Martin Baltimore Mk IIIa
Glenn L. Martin Company · United States · first flew 1942 · bomber
The Martin Baltimore Mk IIIa is a sub-variant of the Mk III incorporating minor changes to the ventral gun position while retaining the enclosed dorsal turret of its predecessor.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Deep oval fuselage, twin Twin Cyclone radials |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Minor variant of Mk III with ventral gun changes
- Deep oval fuselage, twin Twin Cyclone radials
- Enclosed dorsal turret as introduced on Mk III
Indistinguishable from the Mk III at normal visual recognition distances; the overall Baltimore profile applies without modification.
Specifications
- The Martin Baltimore Mk IIIa has a length of 14.78 m (48 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 18.69 m (61 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 491 km/h (305 mph).
- Typical crew: 4.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The IIIa designation covered Baltimore aircraft with specific ventral armament configurations tailored to RAF and Commonwealth requirements. Production and service overlapped with the Mk III and the two marks served alongside one another in the Mediterranean theatre.
Variants
Essentially a Mk III with ventral gun modifications; preceded the substantially updated Mk IV with its uprated engines.
Where you'll see it
Commonwealth air forces in North Africa and the Mediterranean; operational use was effectively identical to the Mk III.
Related aircraft
- Glenn L. Martin XPB2M-1 Mars
- Martin Baltimore Mk III
- Martin Baltimore Mk IV
- Martin JRM Mars
- Aichi B7A Ryusei
- Avro Lancaster B.III
- B-29 Superfortress
- Boeing B-17F Flying Fortress
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