In the 1920s, Martin and Curtiss competed to supply the US Navy with torpedo bombers. They fielded two very similar designs: the Martin’s T3/4M and the Curtiss CS (seen here left and right, respectively). It was a tough choice, as the rival aircraft were similar in both appearance and performance. In the end, the Navy threw some business to both manufacturers, but it was Martin that won a bigger contract. It was a wise choice: the T4M (despite its bulky looks) became a highly effective machine and was the primary strike aircraft of the US Navy for nearly a decade.
The Jive Bomber 