Martin 187 Baltimore
The Martin 187 was developed from the Maryland to specific British requirements. It differed primarily by having more powerful engines and a deeper fuselage to allow direct communication between crew members. Its narrow-section fuselage did make it virtually impossible for injured crew members to change positions in flight.
An order of 400 of these aircraft, named Baltimore by the RAF, was placed in May 1940, and following introduction of the US Lend-Lease Act two batches, of 575 and 600, were ordered in June and July 1941 respectively, and the full total of 1,575 aircraft was duly produced for the RAF.
This full total was not received, for some Mk III and Mk IIIA aircraft were lost during transatlantic delivery when two cargo ships carrying them were sunk. Initial deliveries of Baltimore Mk Is were made in late 1941, being issued first to Operational Training Units, and were followed by deliveries of Mk IIs in 1942 to Nos 55 and 223 Squadrons operating in the Middle East. All Baltimores were used operationally entirely in the Mediterranean theatre, proving to be effective day and night bombers. In addition to those used by the RAF, Baltimores were allocated by the RAF for service with the Royal Australian Air Force, Free French Air Force, Greek No. 13 (Hellenic) Squadron, Italian Co-Belligerent Air Force, and the South African, and Turkish air forces.
Martin 187 Baltimore
Engines: 2 x Wright GR-2600-A5B Cyclone 14, 1637 hp
Length: 48.507 ft / 14.785 m
Height: 17.749 ft / 5.41 m
Wingspan: 61.319 ft / 18.69 m
Wing area: 538.523 sqft / 50.030 sq.m
Max take off weight: 23198.8 lb / 10521.0 kg
Weight empty: 15463.7 lb / 7013.0 kg
Max. speed: 265 kts / 491 km/h
Cruising speed: 195 kts / 362 km/h
Service ceiling: 23294 ft / 7100 m
Wing load: 43.05 lbs/sq.ft / 210.00 kg/sq.m
Maximum range: 2433 nm / 4506 km
Range: 940 nm / 1741 km
Crew: 4
Armament: 8x MG cal.303 (7,7mm), 6x MG cal .30 (7,62mm), 907kg Bomb.
Baltimore Mk IV
Engines: 2 x Wright R-2600-10 Cyclone 14 radial, 1238kW
Max take-off weight: 10251 kg / 22600 lb
Empty weight: 7013 kg / 15461 lb
Wingspan: 18.69 m / 61 ft 4 in
Length: 14.8 m / 48 ft 7 in
Height: 5.41 m / 17 ft 9 in
Wing area: 50.03 sq.m / 538.52 sq ft
Max. speed: 491 km/h / 305 mph
Ceiling: 7100 m / 23300 ft
Range: 1741 km / 1082 miles
Martin 187 Baltimore
