French FlagFrance's Aircraft Roundel Marking

France's Bloch MB 174, Bloch 174, reconnaissance; Bloch MB 175 light bomber

Photos

Bloch MB 174 reconnaissance:
France's Bloch MB 174 reconnaissance		 Bloch MB 174 bomber:
France's Bloch MB 174 bomber
Aeronautics Aircraft Spotters' Handbook 		Bloch MB 174 bomber:
France's Bloch MB 174 bomber
Aeronautics Aircraft Spotters' Handbook 		 

Design

The MB 170 was the design to meet the requirements for a light bomber.1 These requirements changed and the new design was the MB 174.1 The MB 174 had a newly designed fuselage.1

Prototype

The MB 170 prototype first flew on February 15, 1938.1

The MB 174 prototype first flew on January 5, 1939.1,2

The MB 175 prototype first flew in December 1939.1

The MB 176 prototype first flew in September 1939.1

Production

  • Bloch MB 170 prototypes: 21
  • Bloch MB 174: 591 First production arrived in November 1939.1 An initial order of 50 was given.1
    • Manufacturer: SNCASO2
    • Production: ? - May 1940: 502
  • Bloch MB 175: 801 Manufacturing deliveries first started in May 1940.1
  • Bloch MB 175 after war: 801
  • Bloch MB 176: 61
  • Total: 2271

Variants

  • Bloch MB 170: Prototype.1 Had Gnome-Rhône 14N (950 HP) engines.1
  • Bloch MB 174: Reconnaissance.2
  • Bloch MB 174 A3:
  • Bloch MB 175: Bomber.2
  • Bloch MB 175 B3:
  • Bloch MB 176: Bomber.2 Had Pratt & Whitney Twin Wasp engines.1

Usage

First Use in Combat

Capt. Antoine de Saint-Exupery / Capt. Antoine de Saint-Exupéry2 flew the first sortie in a Bloch MB 174 in March 1940 / March 29, 19402.1,2

Survivors

About half of the MB 174s were destroyed during the invasion of France.1 Some of the survivors went to Tunisia where they later served in 1943.1

Some of the MB 175s also ended up in North Africa.1

Luftwaffe Use

The Luftwaffe received 56 completed MB 175s and were used as trainers.1

Postwar French Navy

After World War II the French Navy took delivery of 80 MB 175T torpedo bombers.1 The last one was delivered in 1950.1

Specifications

  Bloch MB 174 and MB 175
Type  
Crew  
Engine (Type) 2: Gnome-Rhône 14N 48/491
Cylinders Radial 141
Cooling  
Net HP 1,140 each1
Propeller blades 3 each1
Dimensions  
Span 58' 9.5"1
17.92 m1
Length 40' 1.5"1
12.23 m1
Height 11' 8"1
3.56 m1
Wing area  
Weight  
Empty  
Loaded  
Performance  
Speed  
Cruising speed  
Climb  
Service ceiling  
Range  
Armament  
Wings, dorsal, ventral 7: 7.5 mm MG1
  Bloch 174 Bloch MB 174 A3
Type Bomber3, Reconnaissance2 Light bomber1, Reconnaissance1, Target marker1
Crew 32 31
Engine (Type) 2: Gnome-Rhône3
2: Gnome-Rhône 142 		 
Cylinders Radial3, Radial 142  
Cooling Air2,3  
Net HP 1,030 each3, 1,140 each2  
Propeller blades    
Dimensions    
Span 58' 7"3, 58' 9"2  
Length 40' 1"2  
Height 11' 7"2  
Wing area    
Weight    
Empty   12,346 lb1
5,600 kg1
Loaded 13,600 lb3, 15,784 lb2 15,784 lb1
7,160 kg1
Performance    
Speed 310 mph3  
Speed @ 17,060' /
5,200 m 		329 mph2  
Cruising speed    
Climb    
Service ceiling 36,090'2  
Range 1,025 miles2, 1,100 miles3  
Armament    
Wings, dorsal, ventral 7: MG2  
Bombs 880 lb2 1,102 lb1
500 kg1
  Bloch MB 175 B3
Type Attack aircraft1, Light bomber1
Crew 31
Engine (Type)  
Cylinders  
Cooling  
Net HP  
Propeller blades  
Dimensions  
Span  
Length  
Height  
Wing area  
Weight  
Empty 12,478 lb1
5,660 kg1
Loaded 17,688 lb1
8,023 kg1
Performance  
Speed @ 17,060' /
5,200 m 		335 mph1
539 kph1
Cruising speed 244 mph1
393 kph1
Climb  
Service ceiling  
Range  
Range with 1,320 lb /
600 kg bomb load 		993 miles1
1,600 km1
Maximum ferry range 2,050 miles1
3,300 km
Armament  
Bombs 1,323 lb1
600 kg1

Sources:

  1. Aircraft of WWII, Stewart Wilson, 1998
  2. World War II Airplanes Volume 1, Enzo Angelucci, Paolo Matricardi, 1976
  3. Aeronautics Aircraft Spotters' Handbook, Ensign L. C. Guthman, 1943