Martin P4M Mercator
Glenn L. Martin Company · United States · first flew 1946 · transport aircraft
The Martin P4M Mercator was an unusual hybrid patrol aircraft combining two large piston radial engines with two jet engines installed in the same nacelles for sprint capability. It served the US Navy primarily as an electronic intelligence-gathering platform.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × turbojet, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 25.6 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Unique combined piston-and-turbojet patrol aircraft
- Two R-4360 Wasp Major radials plus two Allison J33 jets buried in the inner nacelles
- Long-nosed reconnaissance version for ELINT work
A twin-piston mid-wing patrol aircraft with unusually wide nacelles containing both radial and jet engines; the large fuselage with multiple antenna fairings on the ELINT version is distinctive.
Specifications
- The Martin P4M Mercator has a length of 25.6 m (84 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 35.05 m (115 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 660 km/h (410 mph).
- Typical crew: 15.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Ordered in 1944 and first flown in September 1946, the Mercator entered service in 1950 but only 21 were built. The production aircraft were quickly modified for ELINT collection, losing the search-and-attack patrol role. Several Mercators were fired upon by hostile aircraft during Cold War intelligence-gathering missions along the coastlines of the Soviet Union and China.
Variants
The P4M-1 was the standard version; the P4M-1Q was the electronic intelligence (ELINT) variant with extensive sensor fits replacing patrol equipment.
Where you'll see it
Operated exclusively by the US Navy in ELINT roles during the early Cold War, retiring by the late 1950s.
Related aircraft
- Martin P4M-1 Mercator
- Martin JRM-1 Mars
- Martin JRM-2 Mars
- Martin JRM-3 Mars
- Canadair C-54GM North Star
- Douglas C-118 Liftmaster
- Antonov An-2
- Beriev Be-8
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