P6M-2 SeaMaster

The Martin P6M SeaMaster was a large, jet‑propelled maritime patrol and anti‑submarine aircraft developed by the Glenn L. Martin Company in the early 1950s. Conceived as a sea‑based counterpart to the land‑based Lockheed P‑2 Neptune, the SeaMaster first flew on 2 August 1955 and entered service with the U.S. Navy in 1956 as the P6M‑2 variant. Its distinctive twin‑engine, low‑wing design featured six Allison J71 turbojets buried in the wing roots, giving a top speed of about 600 mph and a range exceeding 4,000 nautical miles. The aircraft could take off and land on water using a robust hull equipped with retractable landing gear for occasional runway operations. Equipped with a magnetic anomaly detector, sonobuoys, and a powerful internal weapons bay, the SeaMaster could carry torpedoes, depth charges, or nuclear depth bombs. Although only 46 were built before the program was cancelled in 1959 due to high operating costs and the rise of carrier‑borne helicopters, the SeaMaster represented a bold attempt to extend naval air power beyond the carrier deck. Its advanced jet propulsion and maritime patrol capabilities left a lasting influence on later sea‑based surveillance platforms.

Glenn L. Martin Company

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