior to the

Handley Page O/400 The Handley Page Type O was a biplane bomber used by Britain during the First World War. When built, the Type O was the largest aircraft that had been built in the UK and one of the largest in the world. There were two main variants, the Handl ...

, Martin proposed the MB-1 and were rewarded with an initial production contract for six aircraft. The MB-1 was a conventional biplane design with twin fins and rudders mounted above the tailplane and a fixed tailwheel landing gear with four-wheel main gear. Powered by two 400 hp (298 kW)

Liberty 12A The Liberty L-12 is an American water-cooled 45° V-12 aircraft engine displacing and making designed for a high power-to-weight ratio and ease of mass production. It saw wide use in aero applications, and, once marinized, in marine use both i ...

engines, it had room for a crew of three in open cockpits.

Operational history

Initial delivery to the Air Service was in October 1918, with the aircraft designated GMB for Glenn Martin Bomber. The first four produced were configured as observation aircraft, and the next two as bombers. Four others were produced before the end of World War I cancelled all remaining war contracts. The last three aircraft each were configured experimentally, with separate designations: GMT (Glenn Martin Transcontinental), a long-range version with a 1,500 mi (2,400 km) range; GMC (Glen Martin Cannon) with a nose-mounted 37 mm (1.46 in) cannon; and GMP (Glenn Martin Passenger) as an enclosed ten-passenger transport. The GMP was later redesignated T-1. Six surviving aircraft were later modified and used by the United States Postal Service as mail carriers. The design was the basis for the

Martin MB-2 The Martin NBS-1 was a military aircraft of the United States Army Air Service and its successor, the United States Army Air Corps, Army Air Corps. An improved version of the Martin MB-1, a scout-bomber built during the final months of World ...

, which had a greater load capability but was slower and less maneuverable. Ten aircraft were used by the United States Navy from 1922 under the designations MBT and MT and were used as torpedo bombers, two by the Navy and eight by Marine Corps squadron VF-2M. On 5 October 1923, the Marine Corps entered an MT, serial number A-5720, in the

National Air Races The National Air Races (also known as Pulitzer Trophy Races) are a series of pylon and cross-country races that have taken place in the United States since 1920. The science of aviation, and the speed and reliability of aircraft and engines grew ...

in St. Louis. The aircraft raced with the racing number 58, placing third on the course. They were used in the West Virginian Coal Wars, notably in the Battle of Blair Mountain, as bombers and aerial observers sent in by President Warren Harding. One aircraft was lost, crashing on the return flight, with the loss of three crewmen.

Variants

;MB-1 :Company and original military designation. ;GMB :Glenn Martin Bomber - Air Service designation for the MB-1 aircraft. ;GMT :Glenn Martin Transcontinental - designation for one aircraft with long range fuel tanks. ;GMC :Glenn Martin Cannon - designation for one cannon equipped aircraft. ;GMP :Glenn Martin Passenger - designation for one ten-seat passenger variant, later designated T-1 ;MBT :Martin Bomber-Torpedo - United States Navy/Marine Corps torpedo-bomber variant, two built. ;MT :Martin Torpedo - United States Navy/Marine Corps version with an MB-1 fuselage and MB-2 wings, eight built, later designated the TM-1 ;T-1 :GMP redesignated. ;TM-1 :MT redesignated.

Operators

; * United States Army Air Service * United States Marine Corps * United States Navy * United States Postal Service

Specifications

References

Notes Bibliography * Andrade, John. ''U.S. Military Aircraft Designations and Serials since 1909''. Hinckley, UK: Midland Counties Publications, 1979. . * ''The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft'' (Part Work 1982-1985). London: Orbis Publishing, 1985, p. 2419. * Swanborough, F.G and Peter M. Bowers. ''United States Military Aircraft since 1909''. London: Putnam, 1963. * Taylor, Michael J. H. ''Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation''. London: Studio Editions, 1989. .
"The Glenn L. Martin Commercial Transport".
''Flight'', XIII (2), No. 629, 13 January 1921, pp. 27–28.

External links

{{Authority control 1910s United States bomber aircraft

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