The Bloch MB.162 was a French four-engine, long-range bomber developed in the late 1930s.
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 similar in some respects to Boeings B-17, but much faster and less well-armed.
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 post-war as airliner SE.161 Languedoc.
100 built
MB.162 Raid
Long range mail plane version
MB.162.01
Prototype, one built
MB.162 Bn.5
Production model – None produced.
Specifications
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)
Armament
Guns
2 × 7.5 mm (.295 in) MAC 1934 machine guns in nose and ventral positions
2 × 20 mm Hispano-Suiza HS.404 cannon in ventral and dorsal positions
