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.

Design and development

The MB.130 was developed in response to the August 1933 French Aviation Ministry request for a reconnaissance and tactical bomber aircraft. The Bloch 131, developed from Bloch 130.01 Guynemer prototype, flew in June1934. A total redesign led to the Bloch 131, with a glazed nose and tall single fin and rudder, and powered by two 708kW Gnome-Rhone 14N radial engines. It was an all-metal twin-engined low-wing monoplane with retractable landing gear, and armed with three flexible machine guns, one apiece in the nose, dorsal turret, and ventral gondola. It first flew on June 29 1934, and despite very ordinary performance, soon entered production, 40 machines being ordered in October 1935. An improved version, the MB.131 was first flown on August 16 1936, but still needed more work to overcome its deficiencies. The radically revised second prototype which flew on May 5 the following year eventually formed the basis for series production, with aircraft being manufactured by SNCASO, the nationalised company that had absorbed Bloch and Bleriot. Total production (including prototypes) was 143.

The MB 131 in service:

One hundred and thirty-nine production Bloch 131 were built for the Armee de l’Air in the RB4 category as four-crew machines intended for bombing and reconnaissance. The first six aircraft were delivered by June 1938, the rest by September 1939.

Entering service in June 1938, the MB.131 went on to equip seven reconnaissance Groupes, six in metropolitan France and one in North Africa.

The aircraft were deployed to the following units: GR I/14, GR II/14, GR I/21, GR II/22, GR I/35, GR I/36, GR II/36, GR I/55, GR II/55 and GR I/61.

On the eve of the war, 109 aircraft were in service in these units.

Unfortunately they were used on long-range daytime reconnaissance missions without escort and were no match for the Luftwaffe’s Messerschmitt Me 109s. They were subsequently restricted to flying night missions, though they still suffered heavy losses even then. Starting in October 1939, they were pulled back from the front line and used only for training missions, target towing and firing school exercises, with the exception of a few aircraft in GR I/36 and II/36. As of 10 May 1940, 35 MB 131s were still in ancillary service with the reconnaissance groups, while 64 were in training units. Between 3 September 1939 and 24 June 1940, 8 aircraft were lost, 4 shot down and 4 destroyed in accidents, killing a total of 10 crew. By May 1940, all metropolitan units had been converted to Potez 63.11 aircraft, with only the African groupe retaining them for first-line duty.

At the Armistice, there were 53 aircraft in the free zone and, in November 1942, the Germans captured 21, which were scrapped.

After the Battle of France, the planes left in Vichy possession were relegated to target towing duty. 21 planes were reported captured by the Luftwaffe in inoperable condition, but photographic evidence suggests at least a few flew for the Nazis.

Variants

MB.130.01

Original prototype.

MB.131.01

First prototype.

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

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, 1 built. The single Bloch 133, with a new twin fin and rudder tailplane, was later converted to a standard Bloch 131.

MB.134

Prototype with two 820 kW (1,100 hp) Hispano-Suiza L4 AA engines, 1 built. Twin-engined light bomber, development of the 131. The Bloch 134 had even better performance than the LeO 451, but the armistice ended. Speed: 570km/h.

Specifications (MB.131RB.4)

General characteristics

* Crew: Four

* Length: 17.85 m (58 ft 7 in)

* Wingspan: 20.27 m (66 ft 7 in)

* Height: 4.09 m (13 ft 5 in)

* Wing area: 54 m² (581 ft²)

* Empty weight: 4,690 kg (10,340 lb)

* Max takeoff weight: 8,600 kg (18,960 lb)

* Powerplant: 2× Gnome-Rhône 14N-10/11 14-cylinder air-cooled radial engines, 708 kW (950 hp) each

Performance

* Maximum speed: 349 km/h (188 knots, 217 mph)

* Range: 1,300 km (702 nm, 808 miles)

* Service ceiling: 7,250 m (23,785 ft)

* Rate of climb: 5.1 m/s (1,004 ft/min)

Armament

* 3 × 7.5 mm MAC 1934 machine guns in flexible mounts in the nose, dorsal turret, and ventral gondola.

* 800 kg (1,764 lb) of bombs