Bloch MB.162

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.

MB.162
Role Heavy Bomber
National origin France
Manufacturer Société des Avions Marcel Bloch
First flight 1 June 1940
Introduction 1943
Primary user Luftwaffe
Number built 1
Developed from Bloch MB.161

Development

Developed from the speedy MB.160 long-range civil transport, the MB.162 was originally developed as a mail plane. The MB.162 01 bomber prototype first flew in June 1940 and was captured subsequent to the Armistice. Had the MB.162 entered production in 1941 as planned, it would have been a notable and fast heavy bomber for the French, somewhat analogous to the B-17 but much faster and less well-armed.

Operational history

The MB.162 did not fly a single combat mission, nor did the MB.162 B.5 production model ever enter production. The prototype was used by the Luftwaffe in I/KG 200 for clandestine affairs during 1943–1944.

Variants

MB.160:

civil transport prototype with smaller span, longer, single central fin. Three built.
MB.161
produced postwar as airliner SE.161 Languedoc. 100 built
MB.162 Raid
Long-range mailplane version
MB.162.01
prototype, one built
MB.162 Bn.5
Production model - never produced

Military operators
 France
 Germany

Specifications (MB.162 B5)
3-views of the Bloch MB.162 B5.

Data from War Planes of the Second World War: Volume Seven [1]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 5
  • Length: 21.91 m (71 ft 11 in)
  • Wingspan: 28.1 m (92 ft 2 in)
  • Height: 3.76 m (12 ft 4 in)
  • Wing area: 109 m2 (1,170 sq ft)
  • Empty weight: 11,890 kg (26,213 lb)
  • Gross weight: 19,040 kg (41,976 lb)
  • Powerplant: 2 × Gnome-Rhône 14N-48 14-cylinder two-row air-cooled radial engine, 821 kW (1,101 hp) each LH rotation
  • Powerplant: 2 × Gnome-Rhône 14N-49 14-cylinder two-row air cooled radial engine, 821 kW (1,101 hp) each RH rotation
  • Propellers: 3-bladed variable-pitch propellers

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 551 km/h (342 mph, 298 kn) at 5,500 m (18,045 ft)
  • Range: 2,399 km (1,491 mi, 1,295 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 9,000 m (30,000 ft)
  • Time to altitude:
  • 2,000 m (6,562 ft) 5 minutes 48 seconds
  • 5,000 m (16,404 ft) in 18 minutes
  • Wing loading: 175 kg/m2 (36 lb/sq ft)
  • Power/mass: 0.17 kW/kg (0.10 hp/lb)

Armament

See also

Related development

Related lists

Notes
  1. Green 1967, p.106.

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