| Baltimore | |
|---|---|
 Royal Air Force Martin Baltimore GR.IV/V | |
| General information | |
| Type | Light bomber Reconnaissance |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | Glenn L. Martin Company |
| Primary users | Royal Air Force |
| Number built | 1,575 |
| History | |
| Introduction date | 1941 |
| First flight | 14 June 1941 |
| Retired | 1949 |
| Developed from | Martin Maryland |
TheMartin 187 Baltimore was a twin-engined light attack bomber built by theGlenn L. Martin Company in the United States as the A-30. The model was originally ordered by the French in May 1940 as a follow-up to the earlierMartin Maryland, then in service in France. With thefall of France, the production series was diverted to the United Kingdom and after mid-1941, supplied by the U.S. as Lend Lease equipment.
Development of the Baltimore was hindered by a series of problems, although the type eventually became a versatile combat aircraft. Produced in large numbers, the Baltimore was not used operationally byUnited States armed forces but eventually served with the British, Canadian, Australian, South African, Hellenic and the Italian air forces.[1] It was subsequently used almost exclusively in theMediterranean and Middle East theatre of World War II.
Initially called theA-23 (derived from the A-22Martin 167 Maryland design), theModel 187 (company name) had a deeper fuselage and more powerful engines. The Model 187 met the needs for a light-to-medium bomber, originally ordered by theAnglo-French Purchasing Commission as a joint project in May 1940. TheFrench Air Force sought to replace the earlier Maryland; 400 aircraft being ordered. With the Fall of France, theRoyal Air Force (RAF) took over the order and gave it theservice nameBaltimore. To enable the aircraft to be supplied to the British under theLend-Lease Act theUnited States Army Air Forces nameA-30 was allocated.[a] With the passing of the Lend Lease Act two further batches of 575 and then 600 were provided to the RAF.
The first British aircraft were delivered in late 1941 to equipOperational Training Units. The RAF only used the Baltimores operationally in the Mediterranean theater and North Africa.[2] Many users were impressed by the step up that the Baltimore represented from older aircraft like theBristol Blenheim. Users of the Baltimore and Martin pilot Benjamin R. Wallace, praised the aircraft for its heavy armament, structural strength, manoeuvrability, bombing accuracy and relatively high performance but crews complained of cramped conditions similar to those in the earlier Maryland bomber. The narrow fuselage made it nearly impossible for crew members to change positions during flight if wounded (the aircraft's interior structure separated the pilot and observer from the wireless operator and rear gunner, a characteristic shared with several light and medium bomber designs of that era including theHandley Page Hampden,Douglas Boston andBlenheim). Crews also complained about the difficulties in handling the aircraft on the ground. On takeoff, the pilot had to co-ordinate the throttles perfectly to avoid a nose-over or worse.[3]
First used in action to stop Rommel's advance, the Baltimore suffered massive losses when it was used as a low-level attack aircraft, in large part due to being unescorted.[1] Operating at medium altitude with fighter escorts, the Baltimore had a very low loss rate, with the majority of losses coming from operational accidents. Undertaking a variety of missions in the Middle East, Mediterranean and European theaters, the Baltimore's roles includedreconnaissance, target-towing,maritime patrol, night intruder and as a somewhat uncomfortable fast transport. The Baltimore saw limitedFleet Air Arm service with aircraft transferred from the RAF in the Mediterranean to equip a squadron in 1944. Used in theanti-submarine role during the war, the Baltimore achieved moderate success, sinking up to eightU-boats.
The RAF also transferred aircraft to other Allies in the Mediterranean area. The Baltimore was used intensively in the Italian campaign to clear the road to Rome for advancing Allied forces after theItalian surrender on 3 September 1943.[3] After theArmistice between Italy and Allied armed forces an Italian-manned squadron, the 28th Bomber Wing, was equipped with ex-RAF Baltimores, becoming the co-belligerentStormo Baltimore.[4] The Italians suffered considerable attrition during their training phase on the Baltimore. The majority of accidents were during takeoffs and landings due to the aircraft's fairly high wing loading, high approach speed and a directional stability problems during takeoffs. The Italians operated the Baltimore for about six months. Many of those operations were in Yugoslavia and Greece, providing air support for partisan forces or dropping supplies.
Most Baltimores were scrapped soon after the war, although one RAF squadron continued to use the type in Kenya where the aircraft were used in aerial mapping and locust control until 1948. In post-war service, the Baltimore took part in United States Navy instrument and control surface tests in the effort to break the sound barrier. With its powerful engines and light, yet robust construction, the aircraft was able to dive at high speed, reaching Mach .74 in tests.[1] All Baltimores were withdrawn from service by the end of 1949, the last one being retired on 23 December 1949.
In 2025, the wreck of a Baltimore of454 Squadron (Royal Australian Air Force) was discovered off the coast of the Mediterranean island Antikythera. On 3 December 1943, the aircraft had been on a reconnaissance mission from its base in Bengazi, Libya, when it was shot down by two Messerschmitt fighters.[5]
All of the series were built for the RAF. A number were lost on delivery across the Atlantic Ocean when two ships carrying Baltimores were sunk.
Although the Baltimore was produced in greater numbers than any other Martin design except theB-26 Marauder, with 1575 produced, no aircraft have survived intact, although the wreckage of several are known to exist.[citation needed]
Data fromJane's Fighting Aircraft of World War II.[10]
General characteristics
Performance
Armament
Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
Related lists
