![]() ![]() Those 21 where heavily used in patrolling coastal North America, at first doing “neutrality patrols” hunting for enemy submarines and raiders in territorial waters and shadow allied convoys. There was also an adapter to carry two torpedoes just below the nacelle (similar to the Martin produced B-26).Īlthough a sound design, only twenty one of the "-1" was built before the improved "-3" was put into production. Not immediately visible is the triangular shaped doors under the nose, which opened for the bomb sight station. 50 cal machine gun, considered very powerful in 1939. The doors under the nacelle and inner wing look like they are for landing gear, but are instead for the internal bomb bay! Able to carry a sizable bombload without the performance drag penalty of external mounts, the PBM-1 had a notable performance advantage over the PBY. Defensive armament was 5 turrets, nose, dorsal, tail, and both waists in unique round windows, each a single. Like the PBY the wing floats retracted, but not to the tips but instead into the wing (like the BV 238). It was also larger, more complex, and 50% heavier.Īfter testing with a 3/8 scale flying model (Martin 162A Tadpole Clipper), the XPBM-1 prototype first flew in 18 February 1939 proving a solid design, except for stability issue with the horizontal stabilizer and twin tails. To solve this the production PBM-1's horizontal stabilizer was given a dihedral to match the wing but maintained the 90 degree angle to the vertical stabilizer, resulting in an inward cant of the vertical/rudder tail (unlike nearly any other aircraft, like the Be-6). ![]() Martin company leveraged its considerable flying boat and bomber aircraft experience to design a new aircraft for the requirements of long range with considerable offensive ability and bomb load. In many ways similar to the PBY, it was superior in having internal bomb bay, providing a performance advantage when fully loaded (commonly posted stats often do not list fully loaded performance). Advances in technology lead the US Navy created a few new “system designation” in 1935, with “PB” for “Patrol Bomber” being one of them. Very slow aircraft with a poor climb rateĭuring the 1930s the United States had a vibrant seaplane making industry making ever larger flying boat category of seaplanes. Sikorsky, Boeing, Grumman, Consolidated (of PBY fame), and Martin all vied for the lucrative opportunities of an aircraft that could land almost anywhere on earth with little investment in facilities.Lacks a belly turret (due to being a boat) and therefore vulnerable to attacks directly from below.Gunners can easily be taken out, especially the tail gunner (no armour, and no bulletproof glass either).Self-sealing fuel tanks (4 in lower fuselage, 1 in each wingroot).Large fuselage with lots of non-critical empty space can absorb lots of bullets.Using WEP doesn't make engines overheat.If aimed properly, and using the right belts, defensive armament is very deadly.Can carry a large payload for its BR (4,000 lbs).Quite manoeuvrable for a bomber (can outturn many heavy fighters, and some single-engine fighters).Once your bombs are dropped it is advisable to land, but acting as a "gunship" can also be somewhat successful. Even though you are slow, you are not defenseless. It is advisable to carry this bombload for bombing bases. The PBM can carry up to 4 x 1,000 lb bombs. The PBM is however fairly slow and has a rather bad climb rate, so it will take time. The PBM-1 should be played like its predecessors. The M2 Browning machine gun is potent at this battle rating, so you have a good chance of shooting down an aircraft. 1 x 12.7 mm M2 Browning machine gun, tail turret (350 rpg)Īll the guns cover the upper hemisphere of the PBM, best to fly on deck when enemy is near.1 x 12.7 mm M2 Browning machine gun, 2 x beam turrets (375 rpg).1 x 12.7 mm M2 Browning machine gun, dorsal turret (400 rpg).1 x 12.7 mm M2 Browning machine gun, nose turret (400 rpg). ![]()
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