Bloch MB.150

The Bloch MB.150 was a French fighter aircraft in 1937 following a 1934 made ​​tender of the French Air Force for a single-seat fighter. From the Bloch type MB.150 only one prototype was built, but was the basis for the later built in larger numbers MB.151 types Bloch, Bloch MB.152, Bloch and Bloch MB.155 MB.157.

History

The Bloch MB.150 was Marcel Bloch's response to the issued by the technical service of the Armée de l'air in 1934 specification "C1" for a light single-seater fighter. Although the Morane -Saulnier MS.406 was awarded the contract for mass production early, Marcel Bloch continued development, which culminated in 1936 in the prototype called MB.150.01. The design proved to be a failure and even failed when trying to lift off the runway. After extensive improvements to structure ( larger area ) and chassis as well as the installation of a more powerful, 940 hp ( 701 kW) Gnome -Rhône payable 14N/07-Sternmotors with dreiblättrigem propeller, the new prototype on May 4, 1937 rose to his first flight and was then, transferred to the appropriate verification Institute of Armée de l'air, the Centre d' Essais du Materiel Aerien ( CEMA ).

The CEMA kept the type for interesting enough to initiate further developments. This led to a further widening of the wings and for the installation of the newer type of motor 14N / 7 ( also Gnome- Rhône). In the spring of 1938, came to the SNCASO ( in the factory by Marcel Bloch had risen due to the nationalization of the aviation industry ) the appointment of a preliminary series of 25 specimens of MB.150.

Since the construction proved to be not very suitable for mass-production, pre-production was not produced. Instead, the type was revised again and on August 18, 1938 flew a further prototype, this time equipped with a 14N/35-Motor and under the new name MB.151 Bloch, from the series finally 144 copies for the hunting seasons of the Armée de l'air were produced. The guy was equipped with four 7.5 -mm machine guns MAC -34.

Production was quickly changed in favor of the developed parallel Bloch MB.152, but suffered from delays in deliveries of aircraft engines, armament and propellers. This was payable by a 1030 hp ( 757 kW) Gnome -Rhône equipped 14N/25-Motor stronger and stronger armed with two Hispano -Suiza HS -404 20 -mm guns instead of two of the MAC -34 machine guns. The MB.152 was 488 copies and is the most produced of classes derived from MB.150 pattern.

The Bloch MB.153 was a development of the MB.150 with a US-based Pratt & Whitney R -1830 Twin Wasp, but never went into production. It was only completed a prototype, which was damaged beyond repair in a crash. The Bloch MB.154 was designed as a similar version with an engine type Wright R -1820 Cyclone, but never built.

Bloch instead tried to improve the properties of MB.152, leading to a Bloch MB.155 Gnome-Rhône-14N/49-Motor (1100 hp) and much better handling characteristics. The first flight of this version took place on 3 December 1939. Prior to the ceasefire in the Battle of France in 1940 for 10 copies for the Armée de l'air could be produced. The 19 remaining in production machines were completed later with the permission of Germany for the Vichy Air Force.

The development of MB.155 culminated in the Bloch MB.157. This version was fitted under German supervision with a new, 1580 -hp Gnome -Rhône 14R -4 " Météore " radial engine and reached for the test flights at Orly in the spring of 1942, very good performance. With a top speed of 710 km / h in 7850 m altitude the machine set will prove their efficiency. After the flights, the engine was dismantled and shipped to Germany for testing purposes, the body of the machine was destroyed in 1943 by an Allied air raid in Orly

Use

The Bloch MB.151 and the Bloch MB.152 found their way into six Groupes de Chasse (GC ) of the Armée de l'air. In the Battle of France in May and June 1940 d' surgery Aériennes du Nord ( Zoan ) GC I / 1, GC II / 1 and the GC III/10 were within the zone equipped with the MB.152, while the GC I / 10 and GC II/10 the MB.151 flew. Within the Zone d' surgery Aériennes de l' Est ( ZOAE ) flew the GC I / 8 and the GC II / 8, the MB.152 and the GC III / 9 MB.151. Aircraft lost on 84 previous own (including 10 by accident ) came 150 kills ( of which 35 are probable ) in the: Although the machines of the German Messerschmitt Bf 109 proved to be inferior in variant E, the firing rate of the French pilot was not bad at all period from 10 May until the end of June truce. This statistic was with 36 victories (including 4 probable ) of the Groupe de Chasse I / 1 led.

The air forces of Vichy France use the remaining machines and 29 copies of the MB.155 until its dissolution. Some machines were then made ​​their way to Romania, where they were used against the Soviet Union.

A small series of nine MB.151 was extradited from France to Greece. There the machines fought in 1941 with some success against the air forces of Italy and Germany.

Construction

The aircraft of the Bloch MB.150er series were low-wing, self-supporting all-metal construction with retractable landing gear and enclosed cockpit.

The series machines were equipped with Gnome -Rhône 14N radial engines, a maximum output of 809 kW services (1100 hp). The performance was released on a three -bladed constant- speed propeller.

Specifications

Countries

  • France France
  • Vichy France Vichy France
  • Deutsches Reich Nazi German Empire
  • Romania Romania

Comparable types

  • France France: Roussel R.30
  • Netherlands Netherlands: Koolhoven FK.58
  • United States United States: Curtiss Hawk Model 75, Seversky P-35
  • Italy Italy: Reggiane Re.2000, Fiat G.50, Macchi MC.200
Marcel Dassault Propeller (aeronautics) Armistice Orly, France
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