Aircraft/Loadouts American aircraft suggestion: Martin B-10

[AncientRaig 1,378]

I've recently been looking around at a lot of aircraft, and I've noticed one plane in particular that has had my interest for a good while. The Martin B-10 bomber. The Martin B-10 was an early monoplane bomber, unique for being both the first all-metal monoplane bomber to go into mass-production and regular use with the USAAC, and for being the first USAAC bomber capable of out-performing the pursuit fighters of its day. The B-10 was a revolutionary bomber, and I quote from Wikipedia: "The B-10 began a revolution in bomber design. Its all-metal monoplane airframe, along with its features of closed cockpits, rotating gun turrets, retractable landing gear, internal bomb bay, and full engine cowlings, would become the standard for bomber designs worldwide for decades. It made all existing bombers obsolete.".

 

Beginning testing in 1932, and entering service in 1934, 166 of them were built for US service, with another 121 for the Netherlands, and numerous smaller orders for other countries, totaling 348, this plane was used in large numbers and affected how bombers are built to this day. It seems only fitting that such an important aircraft be included in the Americans final release tree, coming directly before the Douglas B-18 Bolo.

 

Information on the operational history and legacy of the B-10 aircraft:

 

The operational history of the B-10 is as follows: "In 1935, the Army ordered an additional 103 aircraft designated B-10B. These had only minor changes from the YB-10. Shipments began in 1935 July. B-10Bs served with the 2nd Bomb Group at Langley Field, the 9th Bomb Group at Mitchell Field, the 19th Bomb Group at March Field, the 6th Composite Group in the Panama Canal Zone, and the 4th Composite Group in the Philippines. In addition to conventional duties in the bomber role, some modified YB-10s and B-12As were operated for a time on large twin floats for coastal patrol.

The Martin Model 139 was the export version of the Martin B-10. With an advanced performance, the Martin company fully expected that export orders for the B-10 would come flooding in.

The Army owned the rights to the Model 139 design. Once the Army's orders had been filled in 1936, Martin received permission to export Model 139s, and delivered versions to several air forces. For example, six Model 139Ws were sold to Siam in April 1937, powered by Wright R-1820-G3 Cyclone engines; 20 Model 139Ws were sold to Turkey in September 1937, powered by R-1820-G2 engines.

On 19 May 1938, during the Sino-Japanese War, two Chinese Nationalist Air Force B-10s successfully flew to Japan. However, rather than dropping bombs, the aircraft dropped propaganda leaflets.

The Dutch Martins fought round the clock in the defense of Singapore and the Netherlands East Indies. The model 166 had superior performance compared to the Japanese medium bombers in the theater."

 

 

The legacy of the B-10 is as follows: "At the time of its creation, the B-10B was so advanced that General Henry H. Arnold described it as the air power wonder of its day. It was half again as fast as any biplane bomber, and faster than any contemporary fighter. The B-10 began a revolution in bomber design; it made all existing bombers completely obsolete.

Rapid advances in bomber design in the late 1930s meant that the B-10 was eclipsed by the time the United States entered World War II. The 139s in combat in China and South East Asia suffered the same disadvantages as the other early war medium bombers, i.e. not enough armor and guns, while it couldn't outrun the latest fighters. Nevertheless, the 166 had the highest performance of all the medium bombers in the theater at the time, early 1942.

An abortive effort to modernize the design, the Martin Model 146, was entered into a USAAC long-distance bomber design competition 1934–1935, but lost out to the Douglas B-18 and much bigger Boeing B-17. It's interesting to note that the B-18 wasn't that much better than the B-10 and actually inferior to the latest B-10 version, the model 166."

 

Provided below are the general characteristics of the B-10B, as well as a number of pictures of the aircraft. The third picture is of the sole surviving example of the B-10:

 

General characteristics

• Crew: 4: pilot, co-pilot/radio operator, bombardier/gunner, gunner
• Length: 44 ft 9 in & same (13.6 m)
• Wingspan: 70 ft 6 in & same (21.5 m)
• Height: 15 ft 5 in & 11 ft 5 in (4.7 m & 3.5 m)
• Wing area: 678 ft² & 683 ft² (63 m² & 64 m²)
• Empty weight: 9,681 lb & 10,322 lb (4.391 kg & 4,682 kg)
• Loaded weight: 14,700 lb & 15,624 lb (6,680 kg & 7,085 kg)
• Max. takeoff weight: 16,400 lb (7,440 kg)
• Powerplant: 2 × Wright R-1820-33 (G-102) "Cyclone" radials, 775 hp & 1,000 hp (578 kW & 746 kW) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 213 mph & 241 mph (185 kn, 343 km/h & 210 kn, 388 km/h)
• Cruise speed: 193 mph & 186 mph (168 kn, 311 km/h & 161 kn, 299 km/h)
• Range: 1,240 mi & 1,740 mi (1,078 nmi, 1,996 km & 1,510 nmi, 2,800 km)
• Service ceiling: 24,200 ft & 28,215 ft (7,380 m & 8,600 m)
• Rate of climb: 1,380 ft/min & 1,939 ft/min (420 m/min & 591 m/min)
• Wing loading: 21.7 lb/ft² & 22.9 lb/ft² (106 kg/m² & 111 kg/m²)
• Power/mass: 0.105 hp/lb & 0.128 hp/lb (0.173 W/kg & 0.211 W/kg)

Armament

• Guns: 3 × .30 in (7.62 mm) Browning machine guns in nose, dorsal and belly positions
• Bombs: 2,260 lb & 4,520 lb (1,030 kg & 2,060 kg)

 

 

 

 

Edited January 24, 2014 by AncientRaig

[Aerobane 4,140]

Yes. this would be nice, kind've like a Aemarican TB3

[AncientRaig 1,378]

Yes. this would be nice, kind've like a Aemarican TB3

But not slow.

[Professor_Lohere 9,006]

looks funky enough to be a premium

 

 

and slow planes are good for bombing in FRB

Edited January 24, 2014 by rozsomak

[babehunter1250 1,601]

Yes. this would be nice, kind've like a Aemarican TB3

More like a lower performance (and hopefully lower BR) American version of the SB bomber or the Blenheim

[babehunter1250 1,601]

looks funky enough to be a premium

 

 

and slow planes are good for bombing in FRB

Why should it be a premium?

It was a production aircraft and the only "fast" Bomber that fits in the rank 1 gap...

Maybe the experimental model that lost the competition to the B-17 could be added as a premium, but the original B-10 should be available as a normal aircraft...

[Gahlok12 457]

I like this idea and I would love to use the P-59B Airacomet.

[Tarskin 1,496]

I fully support this aircraft for obvious reasons ;) Now we just need to get a ML-KNIL skin for it as well .... pwetty please?

[Dragon_AV 188]

+1, do want

[ReluctantDragin 1]

I give this my support. Not a game winner but would be a sporting challenge for tier 1 pilots.

[dutchy96 19]

i support this nice bomber to start with form tier 1

[Holey_Tail 715]

I'd take a Dutch or Chinese one as a premium, if having it in the main US tree is not planned.

[I_MIKE_I 7,651]

I think it has a viable place as Tier 1 Bomber, with a rating around 1.3.

[Flyboy1945 37]

Martin B-10, YES! Take some of the pressure of the Navy bombers for a change.

Just 1 request; keep that blue and yellow paint scheme, I love that look on USA aircraft.

[traeng 147]

+1 good starting bomber

[RainbowBier 106]

+1

 

Would be awesome

[VanFrancis 29]

For those interested, I've been working on a Martin B-10 as project for WarThunder over in the custom content forum.

 

Not much to show yet, but I will post regular updates on the progress for anyone here who might be interested.

 

 

http://forum.warthunder.com/index.php?/topic/151908-wip-martin-b-10-bomber/

[Ryan97226 1,204]

+1 love the idea

[ItsCalledSoccer 96]

Cool plane +1

[LM002 987]

You got my support! But you probably should add a poll.

[TreuSchaferhund 1,017]

Yes please. 

[DavidXD 1,355]

I support !

+1

[Naam54673 1,537]

+1.It should be reserve.

[abocks 72]

I'd like to fly it +1

[TheJoker1432 1,974]

the derp is strong in this aircraft :D