The Bloch MB.170 and its derivatives were Frenchreconnaissancebombers designed and built shortly before the Second World War. They were the best aircraft of this type available to the Armée de l'Air at the outbreak of the war, with speed, altitude and manoeuvrability that allowed them to evade interception by the Germanfighters. Although the aircraft could have been in service by 1937, debate over what role to give the aircraft delayed deliveries until 1940.
Too few in number to affect the Battle of France, they continued in service with the Vichy forces after the armistice. The MB.174 is notable as the aircraft flown by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, author of The Little Prince during the campaign. His work Pilote de Guerre (Flight to Arras), published in 1942, is based on a 1940 reconnaissance mission in this type of aircraft.
In 1936, the Ministry for the Air initiated a programme of modernisation of French aviation which included a request concerning a two- or three-seat multi-role aircraft that could be used as a light-bomber or attack aircraft or for reconnaissance. A design team at the former Bloch factory at Courbevoie (which had recently become part of the nationalised SNCASO), led by Henri Deplante, proposed the MB.170, a twin-engined, low-winged cantilevermonoplane.[1][2]
The first prototype, the MB 170 AB2-A3 No.01, equipped as a two-seat attack bomber or a three-seat reconnaissance aircraft, made its maiden flight on 15 February 1938.[1] It was powered by two 720 kW (970 hp) Gnome-Rhône 14Nradial engines and was armed with a 20 mm Hispano-Suiza cannon in the nose, two 7.5 mm MAC 1934 machine guns in the wing, with another machine gun flexibly mounted in the rear cockpit, with a ventral cupola housing either a rearward firing machine gun or a camera.[3] The second prototype, the MB 170 B3 No.2 was a three seat bomber, with the ventral cupola removed, a revised canopy and larger tail fins.[4]
After many modifications it became the definitive MB.174. After the 50th example was delivered in May 1940, the MB.175 succeeded the MB.174 on the assembly lines in full flow. This bomber version, had a redesigned bomb bay capable of carrying bombs of 100–200 kg (220-440 lb), where the MB.174 was limited to 50 kg (110 lb) bombs. The MB.175's fuselage was lengthened and widened to accommodate this greater capacity but only 25 were delivered before the armistice. They were eventually used in the same reconnaissance units as the MB.174s. The MB.176 was a version with Pratt & Whitney R-1830 radials which proved to have poorer performance than the MB.175. It was ordered into production to ease demand on the French engine manufacturers.
Operational historyedit
The Bloch MB.174 flew for the first time in July 1939 and entered service in March 1940 with strategic reconnaissance units where it replaced the Potez 637 that had proved too vulnerable during the Phoney war. Its first operational mission was flown by the famed pilot and writer, CapitaineAntoine de Saint-Exupéry, of Groupe de Reconnaissance II/33, on 29 March 1940. The Bloch 174 appeared extremely effective in these missions as its speed and manoeuvrability at altitude allowed it to escape from most modern Luftwaffe fighters. Only three examples were lost to enemy fire during the Battle of France. Like the majority of the modern equipment of the Armée de l'Air during the campaign, they were too little and too late. At the time of the armistice, most surviving MB.174s and 175s had been evacuated to North Africa. A few were recovered by the Germans and then used for pilot training. During the Vichy period, MB.174s frequently flew over Gibraltar to monitor the British fleet.
In March 1941, German engineers used engines taken from MB.175s (as well as other captured aircraft) to propel the Messerschmitt Me 323 cargo aircraft, some of which flew with parts taken from completed MB.175s. After Operation Torch, French forces defected again from Vichy back to the Allies and surviving examples of the MB.170 flew their final combat missions during the Battle of Tunisia. They were replaced by reconnaissance variants of the P-38 Lightning and used as transports and target tugs. A final version designed for torpedo bombing, the MB.175T, was built in small series in 1947 and served with the Aéronavale until 1950.
Variantsedit
Bloch MB.175
MB.170
MB.170.01 - The first prototype, equipped as reconnaissance aircraft, powered by Gnome-Rhône 14N-06 engines.
MB.170.02 - The second prototype, equipped as light bomber, powered by Gnome-Rhône 14N-06 engines.
MB.171
MB.172
MB.173
MB.174
MB.174.01 - The original MB.174 prototype, powered by Gnome-Rhône 14N-49 engines.
MB.174A.3 - Original production version, powered by Gnome-Rhône 14N-49 engines.. 56 built
MB.175
MB.175.01 - The original MB.175 prototype, powered by Gnome-Rhône 14N-48 engines.
MB.175B.3 - Second production version. 23 built, plus 56 unarmed aircraft for the Luftwaffe, powered by Gnome-Rhône 14N-48 engines.
MB.175T
Post-war torpedo bomber version for the Aeronavale. 80 built.
Maximum speed: 530 km/h (330 mph, 290 kn) at 5,200 m (17,060 ft)
Cruise speed: 460 km/h (290 mph, 250 kn) at 4,000 m (13,120 ft)
Range: 1,650 km (1,030 mi, 890 nmi)
Service ceiling: 11,000 m (36,000 ft)
Time to altitude: 8,000 m (26,250 ft) in 11 minutes
Armament
Guns: 2 × fixed, forward-firing 7.5 mm (.295 in) MAC 1934machine guns in the wings
2 × 7.5 mm MAC 1934s in the dorsal position
3 × 7.5 mm MAC 1934s on aft-firing mounts
Bombs: 400 kg (880 lb) of bombs, usually 8 × 50 kg (110 lb) or 16 × 22 kg (49 lb) bombs internally plus 6 × 22 kg (49 lb) bombs or flares underwing (As an alternative, 175 illumination bombs carried internally plus 6 × 22 kg (49 lb) bombs or flares underwing for night photographic missions)
Breffort, Dominique & Jouineau, André (2004). French Aircraft 1939–1942: Fighters, Bombers, Reconnaissance and Observation Types: Volume 1: From Amiot to Curtiss. Paris: Histoire & Collections. ISBN2-915239-23-1.
C., J.-M. (September 1970). "La lignée des Bloch 170–178 (1)" [The Line of the Bloch 170–178, Part 1]. Le Album de Fanatique de l'Aviation (in French) (14): 13–17. ISSN 0757-4169.
C., J.-M. (October 1970). "La lignée des Bloch 170–178 (2)" [The Line of the Bloch 170–178, Part 2]. Le Album de Fanatique de l'Aviation (in French) (15): 14–17. ISSN 0757-4169.
C., J.-M. (November 1970). "La lignée des Bloch 170–178 (3)" [The Line of the Bloch 170–178, Part 3]. Le Album de Fanatique de l'Aviation (in French) (16): 14–19. ISSN 0757-4169.
Cortet, Pierre (November 2000). "Rétros du Mois" [Retros of the Month]. Avions: Toute l'Aéronautique et son histoire (in French) (92): 7. ISSN 1243-8650.
Cuny, Jean (1989). Les avions de combat français, 2: Chasse lourde, bombardement, assaut, exploration [French Combat Aircraft 2: Heavy Fighters, Bombers, Attack, Reconnaissance]. Docavia (in French). Vol. 30. Ed. Larivière. OCLC 36836833.
Green, William (1967). War Planes of the Second World War: Bombers and Reconnaissance Aircraft. Vol. VII (3rd ed.). London: Macdonald. OCLC 320723737.
Moulin, Jacques (2006). Le Bloch 174 et ses dérivés. Outreau: Éd. Lela presse. ISBN2-914017-34-0.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bloch MB.170.
Dassault official home page
January 19, 2024
bloch, derivatives, were, french, reconnaissance, bombers, designed, built, shortly, before, second, world, they, were, best, aircraft, this, type, available, armée, outbreak, with, speed, altitude, manoeuvrability, that, allowed, them, evade, interception, ge. The Bloch MB 170 and its derivatives were French reconnaissance bombers designed and built shortly before the Second World War They were the best aircraft of this type available to the Armee de l Air at the outbreak of the war with speed altitude and manoeuvrability that allowed them to evade interception by the German fighters Although the aircraft could have been in service by 1937 debate over what role to give the aircraft delayed deliveries until 1940 MB 170Role Reconnaissance bomberManufacturer Societe des Avions Marcel BlochFirst flight July 1939 M 174 Introduction March 1940 M 174 Retired 1950Primary users Armee de l Air French Air Force Aeronavale French Navy LuftwaffeToo few in number to affect the Battle of France they continued in service with the Vichy forces after the armistice The MB 174 is notable as the aircraft flown by Antoine de Saint Exupery author of The Little Prince during the campaign His work Pilote de Guerre Flight to Arras published in 1942 is based on a 1940 reconnaissance mission in this type of aircraft Contents 1 Design and development 2 Operational history 3 Variants 4 Operators 5 Specifications MB 174A 3 6 See also 7 References 7 1 Notes 7 2 Bibliography 8 External linksDesign and development editIn 1936 the Ministry for the Air initiated a programme of modernisation of French aviation which included a request concerning a two or three seat multi role aircraft that could be used as a light bomber or attack aircraft or for reconnaissance A design team at the former Bloch factory at Courbevoie which had recently become part of the nationalised SNCASO led by Henri Deplante proposed the MB 170 a twin engined low winged cantilever monoplane 1 2 The first prototype the MB 170 AB2 A3 No 01 equipped as a two seat attack bomber or a three seat reconnaissance aircraft made its maiden flight on 15 February 1938 1 It was powered by two 720 kW 970 hp Gnome Rhone 14N radial engines and was armed with a 20 mm Hispano Suiza cannon in the nose two 7 5 mm MAC 1934 machine guns in the wing with another machine gun flexibly mounted in the rear cockpit with a ventral cupola housing either a rearward firing machine gun or a camera 3 The second prototype the MB 170 B3 No 2 was a three seat bomber with the ventral cupola removed a revised canopy and larger tail fins 4 After many modifications it became the definitive MB 174 After the 50th example was delivered in May 1940 the MB 175 succeeded the MB 174 on the assembly lines in full flow This bomber version had a redesigned bomb bay capable of carrying bombs of 100 200 kg 220 440 lb where the MB 174 was limited to 50 kg 110 lb bombs The MB 175 s fuselage was lengthened and widened to accommodate this greater capacity but only 25 were delivered before the armistice They were eventually used in the same reconnaissance units as the MB 174s The MB 176 was a version with Pratt amp Whitney R 1830 radials which proved to have poorer performance than the MB 175 It was ordered into production to ease demand on the French engine manufacturers Operational history editThe Bloch MB 174 flew for the first time in July 1939 and entered service in March 1940 with strategic reconnaissance units where it replaced the Potez 637 that had proved too vulnerable during the Phoney war Its first operational mission was flown by the famed pilot and writer Capitaine Antoine de Saint Exupery of Groupe de Reconnaissance II 33 on 29 March 1940 The Bloch 174 appeared extremely effective in these missions as its speed and manoeuvrability at altitude allowed it to escape from most modern Luftwaffe fighters Only three examples were lost to enemy fire during the Battle of France Like the majority of the modern equipment of the Armee de l Air during the campaign they were too little and too late At the time of the armistice most surviving MB 174s and 175s had been evacuated to North Africa A few were recovered by the Germans and then used for pilot training During the Vichy period MB 174s frequently flew over Gibraltar to monitor the British fleet In March 1941 German engineers used engines taken from MB 175s as well as other captured aircraft to propel the Messerschmitt Me 323 cargo aircraft some of which flew with parts taken from completed MB 175s After Operation Torch French forces defected again from Vichy back to the Allies and surviving examples of the MB 170 flew their final combat missions during the Battle of Tunisia They were replaced by reconnaissance variants of the P 38 Lightning and used as transports and target tugs A final version designed for torpedo bombing the MB 175T was built in small series in 1947 and served with the Aeronavale until 1950 Variants edit nbsp Bloch MB 175MB 170 MB 170 01 The first prototype equipped as reconnaissance aircraft powered by Gnome Rhone 14N 06 engines MB 170 02 The second prototype equipped as light bomber powered by Gnome Rhone 14N 06 engines MB 171 MB 172 MB 173 MB 174 MB 174 01 The original MB 174 prototype powered by Gnome Rhone 14N 49 engines MB 174A 3 Original production version powered by Gnome Rhone 14N 49 engines 56 builtMB 175 MB 175 01 The original MB 175 prototype powered by Gnome Rhone 14N 48 engines MB 175B 3 Second production version 23 built plus 56 unarmed aircraft for the Luftwaffe powered by Gnome Rhone 14N 48 engines MB 175T Post war torpedo bomber version for the Aeronavale 80 built MB 176 MB 176 01 The original MB 176 prototype powered by two Pratt amp Whitney R 1830 SC 3 G Twin Wasp engines MB 176B 3 Production version 5 built MB 177 Single prototype powered by two Hispano Suiza 12Y 31 inline engines MB 178 Further development construction halted by arrival of German forces Operators edit nbsp FranceFrench Air Force Groupes de Reconnaissance 1 33 2 33 1 52 and 2 36 French Navy nbsp GermanyLuftwaffe captured Specifications MB 174A 3 edit nbsp Bloch MB 170 schematicsData from War Planes of the Second World War Bombers and Reconnaissance Aircraft Vol VII 5 General characteristicsCrew 3 Length 12 23 m 40 ft 1 in Wingspan 17 92 m 58 ft 10 in Height 3 55 m 11 ft 8 in Wing area 38 m2 410 sq ft Empty weight 5 612 kg 12 372 lb Gross weight 7 175 kg 15 818 lb Powerplant 2 Gnome Rhone 14N 14 cylinder air cooled radial piston engine 772 kW 1 035 hp each Propellers 3 bladed variable pitch propellersPerformance Maximum speed 530 km h 330 mph 290 kn at 5 200 m 17 060 ft Cruise speed 460 km h 290 mph 250 kn at 4 000 m 13 120 ft Range 1 650 km 1 030 mi 890 nmi Service ceiling 11 000 m 36 000 ft Time to altitude 8 000 m 26 250 ft in 11 minutesArmament Guns 2 fixed forward firing 7 5 mm 295 in MAC 1934 machine guns in the wings 2 7 5 mm MAC 1934s in the dorsal position 3 7 5 mm MAC 1934s on aft firing mounts Bombs 400 kg 880 lb of bombs usually 8 50 kg 110 lb or 16 22 kg 49 lb bombs internally plus 6 22 kg 49 lb bombs or flares underwing As an alternative 175 illumination bombs carried internally plus 6 22 kg 49 lb bombs or flares underwing for night photographic missions See also edit nbsp Aviation portalAircraft of comparable role configuration and era Bristol Beaufighter Caproni Ca 311 Douglas F 3 Dornier Do 215 Martin Maryland Mitsubishi Ki 46 Potez 630 Tupolev SBRelated lists List of aircraft of World War II List of aircraft of the French Air Force during World War II List of bomber aircraftReferences editNotes edit a b Green 1967 p 107 Breffort and Jouineau 2004 p 46 Green 1967 pp 107 108 Green 1967 pp 108 109 Green 1967 p 114 Bibliography edit Breffort Dominique amp Jouineau Andre 2004 French Aircraft 1939 1942 Fighters Bombers Reconnaissance and Observation Types Volume 1 From Amiot to Curtiss Paris Histoire amp Collections ISBN 2 915239 23 1 C J M September 1970 La lignee des Bloch 170 178 1 The Line of the Bloch 170 178 Part 1 Le Album de Fanatique de l Aviation in French 14 13 17 ISSN 0757 4169 C J M October 1970 La lignee des Bloch 170 178 2 The Line of the Bloch 170 178 Part 2 Le Album de Fanatique de l Aviation in French 15 14 17 ISSN 0757 4169 C J M November 1970 La lignee des Bloch 170 178 3 The Line of the Bloch 170 178 Part 3 Le Album de Fanatique de l Aviation in French 16 14 19 ISSN 0757 4169 Cortet Pierre November 2000 Retros du Mois Retros of the Month Avions Toute l Aeronautique et son histoire in French 92 7 ISSN 1243 8650 Cuny Jean 1989 Les avions de combat francais 2 Chasse lourde bombardement assaut exploration French Combat Aircraft 2 Heavy Fighters Bombers Attack Reconnaissance Docavia in French Vol 30 Ed Lariviere OCLC 36836833 Green William 1967 War Planes of the Second World War Bombers and Reconnaissance Aircraft Vol VII 3rd ed London Macdonald OCLC 320723737 Moulin Jacques 2006 Le Bloch 174 et ses derives Outreau Ed Lela presse ISBN 2 914017 34 0 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bloch MB 170 Dassault official home page Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bloch MB 170 amp oldid 1191598956, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
