A fighter designed to meet the same specification as the MS 406 was the Bloch MB 150. Though it lost out in the procurement competition to the Morane, the Bloch firm developed the basic design around a more powerful engine. The resulting Bloch MB 152 was faster and more powerfully armed than the MS 406. Twelve squadrons had Bloch fighters on 10 May 1940, and six more became operational with them during the battle. Units while equipped with Blochs shot down 156 German planes (actual German records) and lost 59 pilots.

MB.150, Bloch (150, 151, 152, 153)

Monoplane fighter. The first MB-150 prototype refused to leave the ground; the redesigned aircraft flew but was very complicated to build. About 140 MB-151s were built, but only 25 of them had propellors, and anyway they were considered unfit for combat. 482 improved MB-152s were built, but again many lacked propellors and other necessary items, and peak operational strength was only 94. The MB-152 was clearly inferior to the Bf 109. Production continued after the defeat of France, and over 600 were built. The single MB.153 had a P&W R-1830 engine.

Type: MB.152

Function: fighter

Year: 1938 Crew: 1 Engines: 1 * 1030hp Gnome-Rhone 14N

Wing Span: 10.55m Length: 9.10m Height: 3.95m Wing Area: 15m2

Empty Weight: 202kg Max.Weight: 2680kg

Speed: 515km/h Ceiling: 10000m Range: 600km

Armament: 4*mg7.5mm

Notice that the MS 406 is not the only French fighter of 1940 to have a superior kill ratio:

Bloch 152: 188 victories (claimed) for 86 aircraft losses

MB.155, Bloch

Development of the MB.155. The only real improvement was the greater range. The MB.155 entered production after the defeat of France in 1940; they were used by the Vichy government and later by the Germans.

Type: MB.155

Function: fighter

Year: 1940 Crew: 1 Engines: 1 * 820kW Gnome-Rhone 14N-49

Wing Span: 10.55m Length: 9.05m Height: 3.95m Wing Area: 17.30m2

Empty Weight: 2100kg Max.Weight: 2900kg

Speed: 520km/h Ceiling: 10000m Range: 1050km

Armament: 2*g20mm 2*mg7.5mm

MB.157, Bloch

The MB.157 was the last development of the MB.150 series. It was completely redesigned, to make use of the powerful Gnome-Rhone 14R engine. One built, that was tested by the Germans in 1942.

Type: MB-157

Function: fighter

Year: 1942 Crew: 1 Engines: 1 * 1268kW Gnome-Rhone 14R-4

Wing Span: 10.70m Length: 9.70m Height: 3.20m Wing Area: 19.40m2

Empty Weight: 2390kg Max.Weight: 3250kg

Speed: 710km/h Ceiling: Range: 1095km

Postscript: French squadrons in UK

Two French squadrons were stationed in England between the 27 May 1940 up to 5 June 1940 for the GR I/14 with Potez 63 and between 30 May 1940 up to 5 June 1940 for the GC II/8 with Bloch 152. The 5 Potez and 13 Bloch aircraft were at the airfield of Lympne for the ‘Operation Dynamo’ above the beaches of Dunkerque. Two Glenn Martin aircraft from GB I/63 were also at Lympne some hours to drop medicine parcels above the beaches. A Bloch 220 and a Caudron Goeland were also in England to bring stores and supplies.