Martin P6M SeaMaster

Martin P6M SeaMaster Strategic Bomber Flying Boat

The Martin P6M Seamaster was a strategic bomber flying boat intended as the US Navy’s nuclear delivery system. Two XP6M-1 prototypes were built, with the first flying on 14 July 1955. Both were involved in accidents, resulting in a total of 9 deaths.

Six YP6M-1 pre-production aircraft were ordered, with the fist flying in January 1958. These differed from the XP6M-1 by having the engines angles away from the fuselage, as it was discovered that the straight alignment of the prototypes resulted in a scorched fuselage skin.

Testing of the YP6M-1 discovered that the Allison J71-A-4 turbojet was unreliable. Additionally, under heavy load, water spray was ingested into the engines, which resulted in a limiting of the sea conditions under which the aircraft could operate. Accordingly the program was cut as it was not considered possible to rectify these issues.

Eight modified aircraft designated P6M-2 were ordered, incorporating a series of changes to rectify the issues identified with the YP6M-1. These included using Pratt & Whitney J75 engines, an aerial refueling probe, improved avionics, and a canopy with better visibility. However by the time the first three had flown, the navy had decided that the ballistic missile submarine was a significantly superior delivery system. As a result only three of the eight P6M-2s ordered were delivered, the the remaining five scrapped before being delivered despite being completed.