Jon: Thanks! This time, turboprops, yes. But not Martins ... I'm still on the Convairs ...
Robert: Cheers! I'd love to see the CP-109 in styrene (hint, hint)
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Marineflieger ConvairsThe planned 1965 addition of the Bréguet Br. 1150
Atlantic to the
Marineflieger fleet represented a major challenge. The large and powerful
Atlantic was to replace the in-service Fairey
Gannets. As a transition, it was decided to first introduce a twin-engined conversion trainer. Since
Marineflieger flight crews had already begun twin-engined training on
Luftwaffe Convair 440 transports, that type was an obvious starting point.
The take-over of four ex-
Lufthansa Convair 340-68 airliners was organized. Since the planned Bréguets were propeller turbine types, the 340s were rebuilt with turboprop conversion kits supplied by Convair. Fitted with Rolls-Royce
Dart engines, the turboprops became Convair 640-68s. The
Marineflieger defined these converted turboprops as
Seeaufklärungsflugzeug-Mittlerer Reichweite (SAF-MR) - emphasizing their medium-range maritime patrol role over training. The name
Baltik was also applied but, invariably, the former airliners would be referred to as 'Convairs' in
Marineflieger service.
To suit the Convairs for their new roles, these aircraft were also fitted with a surface-search radar in a ventral radome. Although non-retractable, this Ekco ASV Mark 19B radar was otherwise identical to the set on
Marineflieger Fairey
Gannet AS.4s. A Canadian CAE magnetic anomaly detector set was also added in a tubular tail boom. [1] Somewhat anachronistically, the converted Convairs also featured searchlights in their noses. It has been claimed that the clear cover for these lights was meant to confuse targeted vessels into believing that an approaching Convair was an
Atlantic. More likely, the light was simply intended to improve the Convairs' performance in a secondary SAR role.
Image Marineflieger Convair 640-68 SAF-MR
Baltik of
Marinefliegergeschwader 3 '
Graf Zeppelin'. This aircraft (c/n 460) had been registered D-ACEX when still with Lufthansa.
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[1] The
Marineflieger Convair could be fitted with pods under the rear fuselage. These would be ground-loaded with sonobuoys for ASW practice flights. No armament was carried by the 640-68 SAF-MRs.