|
In
1944,
the U.S. Navy experienced that faster land-planes like the Lockheed PV-1
Ventura and Consolidated PB4Y Privateer had been useful as well in the
war, this need not be limited to flying boats only. The requirement
for a much more formidable ocean patrol land-plane, with longer range,
better sensors, and greater weapons load was issued. Martin proposed the
unusual featured P4M Mercator
that was powered by a combination of piston engines and turbojets to the Navy.
Other design included in the competition was the Lockheed P2V Neptune.
The Navy chose the
cheaper P2V Neptune
for the maritime patrol requirement, but
nineteen P4M Mercators were ordered in 1947 for high-speed minelaying
purposes as the
fast and heavily armed Mercators were better suited to bombing and
mine-laying missions in hostile airspace than to antisubmarine patrol.
In 1950. most
Mercators were stationed at Patuxent River Naval Air Station in Maryland
and later Port Lyautey in Morocco. Beginning in 1951, they were
modified for electronic reconnaissance as P4M-1Q's.
|
