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| The XPBM-1 prototype flying-boat patrol bomber was originally ordered by the US Navy in 1936. Before it was built, a quarter-size prototype (Model 162A) was constructed and flown. The full-size aircraft was flown for the first time in February 1939.
The production PBM-1 - fitted with two 1,192 kW Wright R-2600-6 radial engines, a dihedral tail and retractable wingtip floats - was ordered in 1938 and 20 of these went into Navy service in 1941. A single XPBM-2 was ordered at the same time as a long-range version specially strengthened for catapult take-off.
The PBM-3, with two 1,267kW Wright R-2600-12 engines, was ordered in quantity in 1940 and deliveries began in 1942. In this version the crew was increased from seven to nine, the armament was revised and the fuel capacity increased. The retractable wingtip floats of the PBM-1 were replaced by fixed floats. In 1942 the PBM-3 was adopted also as a naval transport carrying 20 passengers or 3,629-4,082kg of cargo (PBM-3R). Twenty-six PBM-3B patrol bombers were also used by RAF Coastal Command, delivered under Lend-Lease. At the end of the war a specialised anti-submarine version was also developed as the PBM-3S.
The final two production versions of the Mariner were the PBM-5 and PBM-5A, powered by 1,565kW R-2800-22 and R-2800-34 engines respectively. The last PBM-5A was delivered to the US Navy in April 1949. This version was basically an amphibious version of the PBM-5 and ended its career as a general utility aircraft.
| CREW | 7 |
| ENGINE | 2 x Wright A-5B, 1250kW |
| WEIGHTS |
| Take-off weight | 25400 kg | 55998 lb |
| Empty weight | 14660 kg | 32320 lb |
| DIMENSIONS |
| Wingspan | 36.0 m | 118 ft 1 in |
| Length | 34.4 m | 113 ft 10 in |
| Height | 8.4 m | 28 ft 7 in |
| Wing area | 130.0 m2 | 1399.31 sq ft |
| PERFORMANCE |
| Max. speed | 325 km/h | 202 mph |
| Cruise speed | 240 km/h | 149 mph |
| Ceiling | 6150 m | 20200 ft |
| ARMAMENT | 8 x 12.7mm machine-guns, 2000kg of bombs |
| KEN, e-mail, 07.09.2010 03:44 So where is the Martin Marlin? Also known as the P5M & SP5B? reply | | Darrell Martin, e-mail, 26.09.2009 19:30 My Father was a crewman on the -5's with VP-42 durin the Korean War. They were stationed at San Diego, but deployed to Iwakuni, Subic Bay, and Kodiak. He also has one of the ORIGINAL poems written about a crew that disappeared while on patrol. It is titled "Old Crew 8". If anyone has more information, or another of the ORIGINAL copies of the poem, it would be nice to hear from you.
Thanks
Darrell Martin AD1 USN (Retired) reply | | Matt Ford, e-mail, 25.09.2009 10:05 My father Drexel Cline Partridge was an AOM3 on PBM 5's from April to Nov 1945 - With Squadrons 22 and 100(VPB-99)- then transferred to the USS Bering Straight and USS Cook Inlet until May 1946 - If anyone had served during that time, or has a parent who did, with some memoirs, any info would be greatly appreciated reply | | Frank Howell, e-mail, 10.09.2009 21:50 My Father, Elbert Clell Howell was a PO-3 and Flight Eng. on PBM Mariners assigned to VP-MS-2 in 48-49. He passed away in 2008 and I've found some of his old photos of his crew mates. Would love to know who they are, I only have the names they went by, like Red, Hare, Platte, and some others. Willing to share digitized photo's as well. Some can be seen here: www.vpnavy.org /vpms2.html reply | |
| | John Cornacchione, e-mail, 20.07.2009 20:50 My Uncle Joseph Cornacchione was and Aviation Radioman assigned VR-13 at Manus Island, Admiralty Islands during WW2. I believe he was flying this type of aircraft. He died in an Jeep accident on Morotai Island on 12 November 1945. It would be great to find anyone that may have known him.
Thanks! reply | | Patrick T. Carey, e-mail, 08.04.2009 00:28 I have been researching my uncle Harold T. Carey's career in the Navy which began in 1935. He was killed in action July 4, 1943 flying a PBM Mariner while engaging a German U Boat in the Atlantic off the Eastcoast of the United States. Parts of the mission were classified during the war, but going through my grandmother's letters, which include a letter from the Department of the Navy, I know the action included another Mariner crew. Both crews were stationed at Norfolk, VA at the time. If anyone knows anything about this event I would appreciate any information. I know it was a long time ago, but my uncle's wife is still alive and his youngest brother is still alive. The family is interested in any details. reply | | Jackson I Newberry, Jr, e-mail, 30.09.2008 21:21 I recall my father flying PBMs out of Banana River NAS during WWII. He was at first an AP, but ended his career as a flight instructer at Pensacola as a LT USN after the war. I subquently became a Naval Aviator and flew P2Vs out of Barber's Point, Hawaii.
Jack Newberry reply | | Allan Taylor, e-mail, 29.05.2008 03:53 Had fun dragging them up on the ramp then fun stopped when we got a 5A down in the land of the BWI buck.
FASRON 915 reply | | Ted Stoddard, e-mail, 28.05.2008 22:25 I was a radioman /gunner on D-5, a PBM-5 aircraft in VPB (Patrol Bombing Squadron) 21 in 1945-46. I'll be happy to share memories with anyone interested in this great plane.
There's one surviving plane, a 5A amphibious model, at the Pima Air Museum near Tucson, AZ. reply | | JOHN BACHMAN, e-mail, 08.01.2008 04:16 HELLO,
MY FATHER WAS A FLIGHT ENGINEER ON THIS TYPE PBM.
CAN U TELL IF THERRE IS ONE LEFT SOMEWHERE IN THE USA.
HE'S 87 AND WOULD LOVE TOHE JOURNEY THERE!
THANKS JOHN reply |
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