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Subject: Martin T4M
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_T4M
The Martin T4M was an American torpedo bomber of the 1920s. A development by the
Glenn L. Martin Company of their earlier Martin T3M, and like it a
single-engined biplane, the T4M served as the standard torpedo bomber aboard the
aircraft carriers of the United States Navy through much of the 1930s.
The Martin Model 74 was designed and developed by the Glenn L. Martin Company as
a result of testing of the experimental radial engined developments of the
Martin T3M, the XT3M-3 and XT3M-4. The resulting prototype, designated XT4M-1,
first flew in April 1927, and was purchased by the U.S. Navy for further
evaluation.
The XT4M-1 had new single-bay fabric covered metal wings of shorter span than
the wooden wings of the T3M. It was powered by a Pratt & Whitney Hornet, (as
used by the XT3M-3), and was fitted with a revised rudder. The fuselage was
similar to that of the T3M-2, and like the earlier aircraft, could be fitted
with either a wheeled undercarriage or floats.
As a result of the successful trials, the U.S. Navy ordered 102 similar
production aircraft from Martin as the T4M-1 on June 30, 1927. Martin sold their
Cleveland factory, which had built the T4M, to the Great Lakes Aircraft Company
in October 1928, which resulted in Great Lakes receiving an order for 18
aircraft with slightly modified undercarriages as the TG-1. On 2 July 1930, the
U.S. Navy placed an order for 32 aircraft powered by a more powerful Wright
Cyclone radial engines with the Detroit Aircraft Corporation as the TE-1.
Detroit, however, passed the order to Great Lakes, which by this time was a
subsidiary, and the aircraft were built as TG-2s.
Role
Torpedo bomber
Manufacturer
Glenn L. Martin Company/Great Lakes Aircraft Company
First flight
1927
Introduction
1928
Retired
1938
Primary user
United States Navy
Number built
155
Developed from
Martin T3M
Deliveries of the T4M to the U.S. Navy started in August 1928, replacing T3M-2s
aboard the aircraft carriers USS Saratoga and USS Lexington. Deliveries
continued until 1931.
While its predecessor, the T3M spent much of its time operating from floats, by
the time the T4M and TG entered service, the U.S. Navy had realised the greater
versatility of the aircraft carrier, and the T4Ms and TGs were mainly operated
with wheeled undercarriages from the decks of carriers. The capability of
carrier based air power was demonstrated in fleet exercises in January 1929,
when aircraft from Saratoga, including T4Ms carried out mock attacks on the
Panama Canal. Despite a defending force including Lexington and shore based Navy
and Army aircraft, the strike force was judged to have "destroyed" the canal
locks as well as airfields. The exercise was described as "the most brilliantly
conceived and most effectively executed naval operation in our history" by
Admiral William V Pratt, who later became Commander in Chief of the U.S. Fleet.
The T4M was unusual in that its slab-sided fuselage was large enough to allow
flight crews to get up and move around between positions. It was so spacious a
man could nearly stand up within it. Of its flying qualities, one pilot was
quoted as saying "It takes off, cruises, and lands at 65 knots".
The T4M and TG proved difficult to replace, with both the XT6M and XT3D being
evaluated but failing to demonstrate sufficient improvement to justify purchase.
They remained in service until 1938, being eventually replaced by the TBD
Devastator and becoming the last biplane torpedo bomber of the U.S. Navy.
Specifications (T4M-1)
General characteristics
Crew: 3
Length: 35 ft 7 in (10.85 m)
Wingspan: 53 ft 0 in (16.16 m)
Height: 14 ft 9 in (4.50 m)
Empty weight: 5,814 lb (2,643 kg)
Loaded weight: 9,503 lb (4,320 kg)
engine, 525 hp (392 kW)
Performance
Maximum speed: 114 mph (99 kn, 184 km/h)
Cruise speed: 98 mph (85 kn, 158 km/h)
Range: 363 mi (316 nmi, 584 km)
Service ceiling: 10,150 ft (3,095 m)
Power/mass: 0.055 hp/lb (0.091 kW/kg)
Armament
*
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