Martin AM Mauler, part two

The Carrier Air Group 8 (CVG-8) was created in September 1948 as a response to the Berlin blockade, and its attack squadrons, VA-84 and VA-85, were equipped with the Mauler. In January 1949 the air group made a flyover of president Harry Truman's inauguration ceremony. The squadrons conducted their qualifications aboard the USS Midway (CV-41) with ten Maulers crashing into the safety barrier between them. The CVG-8 made a two-week cruise along the east coast of the United States before being disbanded as the Berlin blockade was ,fortunatelly, peacefully resolved.
Those of the AM-1Q electronic warfare variant, served with the Composite Squadron 4 (VC-4) which was based at NAS Atlantic City, in New Jersey and were detached in smaller groups for each atlantic fleet carrier deployment. Not very much is known about their service, but it's known that they served until 1st October 1950.
There was also a projected, never built carrier onboard delivery version, called JR2M-1 Mercury that, as the Douglas Skyraider was chosen, it was cancelled.
As the Douglas Skyraider was chosen, in spite of its smaller bombload, it had better reliability and it was easier to fly and land, so the Navy pilots preferred it. In 1950 it was decided that the Mauler would serve with shore based units only and later that year every units except for the Naval Reserve abandoned the type. It operated with reserve squadrons until 1953.
It had a crew of one pilot, two in the case of the AM-1Q, a fuel deposit of 510 US Gallons (1900 litres/ 420 Imperial Gallons), it was powered by a single 3000hp Pratt & Whitney R-4360-4 Wasp Major engine which drove a big four-bladed propeller.
Its armament was impressive as it was equipped with four 20mm T-31 with 200 rounds each and had 15 hardpoints in wings and fuselage which could carry up to 12 5inch (130mm) HVAR rockets and 3 Mark 13 Torpedoes, apart from some bombs.

Sources:
1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_AM_Mauler
2. http://www.militaryfactory.com/aircraft/detail.asp?aircraft_id=1066
3. http://www.aviastar.org/air/usa/martin_mauler.php

Martin AM Mauler, part one

The Martin AM Mauler, which originally was called XBTM, was a single-seat shipboard attack aircraft of the United States Navy. It was designed during the World War II but due to development delays, it couldn't enter service until 1948 and in small numbers.
It turned out to be troublesome though and only remained in active service until 1950 when it passed to serve with the Navy Reserve as it was replaced by the Douglas AD Skyraider.
They remained in the Navy Reserve until 1953.
Initially, the first Maulers were assigned to the Atlantic Fleet Squadrons, being the Attack Squadron 17A (VA-17A) the first one to receive the AM-1 in March and April 1948.
The squadron passed their carrier qualification trials aboard USS Kearsage (CV-33) and USS Leyte (CV-32) in late December 1948 and early 1949. Later that year, they were briefly assigned to the USS Midway (CV-41) in order to perform the search for a British South American Airways Avro Tudor that went missing in the Caribbean. Thanks to the longer runway of the Midway, it was easier for the pilots to land the Mauler, and, unlike previous destinations, the Mauler didn't suffer any landing accident when deployed on that carrier. Upon return, the squadron passed their Maulers to VA-44 and VA-45 squadrons, both assigned to the Midway.

Sources:
1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_AM_Mauler
2. http://www.aviastar.org/air/usa/martin_mauler.php
3. http://www.militaryfactory.com/aircraft/detail.asp?aircraft_id=1066