Martin B-10
The Martin B-10 was a revolutionary American bomber of the 1930s, being the first all-metal monoplane bomber to enter regular service anywhere in the world. Its advanced design, featuring an enclosed cockpit, retractable landing gear, and internal bomb bay, set the standard for bomber development leading up to World War II.
Fact Sheet
| Role | Medium Bomber |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Glenn L. Martin Company |
| First Flight | February 16, 1932 |
| Service Entry | 1934 |
| Crew | 3 |
| Number Built | 348 |
Specifications (B-10B Model)
| Length | 44 ft 9 in (13.64 m) |
|---|---|
| Wingspan | 70 ft 6 in (21.49 m) |
| Height | 15 ft 5 in (4.70 m) |
| Wing Area | 812 sq ft (75.4 m²) |
| Empty Weight | 8,403 lb (3,812 kg) |
| Loaded Weight | 14,650 lb (6,646 kg) |
| Max Takeoff Weight | 15,501 lb (7,032 kg) |
| Powerplant | 2 × Wright R-1820-33 Cyclone radial engines (775 hp each) |
| Max Speed | 213 mph (343 km/h) |
| Cruise Speed | 167 mph (269 km/h) |
| Range | 1,240 mi (1,996 km) |
| Service Ceiling | 24,200 ft (7,376 m) |
Armament & Defensive Equipment
| Guns | 3 × .30 in (7.62 mm) Browning machine guns |
|---|---|
| Bomb Load | Up to 2,260 lb (1,025 kg) |
| Aiming Equipment | Optical bombsight |
Notable Features
- First all-metal monoplane bomber in regular service
- Enclosed cockpit and crew positions
- Retractable landing gear and internal bomb bay
- Set new standards for bomber speed and range in the 1930s
- Exported to several countries and used in combat in China and the Netherlands East Indies
The Martin B-10 was a landmark military aircraft that, upon its introduction in the early 1930s, revolutionized bomber design and made all existing bombers obsolete overnight. Developed by the Glenn L. Martin Company, the B-10 was a product of private venture and pioneering engineering that earned its designer, Glenn L. Martin, the prestigious 1932 Collier Trophy.
A Revolutionary Leap in Aviation Technology
The B-10 represented a radical departure from the biplane bombers of the era, which were often slow, made of wood and fabric, and had open cockpits. The B-10, by contrast, was an all-metal monoplane that incorporated several cutting-edge features that would become standard for bomber aircraft for decades to come:
- All-Metal Construction: The B-10 was the first all-metal bomber to be mass-produced for the U.S. Army Air Corps (USAAC). This gave it superior strength, durability, and a clean, aerodynamic finish.
- Retractable Landing Gear: This innovative feature significantly reduced drag, allowing the B-10 to achieve speeds previously unheard of for a bomber.
- Enclosed Cockpits: All crew members—the pilot, co-pilot, and gunners—were housed in fully enclosed cockpits, a first for a bomber of its size. This improved crew comfort and protection, especially during long-range, high-altitude missions.
- Internal Bomb Bay: Rather than carrying bombs on external racks, the B-10 stored them in an internal bomb bay. This design choice further reduced drag and allowed for a larger bomb load.
- Rotating Gun Turret: The B-10 featured the world’s first fully enclosed, rotating gun turret in its nose. This gave the nose gunner a vastly improved field of fire and protection from the elements.
These combined innovations made the B-10 an astonishingly fast aircraft for its time, with a top speed of 215 mph. It was approximately 50% faster than contemporary biplane bombers and could even outrun most of the fighter aircraft of the day, a capability that fundamentally changed military thinking about the need for long-range fighter escorts.
Operational History
The B-10 entered service with the USAAC in 1934 and became the backbone of the bomber fleet for several years. Its operational history is highlighted by a few key events:
- Alaska Flight (1934): In a demonstration of its speed and range, then-Lieutenant Colonel Henry “Hap” Arnold led a squadron of 10 B-10s on an 8,290-mile round trip from Washington, D.C., to Fairbanks, Alaska, and back. This highly publicized flight showcased the long-range power of American aviation to the world.
- Export Version: After the USAAC’s orders were filled, an export version, the Model 139W, was sold to several countries, including Argentina, China, and the Netherlands. These aircraft saw combat in the Sino-Japanese War and in the defense of the Dutch East Indies against Japanese forces in the early days of World War II.
Despite its revolutionary design, the B-10’s service life was relatively short due to the rapid pace of aviation technology in the 1930s. The B-10’s successor, the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, was a much larger and more capable bomber that would redefine strategic airpower. By the time the U.S. entered World War II, the B-10 was considered obsolete, though it left an undeniable legacy that set the standard for a new generation of heavy bombers.
