Martin MB-1

The Martin MB-1 was an American large biplane bomber designed and built by the Glenn L. Martin Company 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, 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 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, 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 in St. Louis. The aircraft raced with the racing number 58, placing third on the 300 km 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
 * United States Postal Service