Name: Mauler AM-1
Manufacturer: Martin (USA)

Mauler Background

Martin AM-1 Mauler

Written by Kenneth Mah
Revised: May 9, 2007

In the later years of the the Pacific war, growing US air superiority began to influence the US Navy's thinking on carrier attack aircraft. Design philosophy began to shift away from the earlier multi-seat single role aircraft like the Douglas SBD Dauntless, Curtis SB2C Helldiver, and the Grumman Avenger torpedo bomber. The Navy began looking more towards single seat dual role Bomber Torpedo aircraft.

Douglas (XBTD-1), Curtis (XBTC-1), Kaiser-FLeetwings (XBTK-1), and Martin (XBTM-1) submitted prototypes for the new Bomber Torpedo aircraft. Each received production contracts, but these were later cancelled. The Martin BTM-1, later re-designated AM-1, would be the only one of these aircraft to see production.

The Martin Model 210 prototype was powered by a 3000hp Pratt & Whitney R-4360-4 Wasp Major 28 cylinder radial engine, had four 20mm cannon in the wings and 15 hard points for external ordinance. It made its first flight on August 26, 1944. The first AM-1 production aircraft flew in December 1946 and differed from the prototype in using a 2975hp Wright 3350-4 Cyclone 18 cylinder radial instead of the Wasp Major.

With the cancellation of the BTD-1 contract, Douglas returned to the drawing board with a completely new design, the BT2D-1, better known as the legendary Douglas AD Skyraider. The Navy was impressed enough to request 25 examples.

The Mauler's first flight was over six months ahead of the Douglas XBTD-2 Skyraider prototype, which first took to the air on March 18, 1945. Unfortunately, landing safety issues required design changes which were not resolved until 1947. The Skyraider had also had its own landing related structural problems at high weights, but by December 1946 these problems had been solved and the Skyraider entered operational service over a year ahead of the AM-1.

The Mauler's service life was very short. Active duty Navy squadron service began VA-17A in March of 1948. With two similar types in service, the Navy decided to standardize on the Douglas Skyraider and soon after the Mauler entered active navy service, the type began to be withdrawn. Maulers continued in the activy duty Navy until 1950 when the remaining aircraft were transfered to the reserve. The last AM-1 left reserve service in 1953.

AM-1 Mauler production ended in 1949 with two prototypes and 149 production units produced.

Dimensions

Wing Span: 50.00 ft. / 15.24 M
Length: 41.17 ft. / 12.55 M
Height: 16.83 ft. / 5.13 M
Wing Area: 496.22 Sq ft. / 46.10 Sq M
Aspect Ratio: ---
Weight Empty: 14,500 lb. / 6,577 Kg
Weight Takeoff: ---
Max. Takeoff Weight: 23,387 lb. / 10,608 Kg

Power & Performance

Powerplant(s): 1x Wright R-3350-4 Cyclone 18 cylinder radial
Max Thrust: ---
Military Thrust: ---
Internal Fuel: ---
Fuel Fraction: ---

Max. Thrust/Weight Loading: ---
Combat Thrust/Weight Loading: ---

Maximum Wing Loading: 47.13 lb. per Sq. ft.; 230.11 Kg / Sq. M
Combat Weight Wing Loading: ---

VMax High Altitude / VMax Low Altitude: -- / --
Max Speed: 319 knots, 366.85 mph, 590.788 km/h
Operational Ceiling: 30,500 ft. / 9,296 M

Armament

4 x 20mm cannon in wings; 4848 kg external ordinance

Users

USA