Bloch MB.130 / 131/ 133 / 134 / 135

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.

Variants

MB.130.01

Original prototype, 2x Gnome-Rhône 14Kdrs engines.

MB.131.01

First prototype, 2x Gnome-Rhône 14N-10.

MB.131.02

Second prototype with revised wings, tail, and fuselage

MB.131R4

Initial versions with one central machine gun, 13 built.

MB.131Ins

Dual control instructor version, 5 built.

MB.131RB4

Four seat reconnaissance-bomber aircraft.

Internal bomb bay and revised equipment.

121 built, including two prototypes refitted to this standard.

MB.133

1 x Prototype with redesigned tail.

MB.134

1 x Prototype with two 820 kW (1,100 hp) Hispano-Suiza 14AA engines.

MB.135

A four engined derivative of the MB.134, powered by four 530 kW (710 hp) Gnome-Rhône 14M 14 cylinder radial engines.

Specifications

MB.131RB.4

Crew

4

Length

17.85 m (58 ft 7 in)

Wingspan

20.27 m (66 ft 6 in)

Height

4.09 m (13 ft 5 in)

Wing area

54 m2 (580 sq ft)

Empty weight

4,690 kg (10,340 lb)

Gross weight

7,928 kg (17,478 lb)

Max take-off weight

8,600 kg (18,960 lb)

Powerplant

 1 × Gnome-Rhône 14N-10 14-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine,

708 kW (949 hp) RH rotation fitted to port

Powerplant

 1 × Gnome-Rhône 14N-11 14-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine,

708 kW (949 hp) LH rotation fitted to starboard

Propellers

3 bladed LH and RH rotation variable-pitch propellers

Performance

Maximum speed

349 km/h (217 mph, 188 kn) at 3,750 m (12,303 ft)

Cruise speed

270 km/h (170 mph, 150 kn)

Range

1,300 km (810 mi, 700 nmi)

Service ceiling

7,250 m (23,790 ft)

Time to altitude

4,000 m (13,123 ft) in 13 minutes

Armament

Guns

3 × 7.5 mm (.295 in) MAC 1934 machine guns in flexible mounts in the nose,

dorsal turret and ventral gondola.

Bombs

4 × 200 kg (440 lb)

Or

6 × 100 kg (220 lb)

Or

8 × 50 kg (110 lb)

Or

64 × 10 kg (22 lb) bombs