Bloch MB.170

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 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.

Too few in number to affect the Battle of France, they continued in service with the Vichy forces after the Armistice of 22 June 1940. The MB.174 is notable as the aircraft flown by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, author of The Little Prince during the campaign. His work (Flight to Arras), published in 1942, is based on a 1940 reconnaissance mission in this type of aircraft.

Production of the type recommenced after the war as the SNCASO SO.175, with the final examples remaining in French service until 1960.

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. 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. 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. However, the availability of the American engines proved to be difficult, and only five aircraft were completed before the armistice. Around another 200 airframes were at various stages of construction.

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General characteristics

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|crew=3

|length m=12.23

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|span m=17.92

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|height m=3.55

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|wing area sqm=38

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|empty weight kg=5612

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|gross weight kg=7175

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Powerplant

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|eng1 number=2

|eng1 name=Gnome-Rhône 14N

|eng1 type=14-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine

|eng1 kw=

|eng1 hp=1035

|prop blade number=3

|prop name=variable-pitch propellers

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Performance

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|max speed kmh=530

|max speed note=at

|cruise speed kmh=460

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|range km=1650

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|ceiling m=11000

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|time to altitude= in 11 minutes

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Armament

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|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= of bombs, usually 8 × or 16 × bombs internally plus 6 × bombs or flares under-wing (As an alternative, 175 illumination bombs carried internally plus 6 × bombs or flares under-wing for night photographic missions.)

See also

References

Notes

Bibliography

External links