Martin P6M SeaMaster

Glenn L. Martin Company · United States · first flew 1955 · bomber

The Martin P6M SeaMaster was an ambitious jet-powered flying boat designed for the US Navy as a strategic mine-laying and reconnaissance platform, capable of operating from dispersed water bases to deliver nuclear weapons. It was ultimately cancelled before entering operational service.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Mid-mounted, swept
E — Engines	4 × turbojet, wing-mounted
F — Fuselage	40.84 m fuselage
T — Tail	T-tail

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Jet-powered strategic mine-laying flying boat
Four turbojets buried in swept wing roots
Cancelled before operational deployment

A large, graceful swept-wing flying boat with four jets buried in the swept mid-wing, a tall T-tail, and a deep hull; its jet-age lines and flying-boat hull make it instantly identifiable.

Specifications

The Martin P6M SeaMaster has a length of 40.84 m (134 ft).
It has a wingspan of 32 m (105 ft).
Its maximum speed is 1040 km/h (646 mph).
Typical crew: 4.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

First flown in July 1955, the SeaMaster promised supersonic-capable performance and nuclear delivery from the sea. Development was plagued by accidents and rising costs; with the advent of submarine-launched ballistic missiles making the concept redundant, the Navy cancelled the programme in August 1959.

Variants

P6M-1 was the pre-production variant; P6M-2 was the definitive production model with more powerful Pratt & Whitney J75 engines, of which only a handful were completed before cancellation.

Where you'll see it

Never entered operational service; used only for contractor and Navy trials. The handful of completed P6M-2s were scrapped after cancellation.

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