Bloch MB.131
| MB.131 | |
|---|---|
| 300px | |
| Role | Reconnaissance-bomber |
| Manufacturer | Bloch / SNCASO |
| First flight | 29 June 1934 (MB.130) 16 August 1936 (MB.131) |
| Introduction | June 1938 |
| Primary users | French Air Force Polish Air Force Luftwaffe |
| Number built | 143 |
The Bloch MB.130 and its derivatives were a series of French monoplane reconnaissance-bombers developed during the 1930s. They saw some limited action at the beginning of World War II but were obsolete by that time and suffered badly against the Luftwaffe. After the fall of France, a few were pressed into Luftwaffe service.
Contents
Design and development
The MB.130 was developed in response to the August 1933 French Aviation Ministry request for a reconnaissance and tactical bomber. It was an all-metal, twin-engine, low-wing monoplane with retractable landing gear, and armed with three flexible machine guns, one each in the nose, dorsal turret, and ventral gondola. It first flew on 29 June 1934, and despite very ordinary performance, soon entered production, 40 machines being ordered in October 1935. An improved version, the MB.131 was first flown on 16 August 1936, but still needed more work to overcome its deficiencies. The radically revised second prototype which flew on 5 May 1937 eventually formed the basis for series production, with aircraft being manufactured by SNCASO, the nationalised company that had absorbed Bloch and Blériot. Total production (including prototypes) was 143.
MB.135
A four-engined derivative of the MB.134, was developed powered by four 530 kW (710 hp) Gnome-Rhône 14M 14 cylinder radial engines, with an essentially similar airframe. The sole example flew for the first time on 12 January 1939.
Operational history
Entering service in June 1938, the MB.131 went on to equip seven reconnaissance Groupes, six in metropolitan France and one in North Africa. Upon the outbreak of the war, the metropolitan Groupes suffered heavy losses in attempts at daylight reconnaissance of Germany's western borders. They were subsequently restricted to flying night missions, though they still suffered heavy losses even then. By May 1940, all metropolitan units had been converted to Potez 63.11 aircraft, with only the African groupe retaining them for front-line duty.
After the Battle of France, the planes left in Vichy possession were relegated to target towing duty. 21 planes were reported captured by the Luftwaffe in inoperable condition, but photographic evidence suggests at least a few flew for the Nazis.
Variants
- MB.130.01
- Original prototype, 2x Gnome-Rhône 14Kdrs engines.
- MB.131.01
- First prototype, 2x Gnome-Rhône 14N-10.
- MB.131.02
- Second prototype with revised wings, tail, and fuselage
- MB.131R4
- Initial versions with one central machine gun, 13 built. Note: Breffort and Joiuineau say that 14 R4 aircraft were built.
- MB.131Ins
- Dual control instructor version, 5 built.
- MB.131RB4
- Four-seat reconnaissance-bomber aircraft. Internal bomb bay and revised equipment. 121 built, including two prototypes refitted to this standard. Note: Breffort and Joiuineau say that 100 RB4 aircraft were built.
- MB.133
- Prototype with redesigned tail, 1 built.
- MB.134
- Prototype with two 820 kW (1,100 hp) Hispano-Suiza 14AA engines, 1 built.
- MB.135
- A four engined derivative of the MB.134, powered by four 530 kW (710 hp) Gnome-Rhône 14M 14 cylinder radial engines.
- MB.136
Operators
- French Air Force operated 141 aircraft.
- Vichy aviation operated some aircraft.
- Luftwaffe operated captured aircraft in restricted roles.
Specifications (MB.131RB.4)
Data from War Planes of the Second World War: Volume Seven Bombers and Reconnaissance Aircraft[1]
General characteristics
- Crew: Four
- Length: 17.85 m (58 ft 6¾ in)
- Wingspan: 20.27 m (66 ft 6 in)
- Height: 4.09 m (13 ft 5 in)
- Wing area: 54.0 m² (581 ft²)
- Empty weight: 4,690 kg (10,340 lb)
- Loaded weight: 7,926 kg (17,438 lb)
- Max. takeoff weight: 8,600 kg (18,960 lb)
- Powerplant: 2 × Gnome-Rhône 14N-10/11 14-cylinder air-cooled radial engines, 708 kW (950 hp) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 349 km/h (188 kn, 217 mph) at 3,750 m (12,300 ft)
- Cruise speed: 270 km/h (146 knots, 168 mph)
- Range: 1,300 km (702 nmi, 808 mi)
- Service ceiling: 7,250 m (23,785 ft)
- Climb to 4,000 m (13,120 ft): 13 min
Armament
- Guns: 3 × 7.5 mm (.295 in) MAC 1934 machine guns in flexible mounts in the nose, dorsal turret, and ventral gondola.
- Bombs: 4 × 200 kg (440 lb) or 6 × 100 kg (220 lb) or 8 × 50 kg (110 lb) or 64 × 10 kg (22 lb) bombs
See also
- Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
- Related lists
- List of Interwar military aircraft
- List of aircraft of World War II
- List of bomber aircraft
- List of aircraft of the French Air Force during World War II
- List of military aircraft of France
References
- ↑ Green 1967, p. 98.
- Green, William. War Planes of the Second World War: Volume Seven Bombers and Reconnaissance Aircraft. London: Macdonald, 1967.
External links
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bloch aircraft. |
