AIR POWER
Martin B-26 Marauder
Type: Medium Bomber
Origin: Martin
Models: Model 179, B-26A to G, Marauder I to III
Crew: Five To Seven
First Flight: November 25, 1940
Service Delivery: February 25, 1941
Final Delivery: March 1945
Production: 5,157+
Powerplant:
B-26
Model: Pratt & Whitney R-2800-5 Double Wasp
Type: 18-cylinder two row radial
Number: Two Horsepower: 1,850
B-26A
Model: Pratt & Whitney R-2800-39 Double Wasp
Type: 18-cylinder two row radial
Number: Two Horsepower: 2,000
B-26B through G:
Model: Pratt & Whitney R-2800-43 Double Wasp
Type: 18-cylinder two row radial
Number: Two Horsepower: 2,000
Dimensions:
Wing Span: B-26A & first 641 B-26B: 65 ft. (19.8m)
Remainder: 71 ft. (21.64m)
Length:
B-26: 56 ft.
B-26A & B: 58 ft. 6 in.
B-26F & G: 56 ft. 6 in.
Height:
Up to B-26E: 19 ft. 10 in. (6.04m)
Remainder: 21 ft. 6 in. (6.55m)
Weights:
Empty:
Early, Typical: 23,000 lb. (10,433 kg.)
B-26F & G: 25,300 lb. (11,490 kg.)
Maximum Loaded:
B-26: 32,000 lb.
B-26A: 33,022 lb.
First 641 B-26B: 34,000 lb.
Remaining B-26B: 37,000 lb. (16,783 lb.)
B-26F: 38,000 lb.
B-26G: 38,200 lb. (17,340 kg.)
Performance:
Max. Speed:
Up To B-26E, Typical: 310 mph (500 km/h)
B-26F & G: 280 mph (451 km/h)
Initial Climb (Typical): 1,000 ft./min. (305 m/min.)
Service Ceiling:
Up To B-26E, Typical: 23,000 ft. (7000 m)
B-26F & G: 19,800 ft. (6040 m)
Range (with 3,000 lb. bombload):
1,150 miles (1850 km)
Armament:
B-26 & B-26A: Either .30 or .50 Browning M.G.
One or Two machine guns manually aimed in tail
Two machine guns in powered dorsal turret
One machine gun manually aimed in tail
B-26B to E:
One 0.5 in. Browning M.G. manually aimed in nose
Two 0.5 in. Browning M.G. in powered dorsal turret
Two 0.5 in. Browning M.G. in waist
One 0.5 in. Browning M.G. "tunnel gun"
Two 0.5 in. Browning M.G. in powered tail turret
Four 0.5 in. Browning M.G. fixed on sides of forward fuselage
B-26F & G:
One 0.5 in. Browning M.G. manually aimed in nose
Two 0.5 in. Browning M.G. in powered dorsal turret
Two 0.5 in. Browning M.G. in waist
Two 0.5 in. Browning M.G. in powered tail turret
Four 0.5 in. Browning M.G. fixed on sides of forward fuselage
Bomb Load:
Internal load of 5,200 lb. (2359 kg) up to 641st B-26B, after which rear bay was disused (eliminated in F, G)
to give maximum load of 4,000 lb. (1814 kg.).
Early versions could carry two torpedoes.
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Comments:
When this bomber first entered service it quickly became known as the "Widow-Maker"
due to the high numbers of crashes relative to other types. This was not caused by a
design flaw but a design philosophy. When Martin created the design for the 1939 medium
bomber competition for the U.S. Army it pulled out all the stops. Chosing a wing design
that optimized cruise efficiency that unfortunately sacrificed low-speed handling.
When pilots transitioned to the type training was insufficient in regards to this characteristic
and thus less experienced pilots suffered. Additional training rectified this problem and
by VE-day the B-26 had achieved the lowest loss rate of any U.S. Bomber in the ETO.
The Marauder was deployed to the South Pacific the day after Pearl Harbor and was used
extensively throughout the theatre. Often the rear bomb bay was filled with an auxillery fuel tank.
The Marauder was withdrawn from service and the B-26 designation was transferred to the A-26 Invader. 
