Bloch MB.131

Last updated
MB.131
Bloch MB 131 San Diego Air & Space Museum 3.jpg
Role Reconnaissance-bomber
Manufacturer Bloch / SNCASO
First flight29 June 1934 (MB.130)
16 August 1936 (MB.131)
IntroductionJune 1938
Primary users French Air Force
Polish Air Force
Luftwaffe
Number built143

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 after 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, 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, forty 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 many losses in attempts at daylight reconnaissance of Germany's western borders. They were subsequently restricted to flying night missions, though they still suffered many losses. 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 aircraft left in Vichy possession were relegated to target towing. Twenty-one unserviceable aeroplanes were reported captured by the Luftwaffe but photographic evidence suggests at least a few flew for the Nazis.

Variants

Bloch MB.130.01 photo from NACA-SR-26 Bloch MB.130.01 NACA-SR-26.jpg
Bloch MB.130.01 photo from NACA-SR-26
Bloch MB.133 prototype Bloch MB.133.jpg
Bloch MB.133 prototype
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

Flag of France.svg  France
Flag of France.svg Vichy France
Flag of Germany (1935-1945).svg  Germany
Flag of Poland.svg  Poland

Specifications (MB.131RB.4)

Data fromWar Planes of the Second World War: Volume Seven Bombers and Reconnaissance Aircraft [1]

General characteristics

Performance

Armament

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dornier Do 215</span> Type of aircraft

The Dornier Do 215 was a light bomber, aerial reconnaissance aircraft and later a night fighter, produced by Dornier originally for export, but in the event most served in the Luftwaffe. Like its predecessor, the Dornier Do 17, it inherited the title "The Flying Pencil" because of its slim fuselage. The successor of the Do 215 was the Do 217.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amiot 143</span> Type of aircraft

The Amiot 143 was a 1930s French 5-seat Multiplace de Combat (M.5) designed to meet 1928 specifications for a monoplane capable of day and night bombing, long-range reconnaissance and bomber escort.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bloch MB.150</span> Type of aircraft

The Bloch MB.150 was a French fighter aircraft developed and produced by Société des Avions Marcel Bloch. It featured an all-metal construction, complete with a retractable undercarriage, low cantilever wing and a fully enclosed cockpit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bloch MB.200</span> Type of aircraft

The MB.200 was a French bomber aircraft of the 1930s designed and built by Societé des Avions Marcel Bloch. A twin-engined high-winged monoplane with a fixed undercarriage, over 200 MB.200s were built for the French Air Force, and the type was also licence built by Czechoslovakia, but it soon became obsolete, and was largely phased out by the start of the Second World War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bloch MB.210</span> 1934 bomber aircraft family by Avions Marcel Bloch

The Bloch MB.210 and MB.211 were the successors of the French Bloch MB.200 bomber developed by Société des Avions Marcel Bloch in the 1930s and differed primarily in being low wing monoplanes rather than high wing monoplanes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bloch MB.170</span> 1938 bomber aircraft family by Avion Marcel Bloch

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 Armée 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bloch MB.162</span> 1940s French bomber aircraft

The Bloch MB.162 was a French four-engine, long-range bomber developed by Société des Avions Marcel Bloch in the late 1930s. Only a single prototype was built; after capture by German forces, it was pressed into service with the Luftwaffe as a transport.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Koolhoven F.K.58</span> 1930s Dutch fighter

The Koolhoven F.K.58 was a single engine, interceptor-fighter aircraft designed and mainly manufactured by N V Koolhoven in the Netherlands under contract by France. Intended for Armée de l'Air use, the F.K.58 saw limited service in the Battle of France.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Farman F.220</span> Type of aircraft

The Farman F.220 and its derivatives were thick-sectioned, high-winged, four engined French monoplanes from Farman Aviation Works. Based on the push-pull configuration proven by the F.211, design started in August 1925 and the first flight of the prototype was on 26 May 1932. The largest bomber to serve in France between the two world wars was the final F.222 variant. One variation was intended to be an airliner.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Breda Ba.65</span> Italian ground-attack aircraft in World War II

The Breda Ba.65 was an Italian all-metal single-engine, low-wing monoplane used by Aviazione Legionaria during the Spanish Civil War and Regia Aeronautica in the first half of World War II. It was the only Italian ground-attack aircraft that saw active service in this role. It saw service almost exclusively in the North African and Middle-Eastern theatre. In addition to more than 150 aircraft operated by the Italian forces, a total of 55 were exported and used by the air forces of Iraq, Chile and Portugal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lioré et Olivier LeO 45</span> Type of aircraft

Lioré-et-Olivier LeO 45 was a French medium bomber that was used during and after the Second World War. It had been designed for the new Armée de l'air as a modern medium bomber capable of performing independent strategic operations, unlike the majority of previous French bombers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Morane-Saulnier M.S.225</span> Type of aircraft

The Morane-Saulnier M.S.225 was a French fighter aircraft of the 1930s. It was produced in limited quantities to be used as a transitional aircraft between the last of the biplanes and the first monoplane fighters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bloch MB.120</span> Type of aircraft

The Bloch MB.120 was a French three-engine colonial transport aircraft built by Société des Avions Marcel Bloch during the 1930s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bloch MB.220</span> Type of aircraft

The Bloch MB.220 was a French twin-engine passenger transport airplane built by Société des Avions Marcel Bloch during the 1930s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Potez 540</span> 1933 French reconnaissance bomber aircraft

The Potez 540 was a French multi-role aircraft of the 1930s. Designed and built by Potez, it served with the French Air Force as a reconnaissance bomber, also serving with the Spanish Republican Air Force during the Spanish Civil War. Although obsolete as a bomber, it remained in service in support roles and in France's overseas colonies at the start of World War II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wibault 7</span> French monoplane fighter

The Wibault 7 was a 1920s French monoplane fighter designed and built by Société des Avions Michel Wibault. Variants were operated by the French and Polish military and built under licence for Chile as the Vickers Wibault.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bréguet 470 Fulgur</span> Type of aircraft

The Bréguet 470 Fulgur was a French airliner of the 1930s. Only a single example of the twin-engined monoplane was built, this being sold to the Spanish Republican government during the Spanish Civil War.

The Bloch MB.480 was a French twin-engined torpedo-bomber/reconnaissance floatplane designed just before the start of the Second World War by Société des Avions Marcel Bloch. Only two were built, the French Navy deciding to use landplanes instead.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bréguet 460 Vultur</span> Type of aircraft

The Bréguet 460 Vultur was a French bomber of the 1930s. Few of these twin-engined monoplanes and its variant, the Breguet 462 Bréguet , were built. At least one Breguet 460 was sold to the Spanish Republican Air Force during the Spanish Civil War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bréguet 410</span> Type of aircraft

The Bréguet 410 was a French bomber of the early 1930s. Not many of these twin-engined sesquiwing biplanes were built. At least one Breguet 413, one of its variants, was sold to the Spanish Republican Air Force during the Spanish Civil War.

References

  1. Green 1967, p. 98.

Bibliography

Further reading