Martin Marauder Mk.Ia - Pirates of the Mediterranean (ii)

Suggestions Aircraft
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Would you like to see the Marauder Mk.Ia in game?
  • Yes, as a tech tree vehicle
  • Yes, as a premium vehicle
  • Yes, as an event vehicle
  • Yes, as a squadron vehicle
  • No, I would not like to see the Marauder Mk.I in game.
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🇬🇧 Marauder Mk.Ia 🇬🇧

Given caption: “Three Martin Marauder Mark Is (Mk.Ia FK375 D Dominion Revenge nearest), of No. 14 Squadron RAF based at Fayid, Egypt, flying in starboard echelon formation.” (source)

TL;DR

  • The second of the B-26 variants taken into RAF service
  • Advanced fast medium bomber/torpedo bomber of the Second World War
  • Uprated engines on par with current B-26s, but weaker defensive armament
  • Along with its siblings, fit to carry British torpedoes

Why it should be in the game: Besides historical significance, I think the Marauder Mk.Ia would fit nicely as a premium or event bomber for Britain. On the one hand, this would be putting the better version of the Marauder Mk.I and its nice camos behind a pay/grindwall. However, I think that the better engines may actually prove to be a hindrance for the Mk.Ia as it may elevate its BR to a point where the defensive armament is entirely inadequate. Of course, it would be nice to have everything in the researchable tree, but in terms of my vision for where I would put all the Marauders if they were all added, this one goes in the premium section.


History

This aircraft, flown by Wynne Maydwell, will feature again in some later pictures, but for now, this one shows the early type nose wheel and British torpedo mount quite clearly. The carburetor intakes have been enlarged in order to accept tropical sand filters. This feature would be retained for all following B-26 variants. (source)

See my previous post for information about the Marauder’s genesis.

      With the Marauder Mk.I having entered service in mid-1942, the airmen of 14 Squadron were generally satisfied with their new aircraft. However, one thing Martin didn’t take into account when designing the Marauder was tropical usage. Whether the RAF’s usage of the Marauder led to this change, or if it was a result of the B-26’s Pacific operations (or perhaps both of those), the early B-26B variants would make various changes to address their new operating environment and issues with operating the aircraft in general. The B-26B originally revised the defensive armament, deleted the propeller spinner caps, and standardized torpedo capability, while the B-2 introduced more powerful engines; the B-26B-3 introduced larger carburetor intakes for sand filters, while the B-4 included a further revised armament and an extended nose wheel. Of these upgrades, the Marauder Mk.Ia, which is said to be based on the B-26B, had exactly two of them, the first being the improved engines of the B-2 and the second being the enlarged intakes (which may actually have been a retrofit for all Marauder Mk.I/Mk.Ias). Why the RAF decided against incorporating any of the other improvements is unclear; it could have been done for expediency’s sake, or the new features could have been seen as unnecessary.

Is the Marauder Mk.Ia based on a B-26A or a B-26B? This is a more confusing question than you would think, and this picture isn’t helping. Given caption: “Two Pratt & Whitney Double Wasp R-2800-43 engines. Taken at Prestwick - September 1942.” (source)

      It can be assumed that the Marauder Mk.Ia was a follow-up order to the Marauder Mk.I, and thus arrived later. Either way, both Marks worked together in action with 14 Squadron. Mk.Is were still in use in about a 2:1 ratio compared to Mk.Ias by early 1943 when the squadron carried out a raid against supply ships at the harbor on the Greek island of Milos. The three flight raid crew was led by Maj. Lewis SAAF in Marauder Mk.Ia FK370. At the loss of one Marauder Mk.I and one Mk.Ia, a supply ship was successfully hit by a torpedo by ‘A’ flight and ‘C’ flight striking various facilities on the shore. Torpedo bombing operations with the Marauder as a whole ended after this raid despite its success, and it seems that Marauder Mk.I operations had ended by October 1944, when 14 Squadron returned to Britain and converted to Wellingtons.


Specifications

Marauder Mk.Ia

Dimensions:

  • Length: 56 ft 0 in (17.07 m)
  • Span: 65 ft 0 in (19.81 m)
  • Height: 19 ft 10 in (6.05 m)

Weight:

  • 23,375 lb (10,603 kg) empty
  • 32,000 lb (14,515 kg) loaded
  • 34,000 lb (15,422 kg) maximum

Propulsion: 2 x Pratt & Whitney R-2800-43 Double Wasp

  • 2,000 hp each; 4,000 hp total (takeoff)

Maximum speed:

  • 315 mph (507 km/h) @ 15,000 ft (4,572 m)

Armament:

  • Guns:
    • 1 x 1 .30 caliber AN/M2 Browning machine gun in a flexible nose mount (600 rounds)
    • 1 x 1 .30 caliber AN/M2 Browning machine gun in a flexible ventral mount (600 rounds)
    • 1 x 1 .50 caliber AN/M2 Browning machine gun in a flexible tail mount (400 rounds)
    • 1 x 2 .50 caliber AN/M2 Browning machine gun in powered dorsal turret (400 rds./gun; 800 total)
  • Bombs:
    • Up to 2 x 2,000 lb American bomb
    • Up to 4 x 1,000 lb American bomb
    • Up to 8 x 500 lb American bomb
    • Up to 16 x 300 lb American bomb
    • Up to 30 x 100 lb American bomb
  • Torpedoes:1
    • Up to 1 x Mk XII 2,000 lb torpedo
    • Up to 1 x Mk XV 2,000 lb torpedo
  • Fuel:
    • Up to 2 x 250 gallon fuel tank in the aft bomb bay

Crew: 7 (pilot, copilot, bombardier, radio operator/navigator, upper turret gunner/camera operator, ventral gunner, tail gunner)

Additional equipment:

  • Bomb sight
  • EFS

Notes:

  1. I can’t personally identify British torpedoes by looking at them, and I don’t know if a different mounting would be required for the Mk XV. The Marauder most likely only used the Mk XII. I’m listing the Mk XV because I feel like it’s probably possible, but consider it unconfirmed.

Gallery

At least one of the Marauders was painted in the “Temperate Sea Scheme” whilst operating in 14 Squadron. This paint scheme can be seen on aircraft in game such as the Firebrand TF Mk.IV. Credit: user diamant on BritModeller Forums

 

Despite not being equipped with fixed armament like the B-26B, Marauder Mk.I/Mk.Ia crews used the planes’ high speed and powerful .50 caliber Brownings to harass transport aircraft such as this Me 323 anyway. Given caption: “A Messerschmitt Me 323 powered glider under attack off Cape Corse, Corsica, by a Martin Marauder Mark I, flown by the Commanding Officer of No. 14 Squadron RAF, Wing Commander W Maydwell. The aircraft crash-landed on the shore and disintegrated.” (source)

 

According to crew testimony, photographic effects like can be seen here were caused when viewing the Marauder at certain angles. This was allegedly due to different thicknesses in different sections of the fuselage. It seems the men of 14 Squadron are preparing to tow this Marauder, perhaps due to a busted nose wheel.

 

Sources

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