British Grumman Martlet Mk I AL257 of No. 804 Squadron
The Grumman Martlet Mk. I (Model G-36A) was an important variant of the Wildcat fighter series during World War II, initially ordered by the French Navy but later taken over by the British after the fall of France. Below are the key details:
Key Specifications and Features:
- First Flight: May 10, 1940
- Number Built: 82 aircraft
- Serial Numbers:
- For the Royal Navy:
- AL231 through AL262 (32 units)
- AX725 through AX747 (23 units)
- BJ554 through BJ570 (17 units)
- BT447 through BT456 (10 units)
- Originally Built for Greece (F4F-3’s):
- AX753 through AX754 (2 units)
- AX761 (1 unit)
- AX824 through AX829 (6 units)
- BJ507 through BJ527 (21 units)
- For the Royal Navy:
Dimensions:
- Span: 38 feet
- Wing Area: 260 square feet
- Length: 28 feet 10 inches
- Height: 11 feet 9 inches
Powerplant:
- Engine: Wright GR-1820-G205A Cyclone, a 9-cylinder, single-row radial air-cooled engine producing 1,200 horsepower at takeoff.
- Supercharger: Single-stage/two-speed
- Propeller: Hamilton Standard 3-blade constant speed
Armament:
- Guns: Four .50 cal. machine guns located in the wings
Weight:
- Empty Weight: 4,887 pounds
- Gross Weight: 6,063 pounds
Performance:
- Maximum Speed: 306 miles per hour at 15,000 feet
- Initial Rate of Climb: 2,350 feet per minute
- Service Ceiling: 35,500 feet
- Normal Range: Unknown
Operational History:
- The Martlet Mk. I played a crucial role in the early stages of the war for the Royal Navy’s Fleet Air Arm. Notably, it achieved its first combat victory on December 25, 1940, when it shot down a German Junkers Ju-88.
- The aircraft were initially equipped with non-folding wings, which made them less ideal for carrier operations, but they were still heavily utilized for air defense and convoy protection.