Martin B-10
Glenn L. Martin Company · United States · first flew 1932 · bomber
The Martin B-10 was a revolutionary American bomber that, when it appeared in 1932, outpaced contemporary pursuit fighters and introduced features such as an enclosed cockpit, internal bomb bay, and rotating nose gun turret. It won the Collier Trophy and established the template for modern bomber design.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 13.46 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- First all-metal monoplane bomber to enter US Army service
- Rotating nose turret and internal bomb bay — revolutionary for 1932
- Faster than contemporary pursuit fighters when it entered service
A clean mid-wing monoplane with twin radial engine nacelles, a rotating nose turret, enclosed cockpit, and retractable undercarriage — strikingly modern for the early 1930s.
Specifications
- The Martin B-10 has a length of 13.46 m (44 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 21.49 m (71 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 343 km/h (213 mph).
- Typical crew: 4.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Developed as a private venture by Glenn L. Martin Company, the XB-10 so impressed the US Army that it entered immediate production. It was the USAAC's primary bomber until the B-17 began replacing it in 1937; surplus aircraft were exported to the Netherlands East Indies, where they saw combat against Japan in 1941–42.
Variants
The B-10B was the main USAAC production variant; the B-12 used Pratt & Whitney engines; the export Model 139 and 166 variants were sold to the Netherlands, Argentina, China, Turkey, and other nations.
Where you'll see it
US Army Air Corps service from 1934 to 1940; combat use by the Netherlands East Indies Air Force (KNIL) against Japan in early 1942.
Related aircraft
- Martin 146
- Martin Model 123
- Martin P3M-2
- Martin PM-2
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- Consolidated XB2Y-1
- Dornier Do 11
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