Martin Baltimore Mk V
Glenn L. Martin Company · United States · first flew 1943 · bomber
The Martin Baltimore Mk V was the most heavily armed and most numerous production variant of the Baltimore, fitted with a four-gun Martin dorsal turret providing substantially improved defensive capability.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Deep oval fuselage with Wright Twin Cyclone engines |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Most produced Baltimore variant with four-gun dorsal turret
- Deep oval fuselage with Wright Twin Cyclone engines
- Mid-wing light bomber used from North Africa to Italy
Distinguished from earlier marks by the four-gun dorsal turret; otherwise the standard Baltimore profile — deep fuselage, mid-wing, twin radials — applies.
Specifications
- The Martin Baltimore Mk V has a length of 14.78 m (48 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 18.69 m (61 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 508 km/h (316 mph).
- Typical crew: 4.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The Mk V entered service in 1943 and served through the Italian campaign and into operations against targets in southern Europe and the Aegean. It was the definitive Baltimore bomber variant and equipped the majority of Commonwealth Baltimore squadrons by the end of the war.
Variants
The GR Mk VI maritime reconnaissance variant followed as the final Baltimore mark; the Mk V was the last dedicated bomber variant.
Where you'll see it
Operated by the RAF, SAAF, RAAF, and Royal Hellenic Air Force in the Mediterranean; some continued in service with smaller air forces after 1945.
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