Bloch MB.131

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.

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.

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-Rhx´ne 14Kdrs engines.
MB.131.01
First prototype, 2x Gnome-Rhx´ne 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.

Operators

France

French Air Force operated 141 aircraft.

Vichy France

Vichy aviation operated some aircraft.

Germany

Luftwaffe operated captured aircraft in restricted roles.

Poland

Polish Air Forces in exile in France
Groupe de Bombardement Marche Polonais

Specifications (MB.131RB.4)

Data from War Planes of the Second World War: Volume Seven Bombers and Reconnaissance Aircraft

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 x— Gnome-Rhx´ne 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 x— 7.5 mm (.295 in) MAC 1934 machine guns in flexible mounts in the nose, dorsal turret, and ventral gondola.
Bombs: 4 x— 200 kg (440 lb) or 6 x— 100 kg (220 lb) or 8 x— 50 kg (110 lb) or 64 x— 10 kg (22 lb) bombs

Green, William. War Planes of the Second World War: Volume Seven Bombers and Reconnaissance Aircraft. London: Macdonald, 1967.

Bloch MB.131 Pictures

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Source: WikiPedia