Bloch MB.174
| Bloch MB.174 | |
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| Type: | bomber |
| Design country: | |
| Manufacturer: | |
| First flight: |
January 5, 1939 |
The Bloch MB.170 and its variants were light bombers and reconnaissance aircraft of the French Armée de l'air in World War II . The designs MB.171 , MB.172 and MB.173 remained in the prototype stage . The MB.174 was produced in series, the versions MB.175 and MB.176 followed it in production.
history
At the end of 1936, development work began on a new multi-purpose bomber at the Société Nationale de Constructions Aéronautiques du Sud-Ouest (SNCASO, Bloch was nationalized in 1936) with the designation MB.170 . On January 15, 1938, the first flight of the prototype MB.170.01 took place , which was later destroyed in a crash landing. The program was continued with the second prototype MB.170.02 . Further constructions in different designs followed under the designations MB.171 , MB.172 and MB.173 .
Another variant was the MB.174 , which was chosen by the Aviation Ministry for the construction of a test machine ( MB.174.01 ). The first prototype of the MB.174 flew on January 5, 1939, and an order for 50 series aircraft followed. Although the first tests were satisfactory, problems soon arose with the engine cooling. This delayed the delivery of the series models. The problem was solved by reducing the diameter of the propeller hood. The delivery of the Gnome Rhône engines required for production also stalled, so that only 25 machines were delivered when the German Wehrmacht marched in . These machines were used in May and June 1940, especially in the Groupe de Reconnaissance I / 33 and the Groupe de Reconnaissance II / 33 (I. and II. Staffel / Aufklärungsgeschwader 33). Individual machines found their way to the Groupe de Reconnaissance II / 36 and the Groupe de Reconnaissance I / 52 .
A version with an enlarged bomb bay, which was otherwise identical to the MB.174 , went into production as the MB.175 . It could hold 600 kg of bombs, 200 kg more than the previous model.
When the Gnome Rhône engines could no longer be delivered, they resorted to engines from Pratt & Whitney . This version of the aircraft was given the designation MB.176 and flew for the first time in September 1939. The series machines ordered were not completed until the defeat of France. Five copies were later produced and tested under German supervision.
The German Wehrmacht captured a few MB.174 and manufactured 56 more MB.175 from the already existing parts in the conquered factories . They were used by the German Air Force as training aircraft. A few MB.174 that had been in the unoccupied zone at the time of the armistice in the west were used by the Vichy Air Force.
The biggest disadvantage of the MB.174 was the very small bomb bay. 400 kg bomb load could be carried, but only in the form of 50 kg bombs . Their great advantage, on the other hand, was the above-average high summit height, which was above all fighter aircraft available to the Axis powers in the summer of 1940 and therefore predestined the aircraft for the role of long-range reconnaissance.
Construction / versions
The MB.170 and its variants did not differ in their basic design. They were all all - metal low- wing aircraft with slightly upwardly angled wings and horizontal stabilizers. The vertical stabilizer started at both ends of the horizontal stabilizer. Originally two radial engines were used as propulsion ; they were attached to the wings in engine pods. The landing gear was retractable. The main landing gear pulled into the two engine pods.
MB.170
As the drive nor the less powerful came here Gnôme-Rhône 14N 07/06 - radial engines with 699 kW (950 hp). The first prototype MB.170.01 received a dome under the fuselage, which was intended for the installation of reconnaissance cameras or other defensive armament. The prototype MB.170.02 was designed as a high-speed bomber and dispensed with this dome. For this, the lower front fuselage was glazed, and the vertical tail unit was enlarged.
MB.174
This first production version had a fully glazed bow. The first prototype MB.174.01 was powered by two radial engines Gnome-Rhône 14N-20/21 with 758 kW (1030 HP) each, for the series version, slightly more powerful radial engines Gnome-Rhône 14N-48/49 with 839 kW (1140 HP each) were used ) is used.
MB.175
Corresponded to MB.174 , but with a modified bomb bay made it possible to carry larger bombs instead of the previously usual 50 kg bombs. A total of 56 pieces of this version were made, 23 of them before the capitulation of France in June 1940. This version reached a top speed of 540 km / h at 5400 meters altitude and could load 600 kg bombs.
MB.176
Like MB.175 , but with Pratt & Whitney R-1830 star engines with 773 kW (1050 hp) output, as the original Gnome Rhône engines could no longer be supplied after the German Wehrmacht conquered the factories. Five copies of this version were completed under German supervision and used by the German Air Force .
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Technical specifications
| Parameter | Data |
|---|---|
| crew | 3 |
| length | 12.43 m |
| span | 17.95 m |
| height | 3.55 m |
| Wing area | 38 m² |
| Wing extension | 8.5 |
| Empty mass | 5660 kg |
| Takeoff mass | 7160 kg |
| Top speed | 529 km / h at 5200 m |
| Service ceiling | 11,000 m |
| Rate of climb | 727 m / min or 12.1 m / s (at 8000 m in 11 min) |
| Range | 1600 km |
| Engines | two radial engines Gnôme-Rhône 14N 48/49 with 1140 HP (839 kW) each |
| Armament |
Trivia
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry , the author of the book The Little Prince , flew an MB.174 reconnaissance aircraft in the spring of 1940 . One of these flights was the basis for the novel Flight to Arras .
See also
literature
- Alexander Lüdeke : Weapons Technology in the Second World War. Infantry weapons, unarmored vehicles, armored vehicles, artillery, special weapons, aircraft, ships. Parragon Verlag, Bath 2007, ISBN 978-1-4054-8584-5 , p. 232.
- Dominique Breffort: French Aircraft from 1939 to 1942. Fighters, Bombers, Reconnaissance and Observation Types. Illustrated by André Jouineau, translated from the French by Alan McKay. Volume 1: From Amiot to Curtiss. Histoire & Collections, Paris 2004, ISBN 2-915239-23-1 ( Planes and Pilots 7), (English).
Web links
Data and photos in the Aviafrance online database (French):
Individual evidence
- ↑ Types of aircraft in the world. Bechtermünz Verlag, 1997, ISBN 3-86047-593-2 , p. 142.
- ↑ Order of battle of the Armée de l'air in May 1940